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MaineLD 2098132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026)House

An Act to Update Certain Higher Education Statutes and Laws

Sponsored By: Holly Sargent (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIESCOLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES - CORRESPONDENCE SCHOOLS

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.

College of the Atlantic gains broader degrees

College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor can award Bachelor of Arts degrees like those awarded by similar colleges. Its authority is no longer limited to a Bachelor of Arts in Human Ecology. The provision does not specify tuition changes.

Recently approved colleges can skip another review

The State Board can recommend authority to grant degrees without another review for qualifying institutions. The Board must have approved or renewed approval for their Maine programs within five years before the application. Applications must cover only degrees tied to those approved programs. When recommending authority to the Legislature, the Board must send any completed review reports to the Legislature's education committee.

Temporary college approvals cannot support permanent authority

Institutions cannot use temporary approval as the basis for a State Board recommendation for permanent authority to grant degrees.

College fees fund Maine higher education administration

Institutions must submit initial degree-authority applications through the commissioner's process and pay a fee based on processing costs. Processing fees also apply to temporary college-name use, out-of-state courses for credit, coordinated programs, and exempt-status applications. The commissioner sets these fees. A new Higher Education Administrative Fund receives participation and application fees, plus interstate reciprocity membership and renewal fees. Its money carries forward and supports the department's interstate reciprocity work and higher education administration in Maine. The law also repeals 20-A MRSA chapter 321; the supplied text does not explain what that chapter covers.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Holly Sargent

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 95 • No: 79

Senate vote • 3/18/2026

ACCEPT MAJORITY OUGHT TO PASS AS AMENDED REPORT

Yes: 20 • No: 12

House vote • 3/17/2026

ACC MAJ OTP AS AMENDED REP

Yes: 75 • No: 67

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by Governor, ACTPUB Chapter 630

    4/3/2026

  2. PASSED TO BE ENACTED, in concurrence.

    3/25/2026Senate

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

    3/24/2026House

  4. COMMITTEE ON BILLS IN THE SECOND READING REPORTS NO FURTHER VERBAL AMENDMENTS NECESSARY. REPORT ACCEPTED.READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED BY Committee Amendment "A" (H-853), in concurrence.Ordered sent down forthwith.

    3/19/2026Senate

  5. Reports READOn motion by Senator RAFFERTY of York the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report ACCEPTED in concurrence. Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 774 Yeas 20 - Nays 12 - Excused 3 - Absent 0 Bill READ ONCE Committee Amendment "A" (H-853) READ and ADOPTED. ASSIGNED FOR SECOND READING NEXT LEGISLATIVE DAY.

    3/18/2026Senate

  6. Reports READ.On motion of Representative MURPHY of Scarborough, the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report was ACCEPTED.ROLL CALL NO. 654(Yeas 75 - Nays 67 - Absent 7 - Excused 1 - Vacant 1)The Bill was READ ONCE.Committee Amendment "A" (H-853) 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" (H-853). Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    3/17/2026House

  7. The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on EDUCATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS in concurrence

    1/7/2026Senate

  8. Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered printed. The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on EDUCATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS.Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    1/7/2026House

Bill Text

  • Amendment C-A (H-853), adopted by House & Senate

    PDF

  • Enacted

    PDF

  • Introduced

    PDF

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