Maine legislation · 132nd Legislature
Maine LD2059: An Act to Provide Required Funding for the Reimbursement of Assigned Counsel
Status: Signed into law, March 19, 2026
What the bill says
An Act to Provide Required Funding for the Reimbursement of Assigned Counsel Emergency preamble.
From the engrossed text:
An Act to Provide Required Funding for the Reimbursement of Assigned Counsel Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and Whereas, the State's constitutional and statutory obligations include ensuring that each person facing a potential loss of liberty in a criminal or juvenile proceeding and each parent facing a potential loss of parental rights in a child protection proceeding is provided with effective representation; and Whereas, on January 3, 2025, in Robbins v. Billings, et al. No. CV-22-054 (Me. Super. Ct., Ken. Cty., Jan. 3, 2025) (Combined Order on Partially Dispositive Motions), the Maine Superior Court concluded that the State has violated its constitutional obligations under the United States Constitution, Amendment VI to provide continuous representation to certain criminal defendants in the State; and Whereas, the State's primary method for fulfilling its constitutional and statutory obligations is through the appointment of qualified attorneys to provide indigent legal services to eligible persons and reimbursement of these attorneys by the Maine Commission on Public Defense Services in accordance with the hourly rate established by law and the restrictions on eligible expenses established by the commission by rule; and Whereas, due to a shortfall in funding, the Maine Commission on Public Defense Services is anticipated to exhaust available …
Sponsors
- Anne Carney (D, 29) · primary sponsor
- Richard Bennett (R, 18)
- Jill Duson (D, 27)
- Matthew Moonen (D, 117)
- David Sinclair (D, 50)
Latest actions
- : On motion by Senator ROTUNDO of Androscoggin taken from the Special Appropriations Table Subsequently, PASSED TO BE ENACTED - Emergency - 2/3 Elected Required, in concurrence.
- : On motion by Senator ROTUNDO of Androscoggin PLACED ON THE SPECIAL APPROPRIATIONS TABLE pending ENACTMENT - Emergency -2/3 Elected Required.
- : Speaker laid before the HouseThis 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.
- : Unfinished Business
- : Unfinished Business
- : This being an emergency measure, a two-thirds vote of all the members elected to the House was necessary.On motion of Representative MOONEN of Portland, TABLED pending PASSAGE TO BE ENACTED.Later today assigned.
- : Reports READ.On motion of Representative KUHN of Falmouth, the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report was ACCEPTED.ROLL CALL NO. 628(Yeas 77 - Nays 67 - Absent 5 - Excused 1 - Vacant 1)The Bill was READ ONCE.Committee Amendment "A" (S-506) 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-506). In concurrence. ORD
- : COMMITTEE ON BILLS IN THE SECOND READING REPORTS NO FURTHER VERBAL AMENDMENTS NECESSARY. REPORT ACCEPTED.READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED BY Committee Amendment "A" (S-506)Ordered sent down forthwith for concurrence.
- : Reports READOn motion by Senator CARNEY of Cumberland, the Majority OUGHT TO PASS AS AMENDED BY COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" (S-506) Report ACCEPTED.Bill READ ONCE. Committee Amendment "A" (S-506) READ and ADOPTED. ASSIGNED FOR SECOND READING NEXT LEGISLATIVE DAY.
- : Received by the Secretary of the Senate on December 15, 2025 and REFERRED to the Committee on JUDICIARY pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2
Votes
- House RC #628: OTP-AM BY CA "A" (March 3, 2026): 77 yea, 67 nay, passed
Subjects: APPOINTED COUNSEL, PUBLIC DEFENSE SERVICES, Legislature, Senate, CRIMINAL PROCEDURE, Other
Common questions
- What is LD2059?
- LD2059 is a bill in the Maine Legislature (132nd Legislature): An Act to Provide Required Funding for the Reimbursement of Assigned Counsel.
- What does LD2059 do?
- In its own words: An Act to Provide Required Funding for the Reimbursement of Assigned Counsel Emergency preamble.
- What is the status of LD2059?
- Signed into law as of March 19, 2026. Latest action: On motion by Senator ROTUNDO of Androscoggin taken from the Special Appropriations Table Subsequently, PASSED TO BE ENACTED - Emergency - 2/3 Elected Required, in concurrence. (March 18, 2026).
- Who sponsored LD2059?
- Anne Carney (D, 29), with 4 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for LD2059?
- On the Maine Legislature website: https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=2059&snum=132
Source: official Maine record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.