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LD1324 • 2025

An Act to Protect Maine Consumers Shopping for Electric Vehicles from Deceptive Advertising and Marketing Practices

An Act to Protect Maine Consumers Shopping for Electric Vehicles from Deceptive Advertising and Marketing Practices

Housing
Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Representative Matthew Beck
Last action
2025-06-03
Official status
Reports Read On motion by Senator CURRY of Waldo the Majority Ought Not to Pass Report ACCEPTED in concurrence. Placed in Legislative Files (DEAD)
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

An Act to Protect Maine Consumers Shopping for Electric Vehicles from Deceptive Advertising and Marketing Practices

An Act to Protect Maine Consumers Shopping for Electric Vehicles from Deceptive Advertising and Marketing Practices Sponsor: Representative Matthew Beck Reference committee: Housing and Economic Development Latest committee action: Reported Out; ONTP/OTP

What This Bill Does

  • An Act to Protect Maine Consumers Shopping for Electric Vehicles from Deceptive Advertising and Marketing Practices Sponsor: Representative Matthew Beck Reference committee: Housing and Economic Development Latest committee action: Reported Out; ONTP/OTP

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2025-06-03 Senate

    Reports Read On motion by Senator CURRY of Waldo the Majority Ought Not to Pass Report ACCEPTED in concurrence. Placed in Legislative Files (DEAD)

  2. 2025-06-02 House

    Reports READ . On motion of Representative GERE of Kennebunkport, the Majority Ought Not to Pass Report was ACCEPTED . Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

  3. 2025-05-29 Committee

    Reported Out; ONTP/OTP

  4. 2025-05-15 Committee

    Work Session Held

  5. 2025-05-15 Committee

    Voted; Divided Report

  6. 2025-03-27 Committee

    Referred to Committee on Housing and Economic Development.

Official Summary Text

An Act to Protect Maine Consumers Shopping for Electric Vehicles from Deceptive Advertising and Marketing Practices
Sponsor:
Representative Matthew Beck
Reference committee:
Housing and Economic Development
Latest committee action:
Reported Out; ONTP/OTP

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Printed on recycled paper
132nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
FIRST SPECIAL SESSION-2025
Legislative Document No. 1324
H.P. 859 House of Representatives, March 27, 2025
An Act to Protect Maine Consumers Shopping for Electric Vehicles
from Deceptive Advertising and Marketing Practices
Reference to the Committee on Housing and Economic Development suggested and
ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative BECK of South Portland.
Cosponsored by Senator BENNETT of Oxford and
Representatives: ANKELES of Brunswick, FAIRCLOTH of Bangor, FRIEDMANN of Bar
Harbor, KUHN of Falmouth, LEE of Auburn, PUGH of Portland, SATO of Gorham, Senator:
CARNEY of Cumberland.

Page 1 - 132LR0504(01)
1Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
2Sec. 1. 10 MRSA c. 239 is enacted to read:
3CHAPTER 239
4ELECTRIC VEHICLES
5§1500-X. Prohibition on misleading marketing and advertising practices
61. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the
7 following terms have the following meanings.
8 A. "Electric vehicle" means a vehicle that is powered solely by an electric motor and
9 does not have an internal combustion engine.
10 B. "Gasoline-powered hybrid vehicle" means a vehicle that uses both an internal
11 combustion engine and an electric motor, with the primary power source being the
12 internal combustion engine, and that does not plug into an electrical outlet.
132. Deceptive marketing and advertising. A motor vehicle manufacturer or motor
14 vehicle dealer may not use deceptive marketing or advertising practices that falsely suggest
15 or imply that gasoline-powered hybrid vehicles are wholly or primarily powered by
16 electricity. Deceptive marketing and advertising practices include, but are not limited to:
17 A. Using phrases like "electrified," "beyond zero," "electric," "E," "EV" or "range"
18 regarding vehicles that are primarily powered by internal combustion engines; and
19 B. Using deceptive imagery, including, but not limited to, lightning bolts, batteries,
20 electric currents, plugs and sockets that could lead a reasonable consumer to believe
21 that gasoline-powered hybrid vehicles are wholly or largely powered by electricity.
223. Location and format. Deceptive marketing and advertising of gasoline-powered
23 hybrid vehicles are prohibited. The prohibition includes, but is not limited to, the following
24 formats:
25 A. Print marketing and advertising in newspapers, magazines and mailers;
26 B. Online marketing and advertising, including on social media and online videos;
27 C. Radio and television advertising; and
28 D. Signs, banners or other physical advertising at motor vehicle dealerships and at
29 promotional events.
304. Enforcement. The Attorney General may enforce this section.
315. Penalties. A violation of this section constitutes a violation of the Maine Unfair
32 Trade Practices Act.
33SUMMARY
34 This bill prohibits motor vehicle manufacturers and dealers from using deceptive
35 marketing or advertising practices that falsely suggest or imply that gasoline-powered
36 hybrid vehicles are wholly or primarily powered by electricity. The Attorney General may
34
35
36
Page 2 - 132LR0504(01)
37 enforce the provisions of the bill. A violation of the provisions of the bill constitutes a
38 violation of the Maine Unfair Trade Practices Act.
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