MaineLD 93132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026)HouseWALLET

An Act to Reduce Cost and Increase Access to Disease Prevention by Expanding the Universal Childhood Immunization Program to Include Adults

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

State vaccines now cover adults

Beginning July 1, 2026, Maine’s Universal Immunization Program covers adults as well as kids. If you live in Maine, you count as an eligible individual. The Maine Vaccine Board sets and updates the vaccine list each year. The program uses low‑cost buying like CDC contract prices, direct manufacturer deals, and bulk purchases to stretch dollars and expand access.

New per-person vaccine fees for insurers

The Vaccine Board sets a monthly per-person assessment to fund vaccines. It adds total costs, may add up to 10% for reserve and up to 10% for administration, subtracts unspent funds, then divides by projected people and by 12. Bills are quarterly starting July 1, 2026, due 45 days after each quarter, based on the monthly rate times member‑months. The board may set more than one assessment per entity, must prevent double counting, and may audit reported covered months. For new vaccines, one interim assessment per year can start in the quarter at least 30 days after a federal price is set, unless there is a public health emergency. An Assessment Adjustment Factor can raise or lower final amounts to keep allocations fair. If assessments fall short, the State does not have to pay the gap.

More health staff and MaineCare savings

Starting July 1, 2026, Maine CDC adds two Public Health Educator III jobs to support adult vaccines. In FY 2026–27, federal funding covers $202,025 for salaries and $19,536 for other costs ($221,561 total). MaineCare saves money by buying adult vaccines at CDC contract prices, cutting the provider payments budget by $562,726 in FY 2026–27 ($302,107 General Fund and $482,180 Federal).

State won’t replace lost kids’ vaccine funds

Starting July 1, 2026, Maine does not use the state Immunization Fund to fill gaps if federal Vaccines for Children money runs short. Parents who rely on VFC may not get state‑funded vaccines in that case.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Samuel Zager
Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 213 • No: 183

Senate vote • 6/17/2025

ACCEPT MAJORITY OUGHT TO PASS AS AMENDED REPORT

Yes: 20 • No: 13

Senate vote • 6/17/2025

ADOPT SENATE AMENDMENT (S-426) to COMMITTEE AMENDMENT

Yes: 14 • No: 19

House vote • 6/17/2025

Enactment

Yes: 78 • No: 70

Senate vote • 6/16/2025

TABLE UNTIL LATER

Yes: 23 • No: 12

House vote • 6/16/2025

ACC MAJ OTP AS AMENDED REP

Yes: 78 • No: 69

Actions Timeline

Signed by Governor, ACTPUB Chapter 440
7/1/2025
On motion by Senator ROTUNDO of Androscoggin taken from the Special Appropriations Table PASSED TO BE ENACTED in concurrence.
6/25/2025Senate
On motion by Senator ROTUNDO of Androscoggin Tabled until Later in Today's Session, pending ENACTMENT in concurrence. Taken from the table by the President On motion by Senator ROTUNDO of Androscoggin PLACED ON THE SPECIAL APPROPRIATIONS TABLE pending ENACTMENT in concurrence.
6/17/2025Senate
PASSED TO BE ENACTED. ROLL CALL NO. 556(Yeas 78 - Nays 70 - Absent 1 - Excused 2)Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
6/17/2025House
Taken from the table by the President Subsequently The Majority Ought to Pass As Amended Report ACCEPTED. PREVAILED Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 599 Yeas 20 - Nays 13 - Excused 2 - Absent 0 Bill READ ONCE Committee Amendment "A" (H-728) READ Motion by Senator BICKFORD of Androscoggin Senate Amendment "A" (S-426) to Committee Amendment "A" (H-728) READ and FAILED ADOPTION. Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 600 Yeas 14 - Nays 19 - Excused 2 - Absent 0 Subsequently Committee Amendment "A" (H-728) ADOPTED Under suspension of the Rules, READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED by Committee Amendment "A" (H-728) in concurrence.
6/17/2025Senate
Reports ReadSenator INGWERSEN of York moved to ACCEPT the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report. On motion by Senator STEWART of Aroostook Tabled until Later in Today's Session, pending Motion by Senator INGWERSEN of York to ACCEPT The Majority Ought to Pass As Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (H-728) in concurrence PREVAILED Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 587 Yeas 23 - Nays 12 - Excused 0 - Absent 0 Unfinished Business
6/17/2025Senate
Reports READ.On motion of Representative MEYER of Eliot, the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report was ACCEPTED.ROLL CALL NO. 526(Yeas 78 - Nays 69 - Absent 2 - Excused 2)The Bill was READ ONCE.Committee Amendment "A" (H-728) 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-728). Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
6/16/2025House
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
The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES in concurrence
1/8/2025Senate
Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed. The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
1/8/2025House

Bill Text

Amendment C-A (H-728), adopted by House & Senate
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Enacted
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Introduced
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