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LD 1266

Resolve, Directing The Attorney General To Convene A Working Group To Propose A Plan For Expanding The Reach Of Treatment Courts

132nd Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Tavis Hasenfus and 4 co-sponsors

Directs a cross‑agency working group to plan expanding Maine’s treatment courts and report recommendations to the Legislature; no immediate changes, but could broaden access.

Signed by Governor
#courts #drugcourt #expansion
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Bill Summary · LD 1266

Summary — LD 1266 (132nd Maine Legislature)

Title: Resolve, Directing the Attorney General (as amended: the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Behavioral Health) to Convene a Working Group to Propose a Plan for Expanding the Reach of Treatment Courts

Status: Signed by the Governor (June 20, 2025)
Introduced: March 25, 2025
Sponsor: Rep. Hasenfus (Readfield)
Committee: Judiciary
Subject: Courts; Drug/Treatment Courts; Expansion

Purpose and intent

LD 1266 directs state executive leadership to convene a multi‑agency working group to develop a proposal for expanding the reach of treatment (specialty) courts — e.g., drug courts and other problem‑solving court models that link people with substance use disorder or behavioral health needs to treatment as part of the court process. The underlying goal is to identify ways to increase access to treatment court options across the state.

Key provisions

  • Requires the convening of a working group charged with proposing a plan to expand treatment court services and reach. (Final engrossed language assigns convening responsibility to the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Behavioral Health; earlier drafts named the Attorney General.)
  • Directs participating state agencies to join the working group (fiscal notes identify likely participants: DHHS, Department of Corrections, Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management, Commission on Public Defense; earlier versions referenced the Attorney General).
  • Requires the working group to develop and report recommendations to the Legislature (fiscal notes indicate the group will convene and report back).
  • Committee Amendment “A” (H‑721) was adopted during legislative consideration; the Resolve was passed as amended.

Who is affected

  • State agencies that operate or interact with treatment courts (DHHS, Corrections, public defense, veterans/EM, and potentially the Attorney General’s Office and judicial partners).
  • Local courts, prosecutors, defense counsel, treatment providers and people involved in the criminal legal system who might become eligible for expanded treatment court programs if recommendations are implemented.
  • No direct statutory changes to eligibility, funding, or operations of courts are made by this Resolve — it only requires study and recommendations.

Fiscal and operational impact

  • Fiscal notes (April–June 2025) estimate a minor General Fund cost increase for convening the working group and preparing a report. Those costs are expected to be small and absorbable within existing agency budgets.
  • Any future fiscal impacts would depend on the Legislature’s response to the working group’s recommendations (e.g., funding for program expansion, staffing, or treatment services).

Timeline and legislative actions

  • Introduced and referred to the Judiciary Committee March 25, 2025.
  • Committee work sessions and a divided report; Committee Amendment A adopted.
  • Finally passed (House concurred) June 16, 2025 (Roll Call 83–63–3–2).
  • Signed by the Governor June 20, 2025.
  • Working group convening date and deadline for the report are not specified in the available documents; the Resolve directs the creation of the plan and a report to the Legislature.

Expected outcome

LD 1266 does not itself expand treatment courts but creates a formal mechanism for cross‑agency planning and recommendations that could lead to legislative or administrative actions to broaden treatment court availability in Maine.

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

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