For Immediate Release                                                                                         Media contact: Jen Webber
Thursday, April 11, 2024                                                                                                      Cell: 207-939-0213

AUGUSTA, Maine (Thursday, April 11, 2024) -- The Maine Economic Research Institute, (MERI), announced today its “Watch List” of priority bills it is tracking in the 131st Maine State Legislature. Legislators will be given scores on their votes on these priority bills that impact Maine’s economy after the legislative session concludes. Legislator scores and ratings are expected to be announced in late summer in MERI’s “Roll Call” publication. Since the 1990s, MERI has provided objective, research-based analysis of state legislator votes that impact Maine’s business community, economy, and economic competitiveness.
 
MERI President Simon West said, “Legislation selected for MERI’s Watch List is based on the potential to impact Maine’s economic goals, and for Maine businesses’ ability to grow and compete on a local, regional, and global stage. MERI’s approach to transparent, objective, and nonpartisan scoring is a critical component in ensuring Maine people know how their legislators’ votes are impacting the economy where they live, work, and run a business.”
 
Maine State Chamber President and CEO Patrick Woodcock said, “For decades, MERI has provided Maine voters with key insight on legislators’ votes on the critical issues for Maine’s economy. MERI’s objective analysis is also key to holding legislators accountable for their impact on Maine’s future economic success.”
 
MERI’s priority bills in both the first and second regular sessions of the 131st Legislature cover taxation, research and development, PFAS, data privacy, energy, labor, and appropriations. Specific bills include:
 

• Investment in Research and Development Bonding.  L.D. 416, “An Act to Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue for Research and Development and Commercialization.” (Support) The bill as amended provides for a $25 million bond issue for research and development to be approved by Maine voters by referendum.

 

• Increase in Income Tax Rates.  L.D. 1231, “An Act to Bring Fairness to Income Taxes to Maine Families by Adjusting the Tax Brackets.” (Oppose) The bill would increase income taxes for high earners in Maine by increasing the top rate from 7.15% to 8.45%.

 

• Establishment of Protectionist State Contracting.  L.D. 1983, “An Act to Establish the Maine Buy America and Build Maine Act.” (Oppose) The bill institutes certain stipulations for bidding work for the State of Maine that are unworkable with today’s supply chain and workforce issues.

 

• Sensible Reforms to Maine’s PFAS Law.  L.D. 1537, “An Act to Amend the Laws Relating to the Prevention of Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Pollution and to Provide Additional Funding.” (Support) This legislation will put Maine in alignment with Minnesota in prohibiting some items containing PFAS while also allowing for the manufacturing and sale of federally regulated products that contain PFAS.

 

• Creation of New Video Streaming Fee.  L.D. 1967, “An Act to Support Municipal Franchise Agreements.” (Oppose) This legislation will impose a new tax and fees to streaming services by requiring franchise agreements with municipalities and technology upgrades for PEG.

 

• Restriction on Targeted Advertising.  L.D. 1977, “An Act to Create the Data Privacy and Protection Act.” (Oppose) This legislation’s narrow scope around data minimization would cut off Maine businesses ability to do targeted marketing, which has proven to help businesses bring in new customers and compete in the global marketplace.

 

• Permit Support for Port Infrastructure.  L.D. 2266, “An Act Regarding Offshore Wind Terminals Located in Coastal Sand Dune Systems.” (Support) This legislation would allow the DEP to grant a permit for port development in a coastal sand dune system on Sears Island if other permits and licensing are attained.

 

• Restriction of Noncompete Clauses.  L.D. 1496 "An Act to Restrict Noncompete Clauses." (Oppose) Vetoed by Gov. Mills, this legislation would have eliminated the use of noncompete clauses in the State of Maine.

 

• Increase of Overtime Threshold.  L.D. 513 "An Act Regarding Overtime Protections for Certain Maine Workers." (Oppose) This legislation would increase the overtime threshold to over $60,000/year before federal rules come out.

 

• Expansion of DOL Wage and Hour Authority.  L.D. 372 "An Act to Increase Enforcement and Accountability for Wage and Hour Violations." (Oppose) This legislation would give the Maine DOL the power to force businesses to pay back wages, including an increase in liquidated damages. 

 

• Increase of Fines for Wage and Hour Violations.  L.D. 2184 “Resolve, Regarding Legislative Review of Chapter 9: Rules Governing Administrative Civil Money Penalties for Labor Law Violations, a Major Substantive Rule of the Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Standards.” (Oppose) This legislation increases the minimum fine amount for wage and hour violations and promotes proactive enforcement, a drastic shift in DOL operations. 

 
In addition to the above referenced bills, bills not yet resolved that are being monitored closely include:
 

• Transportation Funding in State Supplemental Budget.  L.D. 2214, “An Act to Make Supplemental Appropriations and Allocations for the Expenditures of State Government, General Fund and Other Funds and to Change Certain Provisions of the Law Necessary to the Proper Operations of State Government for the Fiscal Years Ending June 30, 2024, and June 30, 2025."  (Monitor) Any proposals to divert and reduce funding from the highway budget will be adamantly opposed.

