# Maine LD 1436: An Act to Update and Clarify Provisions Related to 9-1-1 Services Maine LD 1436, An Act to Update and Clarify Provisions Related to 9-1-1 Services, is a 132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026) House bill sponsored by Melanie Sachs (Democratic); status signed, last action 2025-05-30 (Signed by Governor, ACTPUB Chapter 167); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-17). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD1436-132 - As of: 2026-10-17 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Maine LD 1436 - State: Maine - Session: 132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026) - Title: An Act to Update and Clarify Provisions Related to 9-1-1 Services - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2025-04-03 - Last action: 2025-05-30, Signed by Governor, ACTPUB Chapter 167 - Sponsor: Melanie Sachs (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 0 - Subjects: TELECOMMUNICATIONS, TELECOMMUNICATIONS - 9-1-1 EMERGENCY SYSTEM - Touches household money: yes - Economic provisions PRIA read: 11 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Criminal charges for false 9-1-1 info: benefit, high. People who knowingly give false information to 9-1-1 or emergency personnel can be charged. The law updates the wording so the rule clearly covers modern 9-1-1 services. - Modern 9-1-1 tech and caller data: benefit, high. The law defines 9-1-1 service to include Internet‑based calls and requires automatic number and location data on calls. Providers must supply this data and work with the bureau through a named contact. It clarifies who counts as an originating service provider. It recognizes both physical and virtu… - 9-1-1 access on disconnected home lines: benefit, medium. If your home phone service is suspended or disconnected, the law requires 9-1-1 access‑only service. You can still call 9-1-1 from that line for emergencies. - New statewide 9-1-1 bureau and standards: benefit, medium. The law creates the Emergency Services Communication Bureau inside the Public Utilities Commission. The bureau runs and oversees the statewide 9-1-1 system. It sets technical and operating standards, with advice from the 9-1-1 Council. It also runs a quality‑assurance program to audit 9-1-1 perform… - How the 9-1-1 fund is used: benefit, low. The bureau uses the 9-1-1 fund to pay staff and statewide operations, including new technologies. It provides free dispatcher training and quality tools and may hire third‑party quality reviewers. It can award one‑time grants for PSAP consolidation or transfers, up to $1,000,000 each two‑year budge… - PTSD presumption ends for dispatchers 2025: cost, medium. The rebuttable presumption that PTSD is work‑related for covered public safety workers, including 9-1-1 dispatchers, ends October 1, 2025. After that date, these workers no longer have the easier, presumptive path to workers’ compensation for PTSD. - Stronger penalties for noncompliant providers: cost, low. Providers that knowingly fail to pay 9-1-1 surcharges can be fined up to $500 for each day the payment is late. The Public Utilities Commission can also fine carriers up to $1,000 per day for 9-1-1 rule violations and, in extreme cases, revoke authority to operate in Maine. - Provider 9-1-1 liability limits clarified: mixed, medium. The law includes originating service providers and their employees and agents under telecom provider rules. For negligence, damages are capped at $300,000 (or a larger cap in existing law). There is no cap for intentional, willful, or reckless conduct. - Statewide 9-1-1 surcharges on phone bills: mixed, low. You may pay a 9-1-1 surcharge on your phone bill. It cannot be more than $0.35 per line per month and no more than 25 lines per account (max $8.75 monthly). Prepaid wireless purchases can be charged up to $0.35 per retail transaction. Providers must send surcharge money to the State on a set schedu… - PSAP consolidation, local contracts, and notice: mixed, low. The bureau sets a goal of 16 to 24 9-1-1 centers (PSAPs) statewide and must study costs and impacts before any cuts. Towns and counties without a PSAP must contract with one or the Department of Public Safety will serve and bill them. PSAPs must give at least one year’s notice before stopping servi… - PUC 9-1-1 rules and technical updates: mixed, low. The Public Utilities Commission must issue routine technical rules to carry out the 9-1-1 law. It can require new multiline phone systems to send location and support emergency response. These rules only apply to systems installed or replaced after the rules take effect and cannot force local gover… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Melanie Sachs (Democratic), House ## Actions (7) - 2025-05-30: Signed by Governor, ACTPUB Chapter 167 - 2025-05-27: PASSED TO BE ENACTED, in concurrence. (Senate) - 2025-05-27: PASSED TO BE ENACTED. Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH. (House) - 2025-05-22: Report READ and ACCEPTED, in concurrence.READ ONCE.Committee Amendment "A" (H-203) READ and ADOPTED, in concurrence.Under suspension of the Rules, READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED BY Committee Amendment "A" (H-203), in concurrence.Ordered sent down forthwith. (Senate) - 2025-05-22: CONSENT CALENDAR - FIRST DAYUnder suspension of the rules CONSENT CALENDAR - SECOND DAY.The Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (H-203).Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH. (House) - 2025-04-08: The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on ENERGY, UTILITIES AND TECHNOLOGY in concurrence (Senate) - 2025-04-03: Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology suggested and ordered printed. The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on ENERGY, UTILITIES AND TECHNOLOGY.Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH. (House) ## Bill text - Amendment C-A (H-203), adopted by House & Senate: [PDF](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0945&item=2&snum=132) - Enacted: [PDF](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0945&item=3&snum=132) - Introduced: [PDF](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0945&item=1&snum=132) ## Related bills - LD 1522: An Act to Establish the Maine Eviction Prevention Program (failed) - LD 1665: An Act to Provide Property Tax Relief to Maine Families (failed) - LD 1872: An Act to Reinvest in the Pension Funds of the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (failed) - LD 2067: An Act to Include Community Mental Health Workers Under the 1998 Special Plan for Retirement (failed) - LD 1611: An Act to Decrease the Retirement Contributions Required for Teachers and State Employees (failed) - LD 1294: An Act to Expand the Dependent Exemption Tax Credit (failed) ## Sources - [Amendment C-A (H-203), adopted by House & Senate (PDF)](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0945&item=2&snum=132) - [Enacted (PDF)](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0945&item=3&snum=132) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0945&item=1&snum=132) ## Related - [LD 1522: An Act to Establish the Maine Eviction Prevention Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD1522-132) - [LD 1665: An Act to Provide Property Tax Relief to Maine Families](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD1665-132) - [LD 1872: An Act to Reinvest in the Pension Funds of the Maine Public Employees Retiremen…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD1872-132) - [LD 2067: An Act to Include Community Mental Health Workers Under the 1998 Special Plan f…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD2067-132) - [LD 1611: An Act to Decrease the Retirement Contributions Required for Teachers and State…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD1611-132) - [LD 1294: An Act to Expand the Dependent Exemption Tax Credit](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD1294-132) - [Maine bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/maine/bills) - [Maine state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/maine) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD1436-132 (as of 2026-10-17).