Summary: LD 337 — An Act to Repeal the Sunday Amateur Sports Law, the Law Allowing Municipalities to Permit the Operation of Movie Theaters on Sundays, and the Law Imposing a Fine or Imprisonment for Playing Games and Sports with Admission Charges on Memorial Day
Overview
LD 337 is a Maine bill introduced on January 30, 2025 and sponsored by Rep. Joshua Morris. The measure repeals three existing statutes:
- The Sunday Amateur Sports Law
- The law that allowed municipalities to permit the operation of movie theaters on Sundays
- The law that imposed a fine or imprisonment for playing games and sports with admission charges on Memorial Day
The bill was signed by the Governor on April 25, 2025. Its subject area includes business assistance, economic development, and recreational laws.
What the bill would do
- Repeal the Sunday Amateur Sports Law: Abolishes the statutory framework that governed or restricted Sunday amateur sports activities.
- Repeal the Sunday-operation-of-movie-theaters law: Removes the statutory allowance for municipalities to permit movie theaters to operate on Sundays.
- Repeal the Memorial Day penalties for playing games or sports with admission charges: Eliminates the statute that fined or imprisoned individuals for hosting or playing games/sports with admission charges on Memorial Day.
In short, the bill removes specific Sunday- and Memorial Day-related prohibitions, penalties, and regulatory authorities, returning matters related to Sunday activities, including entertainment venue operations and amateur sports, to a framework not governed by these three repeals.
Key provisions and changes (substantive content)
- Legislative repeal of three named statutes (no replacement measures included in the provided text).
- The repeal would remove regulatory restrictions and penalties on:
- Sunday amateur sports activities
- Sunday operation of movie theaters by municipalities
- Hosting games/sports with admission charges on Memorial Day
Note: The text provided does not indicate new prohibitions or new requirements; it only notes the repeal of these existing laws.
Who/what is affected
- Amateur athletic organizations and participants in Maine on Sundays (potentially broader scheduling freedom for Sunday activities).
- Municipalities and movie theaters: removal of state authorization to operate on Sundays—local decisions may revert to pre-existing local controls or other statutes.
- Event organizers and venues that charge admission for games/sports on Memorial Day: removal of penalties or fines for such charges on Memorial Day.
- State courts and the General Fund: minor, mostly fiscal impacts due to changes in fines collection and case filings.
Fiscal and administrative impact
- Fiscal notes indicate minor savings to the General Fund and minor revenue decreases to other funds.
- Correctional and judicial workload could see a minor reduction due to fewer or no cases related to the repealed penalties.
- Overall, the financial impact is characterized as minor and not budgetary-shifting.
Procedural history and timeline
- 2025-01-30: LD 337 received by the House Clerk; referred to the Committee on Housing and Economic Development.
- 2025-03-27: Work session held; voted OTP (Ought to Pass).
- 2025-04-11 to 2025-04-17: Bills advanced through passage stages, including readings and messages between chambers.
- 2025-04-22 to 2025-04-23: Passed to be enacted in both chambers; concurred and sent for signing.
- 2025-04-25: Signed by the Governor.
- Documentation includes two fiscal notes (LR0699(01) and LR0699(02)) confirming minor fiscal impacts and limited correctional/judicial workload effects.
Practical takeaway
LD 337 eliminates three distinct regulatory frameworks related to Sunday activities and Memorial Day penalties. The changes are largely deregulatory and are associated with minor fiscal effects. For businesses, municipalities, and event organizers, this may translate to increased flexibility in scheduling and activities on Sundays and on Memorial Day, with limited state-imposed penalties or regulatory constraints moving forward.
