PRIA Logo™
MaineLD 259132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026)Senate

An Act to Establish the Criminal Records Review Commission in Statute

Sponsored By: Rachel Talbot Ross (Democratic)

Became Law

CRIMINAL HISTORIESCRIMINAL HISTORIES - CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORDS

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

How the records panel operates

Beginning January 1, 2026, the law sets who serves on the commission and how it runs. Two Senators and two House members serve, along with agency leaders and many stakeholder representatives. Non-legislator members serve two-year terms and may stay until replaced; a quorum is 15, and the first-named Senate and House members are the chairs. The commission can hire experts and accept outside funding if the Legislative Council approves it. The law funds legislators’ costs: FY2025-26 total $1,400 ($440 personal services, $960 other) and FY2026-27 total $2,800 ($880 personal services, $1,920 other).

New panel reviews criminal records

Beginning January 1, 2026, the law creates the Criminal Records Review Commission. It reviews Maine’s criminal history record rules and practices. It looks at how records are collected, kept, shared, sealed, opened to the public, and vacated. It sends findings and recommendations to the Legislature each year and can propose law changes at the start of each session. It also advises the Department of Public Safety and the courts.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Rachel Talbot Ross

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Donna Bailey

    Democratic • Senate

  • Mana Abdi

    Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 97 • No: 83

House vote • 6/10/2025

ACC MAJ OTP AS AMENDED REP

Yes: 78 • No: 68

Senate vote • 6/9/2025

ACCEPT MAJORITY OUGHT TO PASS AS AMENDED REPORT

Yes: 19 • No: 15

Actions Timeline

  1. ACTPUB Chapter 526

    1/11/2026

  2. HELD BY THE GOVERNOR.

    7/8/2025Senate

  3. On motion by Senator ROTUNDO of Androscoggin taken from the Special Appropriations Table PASSED TO BE ENACTED in concurrence.

    6/25/2025Senate

  4. On motion by Senator ROTUNDO of Androscoggin PLACED ON THE SPECIAL APPROPRIATIONS TABLE pending ENACTMENT in concurrence

    6/11/2025Senate

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

    6/10/2025House

  6. Reports READ.On motion of Representative KUHN of Falmouth, the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report was ACCEPTED.ROLL CALL NO. 402(Yeas 78 - Nays 68 - Absent 3 - Excused 2)The Bill was READ ONCE.Committee Amendment "A" (S-326) 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-326). In concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    6/10/2025House

  7. Reports ReadOn motion by Senator CARNEY of Cumberland the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report ACCEPTED. PREVAILED Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 420 Yeas 19 - Nays 15 - Excused 1 - Absent 0 READ ONCE Committee Amendment "A" (S-326) READ and ADOPTED. Under suspension of the Rules, READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED by Committee Amendment "A" (S-326) Sent down for concurrence

    6/9/2025Senate

  8. CARRIED OVER, in the same posture, to the next special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature, pursuant to Joint Order SP 519.

    3/21/2025Senate

  9. The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on JUDICIARY.In concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    1/28/2025House

  10. Committee on JUDICIARY suggested and ordered printed REFERENCE to the Committee on JUDICIARY Ordered sent down forthwith for concurrence

    1/28/2025Senate

Bill Text

  • Amendment C-A (S-326), adopted by House & Senate

    PDF

  • Enacted

    PDF

  • Introduced

    PDF

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation