An Act to Support Families by Improving the Court Process for Child Protection Cases
Sponsored By: Donna Bailey (Democratic)
Became Law
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Stronger court checks on child removal
The law tightens the first steps in child protection cases. Any request for a preliminary protection order must be sworn. It must include facts, how the department weighed the child’s removal trauma against the immediate risk, and what services were offered to avoid removal. When deciding a temporary order, the court must weigh that trauma and whether options to reduce risk were tried. If the court keeps a removal in place, it must explain why risk outweighs trauma and confirm those efforts. The court uses a “more likely than not” standard of proof.
Old child protection clause removed
The law repeals a specific paragraph of Maine’s child protection law (22 M.R.S.A. §4002, sub-§1‑B, ¶C). This removes that text from the rules courts and the state use in these cases. The summary does not state the direct effect on families.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Donna Bailey
Democratic • Senate
Cosponsors
Amy Kuhn
Democratic • House
Anne M. Carney
Democratic • Senate
David Sinclair
Democratic • House
Holly Stover
Democratic • House
Marianne Moore
Republican • Senate
Michele Meyer
Democratic • House
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
Actions Timeline
ACTPUB Chapter 774
4/26/2026PASSED TO BE ENACTED, in concurrence.
4/13/2026SenatePASSED TO BE ENACTED. Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
4/13/2026HouseThe House RECEDED and CONCURRED to PASSAGE TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (S-328) as Amended by Senate Amendment "A" (S-683) thereto.ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
4/13/2026HouseOn motion by Senator ROTUNDO of Androscoggin taken from the Special Appropriations Table On motion by Same Senator the Senate SUSPENDED THE RULES to RECONSIDER their actions whereby the Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED by Committee Amendment "A" (S-328) in concurrence. On further motion by Same Senator the Senate SUSPENDED THE RULES to RECONSIDER their actions whereby Committee Amendment "A" (S-328) was ADOPTED. On further motion by Same Senator Senate Amendment "A" (S-683) to Committee Amendment "A" (S-328) READ and ADOPTED. Committee Amendment "A" (S-328) as Amended by Senate Amendment "A" (S-683) thereto ADOPTED. PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED BY Committee Amendment "A" (S-328) as Amended by Senate Amendment "A" (S-683) thereto in NON-CONCURRENCE. Sent down for concurrence.
4/13/2026SenateCARRIED OVER, in the same posture, to any special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature, pursuant to Joint Order SP 800.
6/25/2025SenateOn motion by Senator ROTUNDO of Androscoggin PLACED ON THE SPECIAL APPROPRIATIONS TABLE pending ENACTMENT in concurrence
6/11/2025SenatePASSED TO BE ENACTED. Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
6/10/2025HouseReports READ.On motion of Representative KUHN of Falmouth, the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report was ACCEPTED.The Bill was READ ONCE.Committee Amendment "A" (S-328) was READ and ADOPTED.Under suspension of the rules, the Bill was given its SECOND READING without REFERENCE to the Committee on Bills in the Second Reading.The Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (S-328). In concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
6/10/2025HouseReports ReadOn motion by Senator CARNEY of Cumberland the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report ACCEPTED. READ ONCE Committee Amendment "A" (S-328) READ and ADOPTED. Under suspension of the Rules, READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED by Committee Amendment "A" (S-328) Sent down for concurrence
6/9/2025SenateThe Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on JUDICIARY.In concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
4/10/2025HouseCommittee on JUDICIARY suggested and ordered printed REFERENCE to the Committee on JUDICIARY Ordered sent down forthwith for concurrence
4/10/2025Senate
Bill Text
Amendment C-A (S-328), adopted by House & Senate
Amendment S-A to C-A (S-683), adopted by House & Senate
Enacted
Introduced
Related Bills
LD 1522, An Act to Establish the Maine Eviction Prevention Program
LD 2067, An Act to Include Community Mental Health Workers Under the 1998 Special Plan for Retirement
LD 1665, An Act to Provide Property Tax Relief to Maine Families
LD 1872, An Act to Reinvest in the Pension Funds of the Maine Public Employees Retirement System
LD 1611, An Act to Decrease the Retirement Contributions Required for Teachers and State Employees
LD 1294, An Act to Expand the Dependent Exemption Tax Credit