PRIA Logo™
MaineLD 966132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026)House

An Act Allowing Access by State Agencies and Hospitals to Certain Confidential Probate Court Records

Sponsored By: Amy Kuhn (Democratic)

Became Law

PROBATEPROBATE - PROCEEDINGS

Your PRIA Score

Score Hidden

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to start

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Agencies and hospitals get probate access

The law lets certain public groups see confidential probate records to protect people. They include the health department (DHHS), the Attorney General, the disability protection and advocacy agency, licensed hospitals, and a nonprofit legal aid group funded to serve older Mainers. They can use records only for official duties and must follow all privacy laws. For minor guardianship cases, access starts April 1, 2025. For adult guardianship, conservatorship, and protective arrangements, access starts when court probate rules are updated, and no later than January 15, 2026.

More people can see probate records

The law widens who can see court records in guardianship, conservatorship, and protective-arrangement cases. People named in the law may see records, including plans and reports. Agents named in a health care directive or a financial power of attorney may see records unless the court orders otherwise. Others can ask the court for access; the court must allow it when it helps the person or the public and does not harm the person’s welfare or money. These changes take effect when court probate rules are updated, and no later than January 15, 2026.

Court rules and start dates for access

Most of this law takes effect April 1, 2025. The access changes for adult guardianship, conservatorship, and protective arrangements start when the Maine probate rules are updated, or by January 15, 2026, whichever comes first. The Supreme Judicial Court must write rules that say how agencies name authorized staff and how registers of probate give access. The Court must report progress to the Judiciary Committee by May 1, 2025 and again by June 1, 2025.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Amy Kuhn

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Anne M. Carney

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

Actions Timeline

  1. ACTPUB Chapter 18

    5/1/2026

  2. PASSED TO BE ENACTED - Emergency - 2/3 Elected Required, in concurrence.

    4/1/2025Senate

  3. 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.

    4/1/2025House

  4. Report READ and ACCEPTED, in concurrence.READ ONCE.Committee Amendment "A" (H-35) READ and ADOPTED, in concurrence.Under suspension of the Rules, READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED BY Committee Amendment "A" (H-35), in concurrence.Ordered sent down forthwith.

    4/1/2025Senate

  5. 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-35).Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    4/1/2025House

  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 March 7, 2025.The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on JUDICIARY pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to Joint Rule 401.

    3/7/2025House

Bill Text

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation