Maine legislation · 132nd Legislature
Maine LD1544: An Act to Support Families by Improving the Court Process for Child Protection Cases
Status: Signed into law, April 26, 2026
What the bill says
An Act to Support Families by Improving the Court Process for Child Protection Cases.
From the engrossed text:
An Act to Support Families by Improving the Court Process for Child Protection Cases Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §4002, sub-§1-B, ¶C, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 715, Pt. B, §1, is repealed. Sec. 2. 22 MRSA §4034, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2015, c. 501, §9, is repealed and the following enacted in its place: 1. Request. A petitioner may add to a child protection petition a request for a preliminary protection order or may request a preliminary protection order separately from the child protection petition. A request for a preliminary protection order must be sworn and must include at least the B. A detailed summary of how the department weighed the trauma to the child of removal from the child's home against the alleged immediate risk of serious harm to the child and the specific factors the department considered; and C. The specific services offered and provided under section 4036‐B, subsection 3 to prevent the removal of the child from the child's home. Sec. 3. 22 MRSA §4034, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2001, c. 696, §25, is further amended to read: 2. Order. If the court finds by a preponderance of the evidence presented in the sworn summary or otherwise that there is an immediate risk of serious harm to the child, it may order any disposition …
Sponsors
- Donna Bailey (D, 31) · primary sponsor
- Anne Carney (D, 29)
- Amy Kuhn (D, 111)
- Michele Meyer (D, 150)
- Marianne Moore (R, 6)
- David Sinclair (D, 50)
- Holly Stover (D, 48)
Latest actions
- : PASSED TO BE ENACTED, in concurrence.
- : PASSED TO BE ENACTED. Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
- : The House RECEDED and CONCURRED to PASSAGE TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (S-328) as Amended by Senate Amendment "A" (S-683) thereto.ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
- : On motion by Senator ROTUNDO of Androscoggin taken from the Special Appropriations Table On motion by Same Senator the Senate SUSPENDED THE RULES to RECONSIDER their actions whereby the Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED by Committee Amendment "A" (S-328) in concurrence. On further motion by Same Senator the Senate SUSPENDED THE RULES to RECONSIDER their actions whereby Committee Amendment "A" (S-328) was ADOPTED. On further motion by Same Senator Senate Amendment "A" (S-683) to Committe
- : CARRIED OVER, in the same posture, to any special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature, pursuant to Joint Order SP 800.
- : On motion by Senator ROTUNDO of Androscoggin PLACED ON THE SPECIAL APPROPRIATIONS TABLE pending ENACTMENT in concurrence
- : PASSED TO BE ENACTED. Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
- : Reports READ.On motion of Representative KUHN of Falmouth, the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report was ACCEPTED.The Bill was READ ONCE.Committee Amendment "A" (S-328) 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" (S-328). In concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
- : Reports ReadOn motion by Senator CARNEY of Cumberland the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report ACCEPTED. READ ONCE Committee Amendment "A" (S-328) READ and ADOPTED. Under suspension of the Rules, READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED by Committee Amendment "A" (S-328) Sent down for concurrence
- : The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on JUDICIARY.In concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
Subjects: PROTECTION ACTIONS, Legislature, ABUSE, Senate, CHILD PROTECTION CASES, Other
Common questions
- What is LD1544?
- LD1544 is a bill in the Maine Legislature (132nd Legislature): An Act to Support Families by Improving the Court Process for Child Protection Cases.
- What does LD1544 do?
- In its own words: An Act to Support Families by Improving the Court Process for Child Protection Cases.
- What is the status of LD1544?
- Signed into law as of April 26, 2026. Latest action: PASSED TO BE ENACTED, in concurrence. (April 13, 2026).
- Who sponsored LD1544?
- Donna Bailey (D, 31), with 6 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for LD1544?
- On the Maine Legislature website: https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=1544&snum=132
Source: official Maine record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.