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MaineLD 530132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026)HouseWALLET

An Act to Eliminate a Rebuttable Presumption Against the Admission of Certain Applicants to the Bar

Sponsored By: David Boyer (Republican)

Became Law

LICENSINGLICENSING - OMNIBUS

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Maine bar removes automatic conviction barrier

The law removes the old presumption against admitting bar applicants with certain adult convictions. A past crime punishable by at least one year in prison no longer creates an automatic presumption that you lack good moral character. Applicants still must prove good moral character. The Board of Bar Examiners and the Maine Supreme Judicial Court may still consider a conviction as a reason to deny admission.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • David Boyer

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 55 • No: 121

Senate vote • 5/21/2025

ACCEPT MAJORITY OUGHT TO PASS AS AMENDED REPORT

Yes: 17 • No: 15

House vote • 5/20/2025

ACC MIN OUGHT NOT TO PASS REP

Yes: 38 • No: 106

Actions Timeline

  1. ACTPUB Chapter 182

    5/1/2026

  2. PASSED TO BE ENACTED, in concurrence.

    5/27/2025Senate

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

    5/27/2025House

  4. Reports ReadOn motion by Senator CARNEY of Cumberland the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report ACCEPTED PREVAILED Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 199 Yeas 17 - Nays 15 - Excused 3 - Absent 0 Bill READ ONCE Committee Amendment "A" (H-166) READ and ADOPTED Under suspension of the Rules, READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED by Committee Amendment "A" (H-166) in concurrence.

    5/21/2025Senate

  5. Reports READ.Motion of Representative KUHN of Falmouth, to ACCEPT the Minority Ought Not to Pass Report FAILED.ROLL CALL NO. 149(Yeas 38 - Nays 106 - Absent 6 - Excused 0 - Restricted - 1)Subsequently, on motion of Representative KUHN of Falmouth, the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report was ACCEPTED.The Bill was READ ONCE.Committee Amendment "A" (H-166) 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-166).Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    5/20/2025House

  6. Carried over, in the same posture, to the next special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature, pursuant to Joint Order SP 519.

    3/21/2025House

  7. Report READ The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on JUDICIARY in concurrence

    3/20/2025Senate

  8. Representative ROEDER from the Committee on LABOR Reporting that the Bill be REFERRED to the Committee on JUDICIARY.Report was READ and ACCEPTED.The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on JUDICIARYSent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    3/20/2025House

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

    2/11/2025Senate

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

    2/11/2025House

Bill Text

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