An Act to Establish a Monetary Penalty for Employers Whose Unemployment Payment Is Returned Unpaid
Sponsored By: Amy Roeder (Democratic)
Signed by Governor
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Maine Labor Department gets bank-fee funding
The law funds bank fees for returned Employment Security Law payments through Maine's Department of Labor, Employment Security Services. It allocates $0 for fiscal year 2025–26 and $7,000 for fiscal year 2026–27 from Other Special Revenue Funds.
New penalties for employers' returned unemployment payments
Maine employers must pay a penalty when any payment under the Employment Security Law is returned unpaid. The Commissioner of Labor charges $25 or 1% of the payment amount, whichever is greater, for each returned payment. This applies regardless of the reason, including insufficient funds, closed or nonexistent accounts, and stop-payment orders.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Amy Roeder
Democratic • House
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
Actions Timeline
Signed by Governor, ACTPUB Chapter 615
4/3/2026PASSED TO BE ENACTED, in concurrence.
3/30/2026SenatePASSED TO BE ENACTED. Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
3/26/2026HouseReports ReadOn motion by Senator TIPPING of Penobscot the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report ACCEPTED. Bill READ ONCE. Committee Amendment "A" (H-870) READ and ADOPTED. Under suspension of the Rules, READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED by Committee Amendment "A" (H-870) in concurrence.
3/25/2026SenateReports READ.On motion of Representative ROEDER of Bangor, the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report was ACCEPTED.The Bill was READ ONCE.Committee Amendment "A" (H-870) 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-870). Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
3/24/2026HouseThe Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on LABOR in concurrence
1/7/2026SenateCommittee on Labor suggested and ordered printed. The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on LABOR.Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
1/7/2026House
Bill Text
Amendment C-A (H-870), adopted by House & Senate
Enacted
Introduced
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