An Act To Tie Judicial Salaries To The Average Judicial Salaries Of Other New England States

132nd Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Ken Fredette

Maine judicial salaries would be tied to the New England regional average, with the State Compensation Commission adjusting pay accordingly.

Placed in Legislative Files (DEAD)

#compensation #courts #judges

LD 1371 — An Act To Tie Judicial Salaries To The Average Judicial Salaries Of Other New England States

Overview

LD 1371 proposes tying the salaries of Maine judges to the average salaries of judges in other New England states. The bill was introduced on March 28, 2025, referred to the Judiciary Committee, and ultimately placed in Legislative Files as DEAD. The formal fiscal notes indicate only minor and absorbable costs related to supporting the State Compensation Commission.

Purpose and Intent

Align Maine judicial compensation with regional benchmarks by tying Maine’s judicial salaries to the average of those in other New England states.

Achieve this alignment through a mechanism overseen by the State Compensation Commission, with ongoing administration presumably governed by Maine’s compensation and budgeting processes.

Key Provisions (as indicated by title and fiscal notes)

Establish or utilize a framework whereby Maine judicial salaries are linked to the average judicial salaries of the other New England states.

Likely engage the State Compensation Commission to determine the relevant averages and implement salary adjustments for Maine judges accordingly.

Impose duties on the Commission to monitor and recommend adjustments as needed, with Maine’s budget and agencies supporting the commission’s work.

Note: The specific statutory language detailing calculation methods, frequencies of adjustment, and which positions are affected (e.g., all judges vs. specific judicial ranks) is not provided in the material excerpt. The fiscal notes imply the Commission would play a central role in implementing the linkage.

Fiscal Impact

The 2026-2027 budget year includes funding for per diem and expenses for members of the State Compensation Commission; the sufficiency of these funds depends on the number of meetings.

Additional interim staffing to support the Commission would be absorbed within existing resources.

Any incremental costs for the Department of Administrative and Financial Services (DAFS) and the Judicial Department to support the Commission are described as minor and absorbable within current budgets.

Affected Entities

Maine Judicial Department (salaries for judges).

State Compensation Commission (administrative and oversight role to determine averages and implement adjustments).

Department of Administrative and Financial Services (budgetary and administrative support).

Maine Legislature (budget oversight and statutory framework for compensation).

Legislative History and Status

Referred to the Judiciary Committee on 2025-03-28.

Work session held 2025-04-15; reported as ONTP/OTP-AM on 2025-05-19.

Majority Ought Not to Pass (MONTP) report accepted; the bill was placed in Legislative Files (DEAD) on 2025-05-21.

The fiscal notes (LR 1884(01) and LR 1884(02)) indicate minor, absorbable costs and no significant new funding beyond existing staffing.

Bottom Line

LD 1371 would create a mechanism to calibrate Maine judicial salaries to the regional average of New England states, using the State Compensation Commission to determine and implement adjustments. Legislative action ultimately did not advance the bill, and it is considered dead. The fiscal implications are described as minor and manageable within current resources.