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LD 586

An Act To Provide A Court Authority To Issue Proximity Restrictions In Protection From Abuse Orders

132nd Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Rick Bennett and 7 co-sponsors

Allows Maine courts to include proximity restrictions in Protection From Abuse orders, keeping abusers away from victims and key sites, improving safety with no additional cost.

Signed by Governor
#abuse #protectionactions #proximityrestrictions
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · LD 586

LD 586 – Summary

An Act To Provide a Court Authority To Issue Proximity Restrictions In Protection From Abuse Orders

Status: Signed by Governor (April 11, 2025)

Introduced: February 19, 2025
Committee: Judiciary
Legislative session: 132nd Maine Legislature

Purpose and intent

LD 586 authorizes Maine courts to include proximity restrictions as part of Protection From Abuse (PFA) orders. The goal is to enhance protections for petitioners by limiting the abuser’s ability to approach or be near the protected person or other designated locations, thereby reducing the risk of further harm.

Key provisions

  • Court authority to impose proximity restrictions: The bill empowers courts to specify a distance (a proximity restriction) that the respondent must maintain from the protected person and/or other locations identified in the PFA order.
  • Integration with PFA orders: Proximity restrictions would be issued as part of the Protection From Abuse order, complementing existing relief such as restraining prohibitions and contact limitations.
  • Scope of restrictions: While the exact geographic parameters and enforcement mechanisms are not detailed in the available documents, the core change is the formalization of proximity-based limits within PFA orders.

Who is affected

  • Petitioners seeking protection: Individuals seeking a PFA order may receive enhanced protections through proximity restrictions.
  • Respondents/ alleged abusers: Those subject to PFA orders would be bound by the proximity restrictions and required to comply with the specified distance requirements.
  • Courts and law enforcement: Courts gain a new tool to craft orders; enforcement would involve law enforcement in ensuring compliance with proximity limits.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Legislative history (highlights):
    • 2025-02-19: Introduced and referred to Judiciary
    • 2025-03-21: Work session; Voted OTP (Ought to Pass)
    • 2025-03-27: Report read; the measure advanced (passed to be engrossed)
    • 2025-04-01 to 2025-04-03: Passed to be engrossed; concurrence processes completed
    • 2025-04-01 to 2025-04-08: Consent calendar and concurrence actions
    • 2025-04-11: Signed by Governor
  • Effective date: The materials do not specify an explicit effective date; typically, such measures take effect upon signing or as provided within the act. (Note: exact effective date should be confirmed from the enrolled bill text.)

Fiscal impact

  • Two fiscal notes (Document 2 and Document 4) indicate no fiscal impact associated with LD 586. This suggests the measure is not expected to require additional state funding or change ongoing costs for the judiciary or enforcement agencies.

Summary assessment

LD 586 represents a targeted expansion of protections within Maine’s protection from abuse framework by authorizing proximity restrictions. The change is designed to give courts clearer authority to require abusers to stay away from victims and other relevant locations, potentially improving safety outcomes while maintaining a neutral fiscal impact.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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