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MaineLD 66132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026)HouseWALLET

An Act to Expand Access to the Maine Wage Assurance Fund

Sponsored By: Charles Skold (Democratic)

Became Law

EMPLOYMENT SECURITYEMPLOYMENT SECURITY - PROCEDURES

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Workers can get up to 4 weeks' pay

The law raises Wage Assurance Fund payments to as much as four weeks of your wages. It can pay unpaid wages and the matching liquidated damages the law allows, but the total is capped at four weeks of pay. You qualify only if your employer shut down with no assets to pay wages or filed for bankruptcy. Officers, directors, partners, and owners do not qualify as employees. The Bureau of Labor Standards’ Director runs the fund and sets the application and payment rules.

State can recover wages from employers

If the Wage Assurance Fund pays an employee, the State can seek that same amount from the employer. The State’s claim is limited to what the fund paid for unpaid wages and related liquidated damages.

Wage fund capped at $200,000

The Wage Assurance Fund keeps its money from year to year, but its balance cannot be more than $200,000. Money recovered from employers on claims goes back into the fund. Money not needed now is deposited with the State Treasurer and invested. Any interest earned is added to the fund.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Charles Skold

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 22 • No: 12

Senate vote • 5/28/2025

ACCEPT MAJORITY OUGHT TO PASS AS AMENDED REPORT

Yes: 22 • No: 12

Actions Timeline

  1. ACTPUB Chapter 192

    5/1/2026

  2. PASSED TO BE ENACTED, in concurrence.

    6/2/2025Senate

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

    5/29/2025House

  4. Reports READ On motion by Senator TIPPING of Penobscot The Majority Ought to Pass As Amended Report ACCEPTED. PREVAILED Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 240 Yeas 22 - Nays 12 - Excused 1 - Absent 0 Bill READ ONCE Committee Amendment "A" (H-265) READ and ADOPTED. Under suspension of the Rules, READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED by Committee Amendment "A" (H-265) in concurrence.

    5/28/2025Senate

  5. Reports 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-265) 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-265). Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    5/27/2025House

  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. Received by the Clerk of the House on January 6, 2025.The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on LABOR pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to Joint Rule 401.

    1/6/2025House

Bill Text

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