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LD879 • 2025

An Act to Increase Maximum Small Claim Limits for Home Construction Contracts

An Act to Increase Maximum Small Claim Limits for Home Construction Contracts

Active

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

Sponsor
Representative Christopher Kessler
Last action
2025-06-16
Official status
Reports Read On motion by Senator CARNEY of Cumberland 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 Increase Maximum Small Claim Limits for Home Construction Contracts

An Act to Increase Maximum Small Claim Limits for Home Construction Contracts Sponsor: Representative Christopher Kessler Reference committee: Judiciary Latest committee action: Reported Out; ONTP/OTP

What This Bill Does

  • An Act to Increase Maximum Small Claim Limits for Home Construction Contracts Sponsor: Representative Christopher Kessler Reference committee: Judiciary 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. 2025-06-16 House

    Reports READ . On motion of Representative KUHN of Falmouth, the Majority Ought Not to Pass Report was ACCEPTED . ROLL CALL NO. 512 (Yeas 81 - Nays 62 - Absent 6 - Excused 2) Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

  2. 2025-06-16 Senate

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

  3. 2025-06-13 Committee

    Reported Out; ONTP/OTP

  4. 2025-03-18 Committee

    Work Session Held

  5. 2025-03-18 Committee

    Voted; Divided Report

  6. 2025-03-04 Committee

    Referred to Committee on Judiciary.

Official Summary Text

An Act to Increase Maximum Small Claim Limits for Home Construction Contracts
Sponsor:
Representative Christopher Kessler
Reference committee:
Judiciary
Latest committee action:
Reported Out; ONTP/OTP

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Printed on recycled paper
132nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
FIRST REGULAR SESSION-2025
Legislative Document No. 879
H.P. 565 House of Representatives, March 4, 2025
An Act to Increase Maximum Small Claim Limits for Home
Construction Contracts
Reference to the Committee on Judiciary suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative KESSLER of South Portland.
Cosponsored by Representatives: COLLAMORE of Pittsfield, ROBERTS of South Berwick,
Senator: GROHOSKI of Hancock.

Page 1 - 132LR0949(01)
1Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
2Sec. 1. 14 MRSA §7482, first ¶, as amended by PL 2009, c. 428, §1, is further
3 amended to read:
4 Notwithstanding the total amount of a debt or contract, a "small claim" means a right
5 of action cognizable by a court if the debt or damage does not exceed $6,000 exclusive of
6 interest and costs. For a right of action related to a home construction contract as defined
7 in Title 10, section 1486, subsection 4, the debt or damage may not exceed $25,000
8 exclusive of interest and costs. It does not include an action involving the title to real estate.
9SUMMARY
10 This bill amends the laws governing the limit on small claims to provide that for a right
11 of action related to a home construction contract, a debt or damage not exceeding $25,000,
12 exclusive of interest and costs, is a small claim.
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