Maine LD1963: An Act to Protect and Compensate Public Utility Whistleblowers

What the bill says

An Act to Protect and Compensate Public Utility Whistleblowers" Amend the bill by striking out all of the emergency preamble. Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting the following: '.

From the engrossed text:

An Act to Protect and Compensate Public Utility Whistleblowers" Amend the bill by striking out all of the emergency preamble. Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting the following: 'Sec. 1. 35-A MRSA §1316, sub-§3, as repealed and replaced by PL 2023, c. 405, Pt. A, §124, is repealed and the following enacted in its place: 3. Discharge of, threats to or discrimination against employees for testimony presented to legislative committees, commission or Public Advocate. A supervisor may not discharge, threaten or otherwise discriminate against an employee regarding the employee's compensation, terms, conditions, location or privileges of employment because the employee, in compliance with this section, in good faith testifies before or provides information to a legislative committee, the commission or the Public Advocate regarding the operation of the business of a public utility or competitive electricity provider or because the employee brings the subject matter of the testimony or information to the attention of a person having supervisory authority. A. Except as provided in paragraph B, this subsection does not apply to an employee who has testified before or provided information to a legislative committee, the commission or the Public Advocate unless the employee has first brought the subject matter of the testimony or information in writing to the attention of a person …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• Tipping, Mike (D, 8) · primary sponsor
• Richard Bennett (R, 18)
• Sean Faircloth (D, 24)
• Gary Friedmann (D, 14)
• Nicole Grohoski (D, 7)
• Sophia Warren (D, 124)
• Kilton Webb (D, 98)

Latest actions

1. June 18, 2025: Speaker FECTEAU of Biddeford MOVED to INSIST. Motion of Representative FRIEDMANN of Bar Harbor to RECEDE and CONCUR to ACCEPTANCE of the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report and PASSAGE TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (S-417) FAILED.ROLL CALL NO. 573(Yeas 68 - Nays 80 - Absent 1 - Excused 2)Subsequently, the House INSISTED on ACCEPTANCE of the Minority Ought Not to Pass Report. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.Placed in the Legislative Files. (DEAD)
2. June 17, 2025: Senator PIERCE of Cumberland moved the Senate INSIST on ACCEPTANCE of The Majority Ought to Pass As Amended Report and PASSAGE TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED by Committee Amendment "A" (S-417) Motion by Senator STEWART of Aroostook to RECEDE and CONCUR FAILED Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 614 Yeas 13 - Nays 22 - Excused 0 - Absent 0 Subsequently, the Senate INSISTED on ACCEPTANCE of The Majority Ought to Pass As Amended Report and PASSAGE TO BE ENGROSS AS AMENDED by Committee Amendment "A" (S-4
3. June 17, 2025: Reports READ.Motion of Representative SACHS of Freeport to ACCEPT the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report FAILED.ROLL CALL NO. 559(Yeas 68 - Nays 78 - Absent 3 - Excused 2)On motion of Representative SACHS of Freeport, the Minority Ought Not to Pass Report was ACCEPTED.In NON-CONCURRENCE and sent for concurrence.ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
4. June 16, 2025: Reports ReadOn motion by Senator LAWRENCE of York the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report ACCEPTED. PREVAILED Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 585 Yeas 20 - Nays 14 - Excused 1 - Absent 0 READ ONCE Committee Amendment "A" (S-417) READ and ADOPTED Under suspension of the Rules, READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED by Committee Amendment "A" (S-417) In NON-CONCURRENCE Sent down for concurrence
5. May 13, 2025: The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on ENERGY, UTILITIES AND TECHNOLOGY.In concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
6. May 13, 2025: Committee on ENERGY, UTILITIES AND TECHNOLOGY suggested and ordered printed REFERENCE to the Committee on ENERGY, UTILITIES AND TECHNOLOGY Ordered sent down forthwith for concurrence

Votes

• House RC #573: RECEDE AND CONCUR (June 18, 2025): 68 yea, 80 nay, failed
• Senate RC #614: RECEDE AND CONCUR (June 17, 2025): 13 yea, 22 nay, failed
• House RC #559: ACC MAJ OTP AS AMENDED REP (June 17, 2025): 68 yea, 78 nay, failed
• Senate RC #585: ACCEPT MAJORITY OUGHT TO PASS AS AMENDED REPORT (June 16, 2025): 20 yea, 14 nay, passed

Common questions

What is LD1963?

LD1963 is a bill in the Maine Legislature (132nd Legislature): An Act to Protect and Compensate Public Utility Whistleblowers.

What does LD1963 do?

In its own words: An Act to Protect and Compensate Public Utility Whistleblowers" Amend the bill by striking out all of the emergency preamble. Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting the following: '.

What is the status of LD1963?

Failed as of June 18, 2025. Latest action: Speaker FECTEAU of Biddeford MOVED to INSIST. Motion of Representative FRIEDMANN of Bar Harbor to RECEDE and CONCUR to ACCEPTANCE of the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report and PASSAGE TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (S-417) FAILED.ROLL CALL NO. 573(Yeas 68 - Nays 80 - Absent 1 - Excused 2)Subsequently, the House INSISTED on ACCEPTANCE of the Minority Ought Not to Pass Report. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.Placed in the Legislative Files. (DEAD) (June 18, 2025).

Who sponsored LD1963?

Tipping, Mike (D, 8), with 6 co-sponsors.

Where is the official record for LD1963?

On the Maine Legislature website: https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=1963&snum=132