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LD 159

An Act To Require Vehicle Registrations To Include The Next Of Kin Of The Vehicle Owner

132nd Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Donald Ardell and 9 co-sponsors

Adds a next-of-kin/emergency contact field to Maine vehicle registrations, enabling responders to contact a designated person after crashes or other incidents.

Signed by Governor
#motorvehicles #nextofkin #registration
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Bill Summary · LD 159

Summary — LD 159: Require Vehicle Registrations to Include Next of Kin / Emergency Contact

Bill number: LD 159
Title: An Act To Require Vehicle Registrations To Include The Next Of Kin Of The Vehicle Owner
Status: Signed by Governor (May 29, 2025)
Introduced: January 14, 2025
Committee: Transportation (OTP‑AM adopted; Committee Amendment “A” (H‑153) adopted)

Purpose

The bill requires Maine motor vehicle certificates of registration to include a designated space for listing a next of kin or other emergency contact for the vehicle owner. The aim is to provide an easily accessible contact on registration documents that may assist authorities or emergency personnel in contacting a family member or other designated person following a crash or other incident.

Key provisions

  • Adds a field on the motor vehicle certificate of registration for the vehicle owner to provide the name (and presumably contact information) of a next of kin or emergency contact.
  • Applies to certificates of registration issued by the Secretary of State (Bureau of Motor Vehicles).
  • Committee Amendment “A” (H‑153) was adopted; the engrossed version as amended was passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor.

(Note: The enacted text itself is not reproduced here; the summary reflects the bill’s stated change to registration forms as described in legislative materials.)

Who is affected

  • Vehicle owners who apply for or renew registration: they would be asked to provide a next‑of‑kin or emergency contact on the registration form.
  • Secretary of State / Bureau of Motor Vehicles: will need to update registration forms, systems, and any related processes to include and maintain the new data field.
  • Law enforcement and emergency responders: potentially gain an additional, standardized source for contacting a family member after incidents involving a registered vehicle.

Fiscal and operational impact

  • Fiscal notes (approved 3/28/25 and 5/21/25) estimate a minor cost increase to the Highway Fund related to revising forms and administrative processes. The costs are expected to be minor and absorbable within existing Secretary of State budgeted resources.
  • No separate fee changes or new revenue provisions are indicated in the available fiscal documents.

Legislative timeline / procedural history

  • Referred to the Committee on Transportation (1/14/25). Work session held and recommendation OTP‑AM reported (3/25/25; 5/14/25).
  • Committee Amendment “A” (H‑153) adopted in concurrence (5/21/25). Passed to be enacted by the Legislature (5/27/25).
  • Signed by the Governor (5/29/25).

Notes / limitations

  • The summary is based on legislative documents and fiscal notes provided; the full enacted statute text may specify details about required fields, data retention, privacy protections, or effective date. The documents supplied do not include an explicit effective date or detailed data‑management/ privacy provisions.

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

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