PRIA Logo™
MaineLD 1544132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026)Senate

An Act to Support Families by Improving the Court Process for Child Protection Cases

Sponsored By: Donna Bailey (Democratic)

Became Law

ABUSEABUSE - PROTECTION ACTIONS

Your PRIA Score

Score Hidden

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to start

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 4 mixed.

Aggravating cases can halt reunification

If the preliminary order includes an aggravating factor, the court can stop or not start reunification. The court must hold a jeopardy hearing and a permanency planning hearing. Those hearings must begin within 30 days of the preliminary order.

Courts must weigh trauma before removal

Requests for a preliminary protection order must be sworn and include key facts. The request must explain how the Department weighed removal trauma against immediate risk and list services offered to avoid removal. When deciding a preliminary order, the court must consider that trauma and whether the Department exhausted safer options. If the court finds immediate risk by a preponderance, it can order any disposition allowed by law. If the child stays out of the home, the court must write why risk outweighs trauma and that options were exhausted.

Faster hearings and clearer parent rights

Courts schedule the summary preliminary hearing 7 to 14 days after the order. A parent's lawyer may ask for an earlier date. If a parent appears and does not consent, the petitioner must prove the case. The court may limit witnesses and accept reports that are normally hearsay. If you were not served before the hearing, you can request another hearing within 10 days of getting the petition. A preliminary order ends when a final order or a judicial review order issues.

One paragraph repealed in child law

The law repeals one paragraph in Maine’s child protection statute. That paragraph no longer applies in child protection cases. The practical effect depends on what that paragraph said.

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

  1. ACTPUB Chapter 774

    5/1/2026

  2. PASSED TO BE ENACTED, in concurrence.

    4/13/2026Senate

  3. PASSED TO BE ENACTED. Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    4/13/2026House

  4. The 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.

    4/13/2026House

  5. On 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.

    4/13/2026Senate

  6. CARRIED OVER, in the same posture, to any special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature, pursuant to Joint Order SP 800.

    6/25/2025Senate

  7. On motion by Senator ROTUNDO of Androscoggin PLACED ON THE SPECIAL APPROPRIATIONS TABLE pending ENACTMENT in concurrence

    6/11/2025Senate

  8. PASSED TO BE ENACTED. Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    6/10/2025House

  9. Reports 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.

    6/10/2025House

  10. Reports 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

    6/9/2025Senate

  11. The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on JUDICIARY.In concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    4/10/2025House

  12. Committee on JUDICIARY suggested and ordered printed REFERENCE to the Committee on JUDICIARY Ordered sent down forthwith for concurrence

    4/10/2025Senate

Bill Text

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation