AARP Maine 2024 legisllative wrap-up
fighting for mainers  50+ and their  families

AARP Maine had a packed agenda this short session and we thank all our lawmakers and our volunteers for their hard work in Augusta. We especially thank our Tuesdays at the State House (TASH) volunteers, who spent many hours connecting with our elected officials, testifying, and joining committee hearings — all to help make Maine an even better place to live for everyone. Take a look at our 2024 Legislative Honor Roll here. The following is a summary of key legislation that AARP staff and volunteers advocated for this session:

Protecting the Medicare Savings Program (MSP)

In 2023, Maine’s legislators took historic action by expanding eligibility for MSPs for thousands of Mainers. MSPs are for Medicare beneficiaries with limited income to help them afford health care expenses such as copayments, deductibles, and Medicare Parts A and B.

When the proposed budget for 2024 sought to cut the expansion of MSPs, the AARP Maine team jumped right into action. Through strong advocacy, we succeeded! Lawmakers earmarked $14.1 million to protect the expansion, preserving benefits for nearly 45,000 eligible low-income Mainers.

LD 1962: Resolve, to Direct the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to Adopt Rules Regarding Utility Shut-Offs

AARP Maine worked with Senate President Troy Jackson’s office in drafting this bill, which ultimately passed as a resolve. In its final form, the resolve directs the PUC to adopt new rules that expand consumer protections for vulnerable Maine residents. These include prohibiting electric and gas utilities from shutting off service in extreme heat due to unpaid bills, establishing a threshold dollar amount for unpaid and/or overdue utility bills before a utility may terminate or disconnect service, and prohibiting utilities from charging reconnection or late fees that accrued before low-income customers’ service was disconnected.

Funding the Victims of Crime Act

The federal Victims of Crime Act provides significant funding to states to support essential services for crime victims, including support for critical organizations like Legal Services for Maine Elders. Due to a lack of federal funding, Maine’s critical services faced a nearly 60% cut in funding. AARP advocated for the state to support these programs. Thanks to Maine advocates, $6 million in one-time funding was allocated to address the federal funding shortfall.

LD 2067: An Act to Continue the Arrearage Management Program (AMP) for Low-Income Residential Electricity Customers

The passage of LD 2067 provides the continuation of Maine's AMP until 2028. The program helps qualified customers enrolled in the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) reduce their past due balance by as much as $300 each month as long as current monthly payments are made in full and on time. AARP testified in favor of extending AMP in support of vulnerable Mainers.

LD 2126: An Act Relating to Delegation of Nursing Activities and Tasks to Unlicensed Assistive Personnel by Registered Professional Nurses

This law allows nurses to delegate tasks that they usually complete as a part of care to unlicensed assistive personnel. "Unlicensed assistive personnel" means individuals trained to function in a supportive role, regardless of job title, to whom a specific nursing activity or task may be delegated. Nurse delegation helps family caregivers who may have to otherwise leave work during the day or hire a nurse to perform these routine tasks.

LD 2163: An Act to Require Consumer Consent for Certain Generation Service Contract Renewals

This amendment to an existing law further protects consumers who enter into electricity service agreements with Competitive Energy Providers (CEPs) rather than taking the standard offer rate set by the PUC. Furthermore, a contract cannot be renewed for a variable rate if the customer’s previous agreement utilized a fixed rate.

LD 2262: An Act to Amend the Process for the Sale of Foreclosed Properties Due to Nonpayment of Taxes

This bill sought to further protect Mainers from home equity theft due to property tax foreclosures. This relates to a Supreme Court decision that found when a local government forecloses on a property due to failure to pay property tax, it may not keep the homeowner’s equity after the tax debt is paid. LD 2262 updates Maine’s law to better identify rules and protections.

LD 2172: An Act to Enhance Electric Utility Performance-Based Ratemaking (PBR)

The defeat of LD 2172 preserved access to fair customer rates and charges by preventing the PUC from gaining the authority to establish PBR and rate adjustment mechanisms during any proceeding. The bill would have authorized the PUC to implement PBR regulation before conducting a regulations study.

AARP Maine advocates for what is important to Mainers aged 50 and over. Would you like to join our team of volunteer advocates and work with us on bills like these? Your voice and talents could make a huge difference in Maine! 

Visit https://states.aarp.org/maine/volunteer today for more information.