Maine LD978: An Act to Increase General Assistance Reimbursement for Municipalities and Indian Tribes

What the bill says

An Act to Increase General Assistance Reimbursement for Municipalities and Indian Tribes" Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting the following: '.

From the engrossed text:

An Act to Increase General Assistance Reimbursement for Municipalities and Indian Tribes" Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting the following: 'Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §4311, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2015, c. 267, Pt. SSSS, §1, is further amended to read: 1. Departmental reimbursement. When a municipality incurs net general assistance costs in any fiscal year prior to July 1, 2015 in excess of .0003 of that municipality's most recent state valuation relative to the state fiscal year for which reimbursement is being issued, as determined by the State Tax Assessor in the statement filed as provided in Title 36, section 381, the Department of Health and Human Services shall reimburse the municipality for 90% of the amount in excess of these expenditures when the department finds that the municipality has been in compliance with all requirements of this chapter. If a municipality elects to determine need without consideration of funds distributed from any municipally-controlled municipally controlled trust fund that must otherwise be considered for purposes of this chapter, the department shall reimburse the municipality for 66 2/3% of the amount in excess of such expenditures when the department finds that the municipality has otherwise been in compliance with all requirements of this chapter. The department shall reimburse each municipality and each Indian …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• Samuel Zager (D, 116) · primary sponsor
• Amy Arata (R, 104)
• Marianne Moore (R, 6)
• Rachel Talbot Ross (D, 28)

Latest actions

1. April 29, 2026: Died in Possession of the Senate when the Legislature adjourned Sine Die and was PLACED IN THE LEGISLATIVE FILES. (DEAD)
2. April 6, 2026: On motion by Senator ROTUNDO of Androscoggin PLACED ON THE SPECIAL APPROPRIATIONS TABLE pending PASSAGE TO BE ENACTED, in concurrence.
3. April 6, 2026: PASSED TO BE ENACTED. Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
4. April 6, 2026: Reports READ.On motion by Senator INGWERSEN of York the Report A Ought to Pass as Amended by Committee Amendment "C" (H-928) Report ACCEPTED. Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 870 Yeas 20 - Nays 12 - Excused 3 - Absent 0 READ ONCE. Committee Amendment "C" (H-928) READ and ADOPTED. Under suspension of the Rules, READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED by Committee Amendment "C" (H-928) in concurrence.
5. April 2, 2026: Reports READ.On motion of Representative MEYER of Eliot, REPORT A Ought to Pass as Amended was ACCEPTED.ROLL CALL NO. 717(Yeas 76 - Nays 68 - Absent 6 - Excused 0 - Vacant 1)The Bill was READ ONCE.Committee Amendment "C" (H-928) 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 "C" (H-928).Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SEN
6. June 25, 2025: Carried over, in the same posture, to any special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature, pursuant to Joint Order SP 800.
7. June 17, 2025: The House RECEDED and CONCURRED to COMMIT the Bill and accompanying papers to the Committee on HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
8. June 17, 2025: On motion by Senator INGWERSEN of York the Senate COMMITTED Bill and accompanying papers to the Committee on HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES In NON-CONCURRENCE. Sent down for concurrence
9. June 17, 2025: Reports READ.On motion of Representative MEYER of Eliot, the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report was ACCEPTED.ROLL CALL NO. 545(Yeas 75 - Nays 71 - Absent 3 - Excused 2)The Bill was READ ONCE.Committee Amendment "A" (H-753) 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-753). Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SE
10. March 21, 2025: Carried over, in the same posture, to the next special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature, pursuant to Joint Order SP 519.

Votes

• Senate RC #870: ACCEPT REPORT 'A' OUGHT TO PASS AS AMENDED (April 6, 2026): 20 yea, 12 nay, passed
• House RC #717: acc report "a" otp-am by ca "c" (April 2, 2026): 76 yea, 68 nay, passed
• House RC #545: ACC MAJ OTP AS AMENDED REP (June 17, 2025): 75 yea, 71 nay, passed

Common questions

What is LD978?

LD978 is a bill in the Maine Legislature (132nd Legislature): An Act to Increase General Assistance Reimbursement for Municipalities and Indian Tribes.

What does LD978 do?

In its own words: An Act to Increase General Assistance Reimbursement for Municipalities and Indian Tribes" Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting the following: '.

What is the status of LD978?

Failed as of April 29, 2026. Latest action: Died in Possession of the Senate when the Legislature adjourned Sine Die and was PLACED IN THE LEGISLATIVE FILES. (DEAD) (April 29, 2026).

Who sponsored LD978?

Samuel Zager (D, 116), with 3 co-sponsors.

Where is the official record for LD978?

On the Maine Legislature website: https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=978&snum=132