Proposals

This Chapter establishes a fee schedule and administrative procedures for payment of Counsel. The Chapter sets a standard hourly rate and fee amounts that trigger presumptive review for specific case types. The Chapter also establishes rules for the payment of mileage and other expenses that are eligible for reimbursement by the Commission. Finally, this Chapter requires that all vouchers for attorney fees and reimbursable expenses must be submitted using the PDS electronic case management system. The revisions to this Chapter permit Counsel to seek payment for Secretarial Services and Paralegal Services on assigned cases.

This rule is proposed to be repealed and replaced to update its provisions, including those related to acceptable ways of sending funds and hold periods on funds sent, and to add provisions on credit improvement loans and debit cards.

The Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is proposing to amend Chapter 16 rules to open WMD 3 to fall turkey hunting with a one turkey (can be either sex) season limit. Please contact the agency contact person for a complete copy of the rule proposal.

The proposed rule is intended to conform to recent legislative changes regarding consumer consent for certain contract renewals and regarding early termination fees. The proposed rule also includes changes to reflect the Commission’s experience in enforcing the statutory and regulatory provisions applicable to competitive electricity providers (CEPs) and otherwise includes changes intended to provide consistency and clarity within the rule.

The Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund Board is proposing to amend its strategic plan to provide a six-year review of the plan. A complete copy of the proposal may be obtained from the contact person listed below.

The proposed rule changes would update the ASPIRE-TANF Program rules to ensure services provided are trauma-informed, culturally and linguistically appropriate and consistent with a legislative change to 22 M.R.S. §§ 3762(A-1), 3788, and 3790 made by P.L. 2021, Chapter 648 Part 5. The Department held a listening session on September 21, 2023 for current and former participants in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program and community partners. Feedback from the listening session was incorporated in the development of the proposed rule changes.

The purpose of this chapter is to incorporate by reference certain rules governing Occupational Safety and Health in construction industry employment as promulgated by the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration at 29 CFR Part 1926 as most recently amended as of January 13, 2025. This change updates the construction standard to require personal protective equipment (PPE) to properly fit the employee.

This replacement rule repeals and replaces in its entirety the current Home Energy Assistance Program Rule. The Rule establishes standards for administering fuel assistance, emergency fuel assistance, TANF Supplemental Benefits, weatheri

The Maine Land Use Planning Commission is proposing to repeal Chapter 15 as it is inconsistent with the Commission’s authority over forestry-related uses, including land management roads in management districts. Other road construction, repair, and relocation activities are addressed by Chapter 10 of the Commission’s rules.

The Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is proposing changes to Chapter 17 rules to adjust the time limits to register furbearer pelts by trappers, clarify the requirements for exclusion devices, and adjust the areas open or closed to beaver trapping. The proposed rules will have an effective date of 7/1/2025 to keep the chapter consistent with changes that were previously adopted in filing 2024-251 with an effective date of 7/1/2025. Please contact the agency contact person for a complete copy of the rule proposal.

This rule implements the recent change in Maine law requiring the Gambling Control Board in cooperation with the Department of Public Safety to approve qualified independent laboratories for certification of slot machines and associated equipment from distributors and service vendors.

The proposed rulemaking repeals and replaces several chapters to update the Commission’s rules in order to make technical and organi

The MDIFW is proposing to amend Chapter 27 rules to provide clarity in the eligibility and standards to operate as an Animal Damage Control (ADC) agent. Changes will allow the Department to address factors such as geographic location, unique services, and changing levels of human-wildlife conflict in the assessment of certification of prospective ADC agents. Addressing these Departmental program needs will help meet the increased demand for services on Departmental staff and ADC agents that deal with nuisance wildlife issues and provide consistent, safe, and reliable services to Maine’s citi

The principal reason for this rule is to set the cost for administering the Maine Milk Pool. While it falls under the statutory jurisdiction of the Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, the Milk Pool has historically been managed by the Maine Milk Commission on a fee-for-service basis.

The Maine Labor Relations Board is proposing to amend Chapter 11 of its rules to allow for the electronic filing of digital scans of signed Showing of Interest and Employee Authori

The Maine Labor Relations Board is proposing to amend Chapter 10 of its rules to allow for the electronic filing of digital scans of signed Showing of Interest and Employee Authori

Proposed Rule 326 will provide definitions, explanations, and examples of taxable and non-taxable transactions related to the shift of the imposition of sales or use tax on leased property from being due from the lessor upfront on the entire purchase price of the rental property to instead requiring the lessor to collect sales tax from the lessee on each lease or rental payment, beginning January 1, 2025. The rule also addresses other potential sales and use tax issues related to such transactions, including software licenses; sourcing of leases and rentals; and the calculation of sale price for leases and rentals.

The Department proposes updates to 10-144 C.M.R. Chapter 609; Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - Employment and Training (SNAP E&T) rules consistent with 7 C.F.R. § 273.7(c)(18). The proposed rule changes are intended to provide greater clarity on the SNAP E&T Provider Determination process. Clarifying language would be added to Section 7: PROVIDER DETERMINATION and a process that E&T Providers must assess Participant fitness for SNAP E&T and notify the State Agency when Participants are no longer suited.

Maine Revenue Services is proposing new Rule 816 (“Dirigo Business Incentives Tax Credit”) to implement the Maine income tax credit recently enacted by P.L. 2023, c. 412, Pt. J, § 13. The credit, found in the law at 36 M.R.S. § 5219-AAA, applies to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2025. The refundable credit (subject to limitations) is based on a combination of expenditures to purchase eligible business property and to train qualified employees for a qualified business activity carried on primarily in an eligible sector. Maine Revenue Services is jointly proposing this rule with the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD), which is proposing this same rule under DECD Chapter 301.

Maine Department of Economic and Community Development is proposing new Rule 301 (“Dirigo Business Incentives Tax Credit”) to implement the Maine income tax credit recently enacted by P.L. 2023, c. 412, Pt. J, § 13. The credit, found in the law at 36 M.R.S. § 5219-AAA, applies to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2025. The refundable credit (subject to limitations) is based on a combination of expenditures to purchase eligible business property and to train qualified employees for a qualified business activity carried on primarily in an eligible sector. The Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) is jointly proposing this rule with Maine Revenue Services, which is proposing this same rule under DAFS Chapter 816.

The Department proposes routine technical changes to amend 10-144 C.M.R. Chapter 301; Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Program Rules to ensure consistency with 7 C.F.R. § 273.24(c).

This Rule revises the tolls for the use of the Maine State Ferry Service set forth in Schedule A of existing Chapter 602.

Recently, the fee rule was amended to implement LD 2214, enacted by the 131st Legislature as P.L. 2023, c. 643. LD 2214 directed that the fee rule be amended to the extent necessary to cover ongoing costs of two additional Elevator Inspector positions, to allow for a future reclassification or reorgani

The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is proposing allocation numbers for moose hunting permits to be issued for the 2025 moose hunting season. Permits will be issued for antlered and antlerless moose. As in previous years, some combined units are included wherein a permittee can hunt in more than one WMD. Recommendations are for no changes to permit numbers from 2024 including continuing the three one-week seasons for the adaptive hunt. Proposed permit allocations according to Wildlife Management District are as follows:

This rule implements 5 M.R.S. § 17001(13(C), the provisions in the Maine Public Employees Retirement System statute relating to limitations or “caps” on earnable compensation for the purposes of determining average final compensation for state employee and teacher members. The proposed rule amends the current rule. Under the proposed amended rule, all earnable compensation increases to a member in a collectively-bargained position or that results from receiving a promotion would be excluded from the cap.