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LD 277

An Act To Repeal The Law Prohibiting Places Of Business From Being Open To The Public On Sunday

132nd Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Barbara Bagshaw and 6 co-sponsors

Repeals Maine Sunday blue-law prohibition, allowing businesses to open Sundays and ending penalties; minor fiscal and enforcement impact; bill dead.

Placed in Legislative Files (DEAD)
#authorized #businesspractices #sundaysales
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Bill Summary · LD 277

Summary — LD 277 (132nd Maine Legislature)

Title: An Act To Repeal The Law Prohibiting Places Of Business From Being Open To The Public On Sunday
Status: Placed in Legislative Files (DEAD) — June 3, 2025
Introduced: January 28, 2025
Primary sponsors: Rep. Morris of Turner (original); Sen. Curry of Waldo (sponsor of amendments)

Purpose

The bill would repeal the existing statutory prohibition that prevents places of business from being open to the public on Sundays (commonly described as repeal of a “blue law”). Its intent is to remove the statute-based restriction so businesses would not be unlawfully barred from operating or admitting the public on Sundays.

Key provisions / changes

  • Repeal of the statute that currently prohibits places of business from being open to the public on Sundays (and related holiday provisions where applicable).
  • As a repeal bill, it would eliminate criminal penalties, fines, or enforcement tied specifically to the Sunday-opening prohibition.
  • The legislative record shows the bill was amended in committee (Committee Amendment “A” H-251) and that House Amendment “A” (H-293) was adopted to modify the committee amendment; exact textual changes are not provided in the available documents.

Who would be affected

  • Businesses in Maine that are currently subject to the Sunday-opening prohibition: they would be allowed to open to the public on Sundays without the specific statutory bar or associated penalties.
  • State courts and law enforcement: potentially fewer cases and enforcement actions related to violations of the Sunday-opening prohibition.
  • State revenues and special funds: possible minor reductions in fines/collections previously generated from enforcement of the prohibition.

Fiscal and correctional/judicial impact

  • Preliminary and committee fiscal notes (multiple versions) conclude the net fiscal effect is minor:
    • Some versions report “minor savings” to the General Fund (reduced enforcement/court workload).
    • Some report “minor revenue decrease” to the General Fund and other special revenue funds from reduced fine collections.
    • Later amendment-specific fiscal notes state “no fiscal impact.”
  • Correctional/judicial impact statements: possible minor reduction in workload due to fewer cases and fewer fines collected.

Legislative actions and current status

  • Referred to the Committee on Housing and Economic Development (Jan 28, 2025); work sessions and OTP‑AM (ought to pass as amended) reported.
  • Committee Amendment A (H-251) and House Amendment A (H-293) were adopted in the House; House passed the bill as amended (Roll Call No. 203: Yeas 71 – Nays 63 – Absent 17).
  • Senate and House disagreed on final disposition: Senate moved to indefinitely postpone; House insisted on passage as amended. On June 3, 2025 the Senate insisted on indefinite postponement and the bill was placed in Legislative Files (DEAD).

Notes / limitations

  • The summary is based on title, legislative actions and fiscal notes available in the legislative file. The full, amended bill text is not included here; specific statutory sections affected or any preserved exemptions (if any) cannot be detailed without the bill text.

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

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