Legislative advocacy
ME-RAP's Policy priorities and legislative victories!
Since the 130th Legislative Session, ME-RAP’s statewide team of organizers has helped pass or defeat 55+ bills focused on supporting recovery and saving lives! Scroll down to review some of our recent policy priorities and legislative wins!
Opiod settlement fund transparency
An Act to Require Reporting on the Expenditure of Opioid Settlement Funds by Certain Municipalities and County Governments
Sponsor: Rep. Brennan (Portland)
ME-RAP Position: In Favor
Final Status: Signed into Law
Now required by public law, cities and counties that directly receive opioid settlement funds must submit a yearly report to the state Attorney General starting in 2026 that shows how much money they received, and how they spent that money during the previous year. The Attorney General will gather all of these local reports and send a combined summary to the Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee each year starting in February 2026.
Bolstering Community health and safety
An Act to Limit Hypodermic Apparatus Exchange Programs to a One-for-one Exchange
Sponsor: Rep. Mastraccio (Sanford)
ME-RAP Position: Against
Final Status: Dead
This legislation sought to require all certified syringe service programs (SSPs) to operate using a one-for-one syringe exchange model, which goes against evidence-based best practices. This exchange model increases the likelihood of the transmission of diseases and increases the number of improperly discarded syringes in public spaces
like parks and sidewalks.
An Act to Support Maine's Public Health Objectives by Increasing Access to Hypodermic Apparatus Exchange Programsosal Grant Program to Support Public Health Efforts in the Stateiture of Opioid Settlement Funds by Certain Municipalities and County Governments
Sponsor: Rep. Rana (Bangor)
ME-RAP Position: In Favor
Final Status: Public Law
This law authorizes certified SSPs to operate mobile sites and provide delivery services within pre-approved parameters by the Maine CDC, which will increase access to life-saving services and enhance efforts to reduce improperly discarded syringes in public spaces.
An Act to Establish a Grant Program for Funding to Support Public Health Efforts in the State
Sponsor: Rep. Rana (Bangor)
ME-RAP Position: In Favor
Final Status: Signed into Law
This public law established the Biohazard Waste Disposal Grant Program Fund administered by the Maine CDC to support safe disposal of syringes and medical waste by community based organizations and municipalities. Grants can fund disposal
containers, proper disposal efforts, staffing, and public education.
A city applying for funding from this grant program must match the amount requested with its own opioid settlement funds if they
receive them. To date, this Grant Program has been established but not yet funded.
housing voucher access
An Act to Establish a Program to Assist Residents of Large Recovery Residences
Sponsor: Rep. Hasenfus (Readfield)
ME-RAP Position: In Favor
Final Status: Signed into Law
This law decreases the tax burden of large recovery residences on Maine communities by creating a maximum level of housing
assistance provided to an operator of a certified recovery residence with an occupancy of 26 or more beds. If a residence has 26 or more beds, the State pays full assistance and the host community does not have to pay the 30% of assistance.
An Act to Create Culturally Appropriate and Trauma-informed Housing and Recovery Services
Sponsor: Rep. Osher (Orono)
ME-RAP Position: In Favor
Final Status: Vetoed by Governor Mills
This bill aimed to establish a fund within the Maine State Housing Authority to operate at least two recovery residences that would be
led and governed by individuals who have received education or training to provide culturally appropriate and trauma-informed
services. These recovery residences would have served disparately impacted individuals in recovery from SUD who struggle to access
culturally appropriate certified recovery residences.
An Act to Clarify the Eligibility of Certified Recovery Residences for Bridging Rental Assistance Program Housing Vouchers
Sponsor: Rep. Warren (Scarborough)
ME-RAP Position: In Favor
Final Status: Signed into Law
IIndividuals residing in certified recovery residences are now eligible to apply for Bridging Rental Assistance Program (BRAP) housing vouchers. However, it is important to note that BRAP vouchers may not be used to subsidize the costs of residing at a recovery residence.
drug law parity
An Act to Amend Certain Provisions of the Drug Laws Related to Cocaine Base
Sponsor: Rep. Milliken
ME-RAP Position: In Favor
Final Status: Signed into Law
This law eliminates the remaining disparities in Maine’s Criminal Code regarding the treatment of cocaine powder and cocaine base (also known as crack cocaine). For decades, laws across the United States — including here in Maine — have imposed dramatically harsher penalties for offenses involving cocaine base compared to powder cocaine, despite their pharmacological similarity. These differences in sentencing were not grounded in science or public safety, but rather stemmed from outdated and racially charged assumptions dating back to the 1980s.
Supporting Recovery Community Centers
An Act to Create a Sustainable Funding Source for Recovery Community Centers Using a Percentage of the Adult Use Cannabis Tax Revenue
Sponsor: Rep. Rana
ME-RAP Position: In Favor
Final Status: Signed into Law
Since the first session of the 131st Legislature, ME-RAP has collaborated with Maine’s recovery community centers to advocate for a sustainable funding stream for recovery community centers. After over a year of grassroots organizing, LD 1714 was funded off of the Special Appropriations Table and was signed into law on April 22 by Governor Mills. Beginning July 1, 2025 and annually thereafter, $2 million will be transferred into the Recovery Community Centers Fund to fund Maine's recovery community centers.
Authorizing Overdose Prevention Centers
Resolve to Study Methods of Preventing Opioid Overdose Deaths by Authorizing Harm Reduction Health Centers
Sponsor: Rep. Lookner
ME-RAP Position: In Favor
Final Status: Signed into Law
The original intention of the bill was to authorize municipalities to approve overdose prevention centers, also known as harm reduction health centers, for communities that wanted to open them. The original bill garnered the bipartisan support of the House and narrowly failed in the Senate by two votes. As enacted, this bill mandated the Governor's Office to form a group, including various stakeholders, to explore ways of preventing opioid overdose deaths through overdose prevention centers. The group will assess options, identify barriers, and provide recommendations and potential legislation to the committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety in February of 2025.
An Act to Prevent Opioid Overdose Deaths by Allowing Municipalities to Approve the Establishment of Overdose Prevention Centers
Sponsor: Sen. Bennett
ME-RAP Position: In Favor
Final Status: Carried Over
This bill authorizes municipalities to approve overdose prevention centers (OPCs) at which clients may receive health screening, disease prevention and recovery support services and may self-administer previously obtained controlled substances on the premises. The bill also provides immunity from arrest, prosecution, revocation proceedings or termination proceedings for persons using, employed by or otherwise associated with an OPC when acting in accordance with the bill.
Protecting maine's good samaritan law
An Act to Expand the List of Crimes That Do Not Qualify for Immunity Under Maine's Good Samaritan Laws Concerning Drug Related Medical Assistance
Sponsor: Rep. Campbell
ME-RAP Position: Against
Final Status: Dead
Largely due to the grassroots organizing efforts of our network, Maine has the strongest Good Samaritan law in the nation and saves many lives at the scenes of potentially fatal overdoses. This bill sought to roll back key provisions of Maine’s Good Samaritan Law, which would have increased overdose deaths. With our advocacy, it was defeated handily in the House and Senate.
An Act to Expand the List of Crimes That Do Not Qualify for Immunity Under Maine's Good Samaritan Laws Concerning Drug-related Medical Assistance
Sponsor: Sen. Haggan (Penobscot County)
ME-RAP Position: Against
Final Status: Dead
LD 1024 sought to roll back the protections of the expanded Expanded Good Samaritan Law by adding new crimes to the list of crimes that can be charged at the scene of an overdose. We are overjoyed to report that LD 1024 (aka "Bad Sam") was handily defeated in both the Senate and the House. Bad Sam is dead. (Or as CGA might say.. the witch is dead!)
Our lawmakers said loud and clear that
people who use drugs do not deserve to die. They deserve access—to harm reduction, to treatment, to recovery.
They deserve access to first responders.
They deserve to live.
An Act to Amend Maine's Good Samaritan Laws Regarding Suspected Drug-related Overdoses
Sponsor: Sen. Talbert Ross
ME-RAP Position: In Favor
Final Status: Carried Over
This bill clarifies what triggers the Good Samaritan Law immunity provisions when 9-1-1 is called at the scene of a drug-related overdose. Responding to a recent Maine Supreme Court decision, this bill seeks to uphold the intent of the law and ensure that lives are saved.
