LD536 • 2025

An Act to Establish Net Neutrality

Energy Technology

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Representative Christopher Kessler
Last action: 2025-06-22
Official status: Became Law without Governor's Signature
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 Establish Net Neutrality

An Act to Establish Net Neutrality Sponsor: Representative Christopher Kessler Reference committee: Energy, Utilities and Technology Governor action: Became Law without Governor's Signature

What This Bill Does

An Act to Establish Net Neutrality Sponsor: Representative Christopher Kessler Reference committee: Energy, Utilities and Technology Governor action: Became Law without Governor's Signature

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.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

C-A (H-439)

Adopted by House & Senate

Plain English: Page 1 - 132LR1887(02) COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 1 L.D.

Page 1 - 132LR1887(02) COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 1 L.D.
536 2 Date: (Filing No.
H- ) 3ENERGY, UTILITIES AND TECHNOLOGY 4 Reproduced and distributed under the direction of the Clerk of the House.
5STATE OF MAINE 6HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 7132ND LEGISLATURE 8FIRST SPECIAL SESSION 9 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT “ ” to H.P.

H-A to C-A (H-506)

Sponsored By Representative Kessler of South Portland , Adopted by House & Senate

Plain English: Page 1 - 132LR1887(04) HOUSE AMENDMENT 1 L.D.

Page 1 - 132LR1887(04) HOUSE AMENDMENT 1 L.D.
536 2 Date: (Filing No.
H- ) 3 Reproduced and distributed under the direction of the Clerk of the House.
4STATE OF MAINE 5HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 6132ND LEGISLATURE 7FIRST SPECIAL SESSION 8 HOUSE AMENDMENT “ ” to COMMITTEE AMENDMENT “A” to H.P.

Bill History

2025-06-22 Governor
Became Law without Governor's Signature
2025-06-09 House
PASSED TO BE ENACTED . Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
2025-06-09 Senate
PASSED TO BE ENACTED , in concurrence.
2025-06-03 Committee
Reported Out; OTP-AM/ONTP
2025-05-14 Committee
Work Session Held
2025-05-14 Committee
Voted; Divided Report
2025-05-07 Committee
Work Session Reconsidered; TABLED
2025-05-01 Committee
Work Session Held
2025-05-01 Committee
Voted; Divided Report
2025-02-11 Committee
Referred to Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology.

Official Summary Text

An Act to Establish Net Neutrality
Sponsor:
Representative Christopher Kessler
Reference committee:
Energy, Utilities and Technology
Governor action:
Became Law without Governor's Signature

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Page 1 - 132LR1887(05)
STATE OF MAINE
_____
IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD
TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FIVE
_____
H.P. 355 - L.D. 536
An Act to Establish Net Neutrality
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 10 MRSA c. 239 is enacted to read:
CHAPTER 239
NET NEUTRAL BROADBAND INTERNET ACCESS SERVICE
§1500-Z. Net neutral service required
1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the
following terms have the following meanings.
A. "Broadband Internet access service" has the same meaning as in Title 5, section
1541-B, subsection 1, paragraph B.
B. "Internet service provider" has the same meaning as in Title 5, section 200-B,
subsection 1-A, paragraph A.
C. "Net neutral service" has the same meaning as in Title 5, section 1541-B, subsection
1, paragraph E.
D. "Paid prioritization" has the same meaning as in Title 5, section 1541-B, subsection
1, paragraph F.
E. "Reasonable network management practice" means a practice that has a primarily
technical network management justification and is primarily used for and tailored to
achieving a legitimate network management purpose, taking into account the particular
network architecture and technology of the broadband Internet access service.
"Reasonable network management practice" includes a practice necessary to ensure
sufficient capacity for customers of the Internet service provider if the practice is
implemented on a nondiscriminatory basis. "Reasonable network management
practice" does not include other business practices.
LAW WITHOUT
GOVERNOR'S
SIGNATURE

JUNE 22, 2025
CHAPTER
404
PUBLIC LAW
Page 2 - 132LR1887(05)
F. "Throttling" has the same meaning as in Title 5, section 1541-B, subsection 1,
paragraph I.
2. Net neutral service required. An Internet service provider shall provide net neutral
service in the provision of broadband Internet access service to customers in the State.
3. Unfair trade practice violation. A violation of this section constitutes a violation
of the Maine Unfair Trade Practices Act, except that a person may not bring a private action
under Title 5, section 213 based on a violation of this section.
4. Construction. This section does not:
A. Prohibit reasonable efforts by an Internet service provider providing broadband
Internet access service to address copyright infringement or other unlawful activity;
B. Supersede any obligations, authorizations or restrictions on an Internet service
provider providing broadband Internet access service to address the needs of
emergency communications or law enforcement, public safety or national security
authorities under the laws of the State and the United States of America and the United
States Constitution and the Constitution of Maine; or
C. Prohibit an Internet service provider from offering broadband Internet access service
plans that differ in speed or data limits, or offering plans with income-based eligibility,
promotional offers or legacy pricing, as long as such plans are offered on a
nondiscriminatory basis and are consistent with net neutral service.