 
The full MERI “Watch List” can be found here or at www.me-ri.org/watch-list.
 
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About the Maine Economic Research Institute (MERI):
MERI is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit organization governed by a board of directors that includes Maine business owners, CEOs, and representatives from a diverse group of Maine employers. MERI’s board, advisors, and staff are focused on creating a healthy Maine economy, strong businesses, and quality jobs. MERI is affiliated with 10 statewide business associations and is administered by the Maine State Chamber of Commerce.

For Immediate Release                                                                                       Media contact: Jen Webber
​Thursday, April 11, 2024                                                                                                    Cell: 207-939-0213

​AUGUSTA, Maine (Thursday, April 11, 2024) – Business owners, business groups, and state and regional chambers of commerce outlined their concerns regarding proposed state data privacy legislation at a virtual roundtable discussion Wednesday morning. Speakers included representatives from the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce, Bath-Brunswick Regional Chamber, HospitalityMaine, Craignair Inn by the Sea, Sea Bags, LLC and Luke’s Lobster.
 
Speakers urged caution on current proposed data privacy legislation before the Maine Legislature and addressed how the proposed legislation would hinder Maine businesses’ ability to effectively market their products and services online, detach Maine businesses from the global online marketplace and make Maine the most restricted state for businesses to advertise online.
 
Maine State Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Patrick Woodcock said, “Maine has prioritized the expansion broadband service and is beginning to connect more Maine goods and services to customers around the globe. However, LD 1977, the bill that has emerged from the Judiciary Committee, would make Maine an outlier in our regulatory framework, disconnecting Maine businesses from global commerce. The Maine State Chamber of Commerce urges caution in regulating this commerce at the state-level and recommends building on the work of other states that have protected privacy while maintaining targeted advertising.”
 
Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce CEO Quincy Hentzel said, “This bill impacts every business of every size in Maine, especially small businesses. Digital targeted marketing is how
they market. It’s a way they can wisely use marketing dollars to reach the consumers who most likely want their products and services. The proposed data privacy legislation currently under consideration would put Maine businesses at a competitive disadvantage, and even with an exemption for small businesses, the critical tools small businesses use will no longer be at their disposal.”
 
Innkeeper Greg Soutiea of Craignair Inn by the Sea and Causeway Restaurant in St. George, who also serves on the board of directors of the Penobscot Bay Chamber of Commerce, questioned how his business can effectively advertise “without the benefit of data available in the digital sphere.” He said, “Maine is already at a disadvantage on the global stage. If we lose this footing, our ability to connect with the exact consumers who want to spend their time and money here, Maine businesses will lose significant revenue streams.” He added, “With a limited budget for marketing, we can be deliberate and intentional with the dollars we spend on advertising. Our small businesses survive in large part due to our data-driven digital marketing practices. L.D. 1977 will undermine all the strides our state has made.”
 
Sea Bags, LLC President Beth Greenlaw said, “While this bill is well-intended, the unintended consequences to Maine businesses will be detrimental. Digital marketing gives us the ability to compete on a national level to keep our employees working, keep manufacturing here, and to grow our business and attract new talent to come to Maine to work with us. This bill is a losing proposition in many regards for Maine businesses.”
 
Meaghan Dillon, Vice President of Marketing for Luke’s Lobster, said, “Digital marketing was crucial to our business in 2020 when we were forced to close all of our restaurants temporarily, some permanently. It has become the main touchpoint attracting new customers and growing our business and brand awareness. Using digital marketing platforms is essential for us. In general, small businesses have small marketing budgets, and digital marketing is a better, more efficient use of dollars and manpower to be able to target potential customers on digital platforms. It is often yielding a higher ROI for us and helps us stand out from the competition.”
 
HospitalityMaine Director of Government Affairs Nate Cloutier said, “Our members – restaurant and lodging businesses - want to know they are on a level playing field with other states. These small businesses are the backbone of Maine’s economy. Their contributions to the success of our state’s economy are enormous. This is a classic case of good intent running into unintended consequences.”
 
Bath-Brunswick Regional Chamber Executive Director Cory King added, “Targeted marketing works. The tools we use today are how businesses market today. They don’t have the budgets to do targeted advertising compared to the affordability of online targeted marketing. If you can’t use Facebook or other online marketing technologies, how can you market your business or service? This is going to take a huge tool out of the toolboxes for large and small businesses.”
 
Maine State Chamber President Patrick Woodcock added, “The perspectives shared Wednesday morning paint a troubling picture for Maine businesses’ ability to compete in today’s online global marketplace. It was important for all participants to come together and have their voices heard on this issue. We strongly encourage the Legislature to take into account their perspectives on how proposed data privacy legislation will be extremely harmful to businesses of all sizes and sectors across Maine, and to our state’s economy.”
 
Please click here for the recording of the April 10, 2024 roundtable discussion on data privacy.

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