Protecting & Expanding Access to Harm Reduction
An Act to End the Sale of Flavored Tobacco Products
Sponsor: Sen. Duson
ME-RAP Position: Against
Final Status: Dead
This bill would have prohibited the sale and distribution of flavored tobacco products, including flavored cigars and electronic smoking devices. If this ban had passed, people who utilize flavored vaping products for smoking cessation would have lost access to harm reduction tools. Although bans reduce the sale of products, they do not significantly reduce actual use. Bans of addictive substances increase the presence of more dangerous, unregulated products on illicit markets. ME-RAP advocated for alternative policy solutions to decrease youth tobacco initiation and use.
An Act to Support Public Health by Protecting Certain Activities Conducted Under Comprehensive Community Drug Checking Initiatives
Sponsor: Rep. LaRochelle
ME-RAP Position: In Favor
Final Status: Signed into Law
This bill removed criminal liability for people possessing small amounts of prescription drugs, scheduled drugs, or imitation scheduled drugs in sample collection instruments or drug paraphernalia for the purpose of delivering items to a drug checking and analysis program authorized by DHHS or for conducting analysis within such a program.
Expanding Naloxone Education & Access
An Act To Require Instruction in Schools on Substance Use Prevention and Administration of Naloxone
Sponsor: Sen. Pouliot
ME-RAP Position: In Favor
Final Status: Signed into Law
ME-RAP’s youth caucus spearheaded the advocacy efforts to pass this legislation to ensure that more young people are educated on Naloxone. This bill requires that all public high schools in Maine provide an extracurricular instruction on the administration of nasal Naloxone, commonly known as Narcan.
An Act to Require All Uniformed Patrol Officers to Carry Naloxone Hydrochloride When on Duty
Sponsor: Rep. Milliken
ME-RAP Position: In Favor
Final Status: Signed into Law
With Maine experiencing a worsening opioid crisis, it became imperative for law enforcement officers to be trained in Naloxone administration. This bill mandated the Commissioner of Public Safety to implement standard technical regulations necessitating training for uniformed patrol officers in the use and administration of Naloxone. Additionally, it compels these officers to carry it while actively on duty.
An Act to Expand Good Samaritan Protections for Naloxone Hydrochloride Administration
Sponsor: Sen. Brakey
ME-RAP Position: In Favor
Final Status: Signed into Law
In an effort to save lives, legislation was needed to protect individuals and organizations from penalties for administering Naloxone to individuals undergoing a suspected overdose. This legislation provided immunity to anyone, including organizations, to carry, obtain, and use Naloxone.
Supporting recovery residency safety
An Act to Improve Safety for Individuals Living in Recovery Residences
Sponsor: Rep. Landry
ME-RAP Position: Against
Final Status: Died On Adjournment
As originally introduced, this bill sought to roll back key protections for recovery residences, which our network fought to pass. Our network turned out over 100 people in opposition to this bill at the public hearing. It was amended into a study to look at ways of improving the safety of recovery residences, which ultimately was not funded and led to the bill dying on adjournment.
An Act to Improve Conditions for People Living in Recovery Residences by Requiring Approved Discharge and Transfer Policies
Sponsor: Rep. Madigan
ME-RAP Position: In Favor
Final Status: Signed into Law
This bill mandated certified recovery residences to have an approved discharge and transfer policy by DHHS. Despite landlord and tenant rights under Maine State Law, a residence with an approved policy can promptly discharge or transfer a resident if necessary for their welfare, if their needs can't be met, or if the health and safety of others are at risk.
EQUITABLE AND EVIDENCE-INFORMED DRUG POLICY
An Act Regarding Penalties for Fentanyl Trafficking When That Trafficking Results in an Overdose Causing Serious Bodily Injury of a Person
Sponsor: Rep. Poirier (Skowhegan)
ME-RAP Position: Against
Final Status: Dead
As originally introduced, this bill sought to roll back key protections for recovery residences, which our network fought to pass. Our network turned out over 100 people in opposition to this bill at the public hearing. It was amended into a study to look at ways of improving the safety of recovery residences, which ultimately was not funded and led to the bill dying on adjournment.
An Act to Amend Certain Provisions of Maine's Drug Laws Regarding Heroin, Fentanyl and Cocaine
Sponsor: Sen. Haggan (Penobscot County)
ME-RAP Position: Opposed
Final Status: Dead
This bill aimed to decrease the threshold amounts needed to charge someone with unlawful trafficking and unlawful furnishing of heroin and fentanyl powder. Had this bill been enacted, more people with SUD possessing drugs for personal use would unfairly face drug furnishing or drug trafficking charges.
An Act to Amend Certain Provisions of the Drug Laws Related to Cocaine Base
Sponsor: Rep. Milliken (Blue Hill)
ME-RAP Position: In Favor
Final Status: Signed into Law
This law removed the remaining disparities in
Maine’s Criminal Code regarding the treatment of cocaine and cocaine base, bringing more parity and fairness to Maine’s drug laws. There is no scientific reason to punish crack and powder cocaine offenses differently.
other relevant legislation
This section showcases additional legislation that our network has either supported, opposed, or tracked.
An Act to Ban the Drug Tianeptine
Sponsor: Rep. Lemelin (Chelsea)
ME-RAP Position: Opposed
Final Status: Dead
This bill sought to add Tianeptine to the list of Schedule W drugs, which would have opened up the door for enhanced criminal penalties for individuals with SUD. Increased criminalization is not the answer.
An Act Regarding the Substance Use Disorder Services Commission
Sponsor: Senator Baldacci (Penobscot County)
Final Status: Public Law
This law makes a number of changes to the membership and duties of the SUDS Commission. Notably, it adds a member who is a SUD harm reduction practitioner and a member representing federally recognized tribal nations. It requires the Commission to make recommendations relating to SUD to the legislature.
An Act to Address BMV Fees, Fines, and Reinstatement
Sponsor: Rep. Rana
ME-RAP Position: For
Final Status: Signed into Law
For many folks working on building a life in recovery, getting a driver’s license reinstated was financially challenging due to the number of fines and fees that were needed to be paid for reinstatement. The bill ended the practice of “stacking” reinstatement fines and fees at the Department of Motor Vehicles, making it easier to get a license back.
An Act to Ensure Access to Concurrent Methadone Treatment and Intensive Outpatient Programs
Sponsor: Rep. Supica (Bangor)
ME-RAP Position: In Favor
Final Status: Dead (Not funded off the Special Appropriations Table)
This bill sought to prohibit DHHS from restricting coverage for individuals enrolled in MaineCare from receiving methadone treatment and enrolling in an intensive outpatient program (IOP) concurrently.
:An Act to Expand Access and Reduce Barriers to Access to Naloxone Hydrochloride and Other Opioid Overdose- reversing Medications
Sponsor: Rep. Zager (Portland)
Final Status: Public Law
This law removes naloxone training requirements for community-based drug overdose prevention programs
and recovery residences. It expands naloxone access by allowing municipalities to provide vending machines
for use by the public in response to an opioid-related drug overdose. It provides additional immunity
protections for all persons who may administer naloxone to another individual when they believe the other
individual is experiencing an opioid related drug overdose. Further, it clarifies that healthcare professionals
can dispense naloxone over the counter with or without a prescription.
An Act to Amend the Maine Criminal Code Governing Restitution to Include the Costs of All Analyses of Suspected Illegal Drugs
Sponsor: Rep. Bishop (Bucksport)
ME-RAP Position: Opposed
Final Status: Dead
This bill aimed to remove a rule in Maine's Criminal Code that indicated drug analysis costs could only be included in restitution during sentencing if the defendant was motivated by profit. People with SUD facing
low level drug crimes need treatment and resources, not additional court fees and fines.
An Act to Include Possession of Compounds, Mixtures or Substances Containing a Detectable Amount of Certain Scheduled Drugs to Prove the Offense of Unlawful Trafficking of Scheduled Drugs
Sponsor: Sen. Baldacci (Penobscot County)
ME-RAP Position: Opposed
Final Status: Dead
This bill would have redefined "amphetamine" to mean any compound, mixture or preparation containing amphetamine in any quantity and "methamphetamine" to mean any compound, mixture or preparation
containing methamphetamine in any quantity. If this bill had passed, individuals would be unfairly charged based on total weight, rather than the actual quantity of drugs possessed.
