# Maine LD 961: An Act to Address Maine's Health Care Workforce Shortage and Improve Access to Care Maine LD 961, An Act to Address Maine's Health Care Workforce Shortage and Improve Access to Care, is a 132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026) House bill sponsored by Kristi Mathieson (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-02-17 (Signed by Governor, ACTPUB Chapter 540); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-17). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD961-132 - 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 961 - State: Maine - Session: 132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026) - Title: An Act to Address Maine's Health Care Workforce Shortage and Improve Access to Care - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2025-03-06 - Last action: 2026-02-17, Signed by Governor, ACTPUB Chapter 540 - Sponsor: Kristi Mathieson (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 6 - Subjects: HEALTH CARE PERSONNEL, HEALTH CARE PERSONNEL - LICENSING - Touches household money: yes - Economic provisions PRIA read: 2 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Temporary 2-year supervision for nurse practitioners: cost, low. Until the Board of Nursing adopts permanent standards, certified nurse practitioners who qualify as advanced practice registered nurses must complete at least 24 months of supervised practice. Supervision can be by a licensed physician or a supervising nurse practitioner, or by working at a clinic… - New practice standards for nurse practitioners: mixed, low. The Board of Nursing sets practice standards for certified nurse practitioners seeking APRN status. Standards cover how long you must practice, required mentorship time with a supervising nurse practitioner, and allowed practice settings. You must show the Board you meet these standards. To qualify… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Kristi Mathieson (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Anne Graham (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Daniel Shagoury (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Denise Tepler (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Michelle Boyer (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Poppy Arford (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Stacy F. Brenner (Democratic), Senate ## Actions (10) - 2026-02-17: Signed by Governor, ACTPUB Chapter 540 - 2026-02-12: Taken from the table by the President Subsequently, PASSED TO BE ENACTED - Emergency - 2/3 Elected Required, in concurrence. (Senate) - 2026-02-10: On motion by Senator STEWART of Aroostook Tabled until Later in Today's Session, pending PASSAGE TO BE ENACTED - Emergency - 2/3 Elected Required, in concurrence. Unfinished Business (Senate) - 2026-02-03: This being an emergency measure, a two-thirds vote of all the members elected to the House was necessary.PASSED TO BE ENACTED.Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH. (House) - 2026-01-27: READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED BY Committee Amendment "A" (H-785), in concurrence.Ordered sent down forthwith. (Senate) - 2026-01-20: Reports READ and ACCEPTED. Bill READ ONCE. Committee Amendment "A" (H-785) READ and ADOPTED. ASSIGNED FOR SECOND READING NEXT LEGISLATIVE DAY. (Senate) - 2026-01-13: CONSENT CALENDAR - FIRST DAYUnder suspension of the rules CONSENT CALENDAR - SECOND DAY.The Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (H-785).Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH. (House) - 2025-06-25: Carried over, in the same posture, to any special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature, pursuant to Joint Order SP 800. (House) - 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. (House) - 2025-03-06: Received by the Clerk of the House on March 6, 2025.The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on HEALTH COVERAGE, INSURANCE AND FINANCIAL SERVICES pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to Joint Rule 401. (House) ## Bill text - Amendment C-A (H-785), adopted by House & Senate: [PDF](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0620&item=2&snum=132) - Enacted: [PDF](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0620&item=3&snum=132) - Introduced: [PDF](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0620&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 (H-785), adopted by House & Senate (PDF)](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0620&item=2&snum=132) - [Enacted (PDF)](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0620&item=3&snum=132) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0620&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-LD961-132 (as of 2026-10-17).