# Maine LD 22: An Act to Update the Laws Governing Education in the Unorganized Territory Maine LD 22, An Act to Update the Laws Governing Education in the Unorganized Territory, is a 132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026) Senate bill sponsored by Joseph Rafferty (Democratic); status signed, last action 2025-07-01 (Signed by Governor, ACTPUB Chapter 437); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-17). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD22-132 - As of: 2026-10-17 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Maine LD 22 - State: Maine - Session: 132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026) - Title: An Act to Update the Laws Governing Education in the Unorganized Territory - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2025-01-08 - Last action: 2025-07-01, Signed by Governor, ACTPUB Chapter 437 - Sponsor: Joseph Rafferty (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 0 - Subjects: SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION, SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION - UNORGANIZED TERRITORY - Touches household money: yes - Economic provisions PRIA read: 5 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Flexible attendance and excused medical visits: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2025, health appointments during the school day are excused absences without prior approval. A student at least 15 who has finished 9th grade may leave school for approved training or work‑study with a parent’s and the Commissioner’s permission. A full‑time, matriculated student a… - School year and enrollment in unorganized territory: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2025, the school year runs July 1 to June 30. A child who is 5 by October 15 can enroll in school. A child who is 4 by October 15 can enroll in public preschool if it is offered. Students who were in public kindergarten or grade 1 in another state can enroll in the same grade here… - State standards for unorganized territory schools: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2025, schools in the unorganized territory follow the state’s learning standards under the Commissioner. Schools must also meet state standards for elementary, secondary, and special education. Special education eligibility follows the rules in chapter 303. - Veterans can finish high school: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2025, a war veteran who did not finish high school before age 18 can enroll in unorganized‑territory schools. The veteran may stay until graduation or until the end of the school year when they turn 25. - Transport help, limits on private roads: mixed, low. Beginning July 1, 2025, the Commissioner may pay some or all student transportation or boarding costs. The Commissioner cannot provide or reimburse travel over roads not accepted by the county as public, or roads that do not meet DOT standards. If your route uses those roads, you may not get reimbu… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Joseph Rafferty (Democratic), Senate ## Actions (8) - 2025-07-01: Signed by Governor, ACTPUB Chapter 437 - 2025-06-25: On motion by Senator ROTUNDO of Androscoggin taken from the Special Appropriations Table PASSED TO BE ENACTED in concurrence. (Senate) - 2025-05-27: On motion by Senator ROTUNDO of Androscoggin PLACED ON THE SPECIAL APPROPRIATIONS TABLE pending ENACTMENT in concurrence. (Senate) - 2025-05-27: PASSED TO BE ENACTED. Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH. (House) - 2025-05-22: Reports READ.On motion of Representative MURPHY of Scarborough, the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report was ACCEPTED.The Bill was READ ONCE.Committee Amendment "A" (S-111) 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-111). In concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH. (House) - 2025-05-21: Reports ReadOn motion by Senator RAFFERTY of York the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report ACCEPTED. Bill READ ONCE Committee Amendment "A" (S-111) READ and ADOPTED Under suspension of the Rules, READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED by Committee Amendment "A" (S-111) Sent down forthwith for concurrence. (Senate) - 2025-03-21: CARRIED OVER, in the same posture, to the next special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature, pursuant to Joint Order SP 519. (Senate) - 2025-01-08: Received by the Secretary of the Senate on January 6, 2025 and REFERRED to the Committee on EDUCATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 (Senate) ## Bill text - Amendment C-A (S-111), adopted by House & Senate: [PDF](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=SP0035&item=2&snum=132) - Enacted: [PDF](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=SP0035&item=3&snum=132) - Introduced: [PDF](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=SP0035&item=1&snum=132) ## Related bills - LD 1522: An Act to Establish the Maine Eviction Prevention Program (failed) - LD 1665: An Act to Provide Property Tax Relief to Maine Families (failed) - LD 1872: An Act to Reinvest in the Pension Funds of the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (failed) - LD 2067: An Act to Include Community Mental Health Workers Under the 1998 Special Plan for Retirement (failed) - LD 1611: An Act to Decrease the Retirement Contributions Required for Teachers and State Employees (failed) - LD 1294: An Act to Expand the Dependent Exemption Tax Credit (failed) ## Sources - [Amendment C-A (S-111), adopted by House & Senate (PDF)](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=SP0035&item=2&snum=132) - [Enacted (PDF)](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=SP0035&item=3&snum=132) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=SP0035&item=1&snum=132) ## Related - [LD 1522: An Act to Establish the Maine Eviction Prevention Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD1522-132) - [LD 1665: An Act to Provide Property Tax Relief to Maine Families](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD1665-132) - [LD 1872: An Act to Reinvest in the Pension Funds of the Maine Public Employees Retiremen…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD1872-132) - [LD 2067: An Act to Include Community Mental Health Workers Under the 1998 Special Plan f…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD2067-132) - [LD 1611: An Act to Decrease the Retirement Contributions Required for Teachers and State…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD1611-132) - [LD 1294: An Act to Expand the Dependent Exemption Tax Credit](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD1294-132) - [Maine bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/maine/bills) - [Maine state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/maine) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD22-132 (as of 2026-10-17).