An Act to Fund the Aroostook County Drug Treatment Court
Sponsor: Sen. Carney (Cumberland County)
ME-RAP Position: In Favor
Final Status: Public Law
This law appropriates one-time funds to establish a one limited-period Assistant District Attorney position to
facilitate the creation of a drug treatment court in Aroostook County. It also provides one-time allocation to
provide the required pretrial services and legal representation to participants.
An Act to End the Collection of Certain Probation Fees
Sponsor: Sen. Beebe-Center (Knox County)
ME-RAP Position: In Favor
Final Status: Dead
This bill sought to eliminate two conditions of probation under the Maine Criminal Code. The conditions included general supervision fees imposed for a person's term of probation and fees related to a person requesting temporary leave from a jurisdiction. Excessive fines and fees make successful reentry harder.
Resolve, to Establish the Task Force to Study Changes to the Legal Status of Scheduled Drugs
Sponsor: Rep. Crafts
ME-RAP Position: Against
Final Status: Died on Adjournment
ME-RAP was in strong support of the original intentions of this bill, which was to decriminalize the possession of drugs and fund crisis receiving centers in every county. The amended version of the bill called for the establishment of a task force to study decriminalization and changing Maine’s scheduled drug laws, which our network did not support as there is already ample research on the effectiveness of public health approaches to substance use. The bill was not funded and died on adjournment.
1266: Resolve, Directing the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Behavioral Health to Convene a Working Group to Propose a Plan for Expanding the Reach of Treatment Courts
Sponsor: Rep. Hasenfus (Readfield)
Final Status: Resolve
Resolve that the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Behavioral Health shall establish a working group to develop a plan for expanding the availability of adult drug treatment courts, family treatment courts and veterans treatment courts across the State by ensuring that defendants in each
prosecutorial district and county have access to these specialty court dockets.
An Act to Amend Maine's Good Samaritan Laws Regarding Suspected Drug-related Overdoses
Sponsor: Sen. Talbot Ross (Portland)
ME-RAP Position: In Favor
Final Status: Dead
As amended, this bill would have required the Criminal Justice Academy to provide training on Maine’s Good
Samaritan Law. Rather than requiring this through statute, the CJA has gathered a group of stakeholders,
including people with lived experience and recovery advocates, to design curriculum on Maine’s Good
Samaritan Law.
An Act to Support Workforce Development for Families That Were Involved in Child Protective Activities by Requiring the Sealing of Certain Records
Sponsor: Rep. Meyer (Elliot)
ME-RAP Position: In Favor
Final Status: Dead
Many individuals in longterm recovery have past Child Protective Services (CPS) records. Currently, there is no process for sealing past CPS records, no matter the length of time since CPS involvement or how much the
person has proven in their actions that change has occurred. This bill sought to require DHHS to seal certain past CPS records after extended periods of time without any CPS involvement, subject to exclusions, such as serious bodily harm, sexual abuse, or cases involving death. Following an extensive stakeholder process in
between sessions of the 132nd Legislature, DHHS affirmed that they would institute a process for CPS record sealing through rule-making, acknowledging the positive impacts this would have on families.
Resolve, to Establish the Commission to Study Oversight and Funding Structures for Recovery Residences and Resident Protections
Sponsor: Rep. Rollins
ME-RAP Position: In Favor
Final Status: Dead
This resolve would have established the Commission to Study Oversight and Funding Structures for Recovery
Residences and Resident Protections. The commission would be required to evaluate various policies and
industry standards and make policy recommendations with respect to: the use of GA and the possible
expansion or development of new state-funded subsidy programs for use at a recovery residence; alternative
models of oversight structure for recovery residences, including voluntary certification, mandatory
certification or licensure; and policies related to the use of prescribed medications in recovery residences.
An Act to Exclude Certain Operating Under the Influence Crimes from the Immunity Provisions That Are Triggered When Law Enforcement Is Called for a Suspected Overdose
Sponsor: Rep. Hasenfus
ME-RAP Position: NFNA
Final Status: Signed into Law
This bill adds operating under the influence (OUI) and operating or attempting to operate a watercraft, snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle, or ATV, under the influence to the list of crimes that do not qualify for immunity from arrest, prosecution and certain revocation and termination proceedings when assistance has been requested for a suspected drug-related overdose. Our network testified NFNA on this bill, recognizing the public safety concerns of people driving under the influence while also reminding the committee that each time a new crime is added, less people will call for help.