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LD 396

An Act To Provide For A Later Starting Time For High Schools

132nd Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Stacy Brenner and 8 co-sponsors

The bill creates a one-time grant program and DOE support to help Maine districts plan and adopt later secondary school start times (no statewide mandate).

Signed by Governor
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Bill Summary · LD 396

Summary — LD 396: An Act To Provide For A Later Starting Time for High Schools

Status: Signed by Governor (July 1, 2025)
Introduced: February 4, 2025
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs

Main purpose

LD 396 originated as a bill to require later start times for secondary schools. During floor and committee action it was amended into a Resolve directing the Maine Department of Education (DOE) to develop and administer a one‑time grant program to encourage school administrative units (SAUs) to coordinate and adopt later start times for secondary schools.

Key provisions and changes

  • Final enacted form: a Resolve directing the DOE to develop a grant program to encourage secondary schools to adopt later start times (including coordination between elementary and secondary start times).
  • Appropriations (FY 2025‑26, one‑time General Fund): $181,078 total
    • $75,000 allocated for grants to local SAUs to collaborate on changing start times so secondary schools begin at or after 8:30 a.m.
    • $106,078 allocated for one contracted position within DOE to implement and administer the grant program.
  • Earlier versions and committee amendments:
    • The original bill would have required secondary schools not to start before 8:30 a.m.
    • A later committee amendment would have required secondary schools to start no earlier than one hour after elementary schools in the same SAU.
    • Those mandatory versions raised concerns about a potential unfunded state mandate and "moderate statewide" local costs.
  • The enacted Resolve abandons a direct statewide mandate in favor of incentive grants and DOE support.

Who is affected

  • Maine Department of Education: tasked with developing, administering and staffing the grant program.
  • Local school administrative units (SAUs): eligible to apply for grants to plan and implement later secondary start times; may face operational costs if they choose to change bell schedules.
  • Students, families, transportation providers, athletics/activities: potential schedule impacts if SAUs adopt later secondary start times.

Fiscal and mandate considerations

  • Net FY 2025‑26 cost to General Fund: $181,078 (one‑time). No ongoing General Fund cost projected in later years.
  • Earlier mandatory versions of the bill prompted fiscal notes stating potential moderate local costs and possible state‑mandate implications; those legal/funding implications were addressed by converting the measure into a grant/technical assistance Resolve with an explicit appropriation.

Legislative timeline and procedure (selected)

  • Introduced: 02/04/2025; referred to Education & Cultural Affairs.
  • Committee work sessions and divided report in March–June 2025.
  • Committee Amendment A and subsequent Senate amendments adopted in June 2025.
  • Final legislative passage: June 25, 2025 (House and Senate concurred); sent to Governor.
  • Signed by Governor: July 1, 2025.

This Resolve provides planning and limited financial support to encourage later secondary school start times in Maine, while avoiding a direct, unfunded statewide mandate.

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

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