An Act to Implement the Recommendations of the Right to Know Advisory Committee Concerning State Boards and Commissions
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Mandatory public records training for officials
Officials, board members, and public access officers must finish public records training within 120 days of starting. The course is under 2 hours and covers the legal rules, how to handle requests, and penalties for not following the law. Reading the State’s online guidance with this content also counts. After training, you must record the course and date, and keep or file it with your public entity. Public access officers must file it with the agency or official who named them.
Public access officers and faster record responses
Each agency, county, city, school unit, and board must name an existing employee as its public access officer. That officer ensures each public records request is acknowledged within 5 working days after the office that keeps the record receives it, and gives a good‑faith estimate of completion. Any office that gets a request must acknowledge and respond, even if it was not sent to the public access officer. One officer may serve several boards in the same office.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
There is no primary sponsor on record.
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
Actions Timeline
ACTPUB Chapter 187
6/8/2025PASSED TO BE ENACTED, in concurrence.
5/27/2025SenatePASSED TO BE ENACTED. Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
5/27/2025HouseReport READ and ACCEPTED, in concurrence.READ ONCE.Committee Amendment "A" (H-163) 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-163), in concurrence.Ordered sent down forthwith.
5/21/2025SenateCONSENT 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-163).Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
5/20/2025HouseReport READ and ACCEPTED, in concurrence.On motion by Senator Carney of Cumberland REFERRED to the Committee on Judiciary and ordered printed pursuant to Joint Rule 218, in concurrence.
4/29/2025SenateRepresentative KUHN for the Joint Standing Committee on Judiciary pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 1, section 411, subsection 6, paragraph G reports that the Bill be REFERRED to the Committee on JUDICIARY and printed pursuant to Joint Rule 218.Report was READ and ACCEPTED.The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on JUDICIARYSent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
4/29/2025House
Bill Text
Amendment C-A (H-163), adopted by House & Senate
Enacted
Introduced
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