PRIA Logo™
MaineLD 1941132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026)House

Resolve, Establishing the Commission to Examine the Intersection of Parole and Current Sentencing Practices

Sponsored By: Nina Milliken (Democratic)

Became Law

CRIMINAL PROCEDURECRIMINAL PROCEDURE - SENTENCES

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

7 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.

Tougher sentences for murder and attempts

For murder, the court must sentence you to life in prison (with or without parole) or to at least 25 years. For aggravated attempted murder, the court may sentence you to life (with or without parole) or to a definite number of years. The sentence must state the length and commit you to the Department of Corrections.

Who can get parole and when

The law brings back parole for people in Maine Department of Corrections custody, but not for those sentenced under laws before May 1, 1976. You must finish a DOC parole prep program within 90 days before you apply. Life sentences are eligible after 20 years. Definite terms of 10 or more years are eligible after serving half the unsuspended time or 20 years, whichever is less. Sex offenses require completing intensive sex‑offender treatment; domestic‑violence offenses require completing DV programming. If the crime had a minor victim, the board cannot consider parole until the youngest victim turns 25. If you were in DOC custody on the law’s effective date, you are not eligible until at least five years after that date. The board must set a hearing within 60 days, share documents at least 30 days before, and send a written decision within 45 days. If granted, you get supervised community conditions and may have to pay some costs if you have resources; if denied, the board explains why and sets a new try date in 1 to 5 years.

How parole is decided and revoked

The Parole Board must use a written risk and suitability assessment as the main factor in all parole and revocation decisions. For people sentenced after the new subchapter starts, grants and revocations need a majority vote; for those sentenced from May 1, 1976 until the start date, a grant needs five or more votes. If an officer has probable cause of a violation and no direct danger, they must issue a summons; if there is a direct threat, they may arrest you. The board must hold a revocation hearing within 30 days (one 30‑day extension for good cause). If revoked, you lose deductions earned while on parole but may earn deductions while serving the rest of your term; you have the right to a lawyer, and the court appoints one if you cannot pay. If you get a new prison sentence while on parole, it runs at the same time as your old sentence unless the judge orders otherwise.

Victims get notice and a voice

The Office of Victim Services must try to tell victims when someone applies for parole, the hearing dates, the results, and any court review. The office must give victims a pamphlet about the process and services. Victims may speak in person or send a written or recorded statement, and they may bring a support person. Written or recorded statements must be kept private and not placed in regular prison files.

More parole data and public reporting

The Parole Board must track and study its decisions, use of guidelines, reentry programs, and rearrests. Victim‑identifying data stays confidential and is shared only with government researchers under nondisclosure. Starting January 15, 2026, the Department includes this data and an update on parole implementation in its annual report to the Governor and Legislature.

State funds staff to run parole

The state provides $1,102,053 in General Fund money for fiscal year 2026–27 to run parole. It funds one Secretary Specialist ($115,147), 18 Probation Officers ($872,487), and one Advocate in the Office of Victim Services ($114,419). This staffing supports assessments, supervision, and services tied to the new parole system.

Stronger Maine Parole Board and leadership

The State Parole Board is now the Maine Parole Board, expanded to seven members. The Governor appoints an executive director to run operations and help build evidence‑based rules. Members must meet training/experience standards, and the Governor seeks diversity, including a mental health professional, a Maine attorney, a sexual‑violence treatment expert, at least one woman, a member of a historically disadvantaged racial population in Maine, and a formerly incarcerated person. Members serve four‑year terms with a two‑term limit; initial terms are staggered to avoid many ending at once. The board meets monthly with a five‑member quorum and must provide annual expert training. Current members may be reappointed once under a transitional rule.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Nina Milliken

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Pinny H. Beebe-Center

    Democratic • Senate

  • Daniel Sayre

    Democratic • House

  • David Sinclair

    Democratic • House

  • Holly Sargent

    Democratic • House

  • Jill C. Duson

    Democratic • Senate

  • Kristi Mathieson

    Democratic • House

  • Rachel Talbot Ross

    Democratic • Senate

  • Sophia Warren

    Democratic • House

  • William Pluecker

    Independent • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 246 • No: 268

Senate vote • 4/8/2026

ACCEPT REPORT 'C' OUGHT TO PASS AS AMENDED

Yes: 21 • No: 14

Senate vote • 4/8/2026

PASSAGE TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED

Yes: 20 • No: 15

House vote • 4/7/2026

acc report "a" ontp

Yes: 74 • No: 74

House vote • 4/7/2026

acc report "b" otp-am by ca "a"

Yes: 54 • No: 94

House vote • 4/7/2026

acc report "c" otp-am by ca "b"

Yes: 77 • No: 71

Actions Timeline

  1. RESLV Chapter 176

    5/1/2026

  2. On motion by Senator DUSON of Cumberland taken from the Special Study Table Subsequently, FINALLY PASSED, in concurrence.

    4/14/2026Senate

  3. On motion by Senator DUSON of Cumberland placed on the SPECIAL STUDY TABLE pending FINAL PASSAGE in concurrence

    4/9/2026Senate

  4. FINALLY PASSED.Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    4/9/2026House

  5. The House RECEDED and CONCURRED to PASSAGE TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "B" (H-978) as Amended by Senate Amendment "A" (S-646) thereto.ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    4/9/2026House

  6. Reports READOn motion by Senator CARNEY of Cumberland the Report C Ought to Pass as Amended by Committee Amendment "B" (H-978) Report ACCEPTED. Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 907 Yeas 21 - Nays 14 - Excused 0 - Absent 0 READ ONCE. Committee Amendment "B" (H-978) READ. On motion by Senator CARNEY of Cumberland Senate Amendment "A" (S-646) to Committee Amendment "B" (H-978) READ and ADOPTED in NON-CONCURRENCE. Committee Amendment "B" (H-978) as Amended by Senate Amendment "A" (S-646) thereto ADOPTED. Under suspension of the Rules, READ A SECOND TIME. PASSAGE TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED by Committee Amendment "B" (H-978) as Amended by Senate Amendment "A" (S-646) thereto PREVAILED in NON-CONCURRENCE. Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 908 Yeas 20 - Nays 15 - Excused 0 - Absent 0 Sent down for concurrence.

    4/8/2026Senate

  7. Reports READ.Motion of Representative KUHN of Falmouth to ACCEPT REPORT A Ought Not to Pass FAILED.ROLL CALL NO. 747(Yeas 74 - Nays 74 - Absent 2 - Excused 0 - Vacant 1)Subsequently, motion of Representative KUHN of Falmouth to ACCEPT REPORT B Ought to Pass as Amended FAILED.ROLL CALL NO. 748(Yeas 54 - Nays 94 - Absent 2 - Excused 0 - Vacant 1)Subsequently, on motion of Representative KUHN of Falmouth, REPORT C Ought to Pass as Amended was ACCEPTED.ROLL CALL NO. 749(Yeas 77 - Nays 71 - Absent 2 - Excused 0 - Vacant 1)The Bill was READ ONCE.Committee Amendment "B" (H-978) 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 "B" (H-978).Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    4/7/2026House

  8. Carried over, in the same posture, to any special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature, pursuant to Joint Order SP 800.

    6/25/2025House

  9. The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on JUDICIARY in concurrence

    5/7/2025Senate

  10. Committee on Judiciary suggested and ordered printed. The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on JUDICIARY.Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    5/7/2025House

Bill Text

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation