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LD889 • 2025

An Act to Clarify the Release of Information by the Department of Health and Human Services in the Law Regarding Automatic Referrals

An Act to Clarify the Release of Information by the Department of Health and Human Services in the Law Regarding Automatic Referrals

Enacted

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

Sponsor
Representative Michele Meyer
Last action
2025-06-18
Official status
Signed by the Governor (Emergency Measure)
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 Clarify the Release of Information by the Department of Health and Human Services in the Law Regarding Automatic Referrals

An Act to Clarify the Release of Information by the Department of Health and Human Services in the Law Regarding Automatic Referrals Sponsor: Representative Michele Meyer Reference committee: Health and Human Services Governor action: Signed by the Governor (Emergency Measure)

What This Bill Does

  • An Act to Clarify the Release of Information by the Department of Health and Human Services in the Law Regarding Automatic Referrals Sponsor: Representative Michele Meyer Reference committee: Health and Human Services Governor action: Signed by the Governor (Emergency Measure)

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.

Adopted by House & Senate

Plain English: Page 1 - 132LR1895(02) COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 1 L.D.

  • Page 1 - 132LR1895(02) COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 1 L.D.
  • 889 2 Date: (Filing No.
  • H- ) 3HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES 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.

Bill History

  1. 2025-06-18 Governor

    Signed by the Governor (Emergency Measure)

  2. 2025-06-12 Senate

    PASSED TO BE ENACTED - Emergency - 2/3 Elected Required, in concurrence.

  3. 2025-06-11 House

    This being an emergency measure, a two-thirds vote of all the members elected to the House was necessary. PASSED TO BE ENACTED . Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

  4. 2025-06-10 Committee

    Reported Out; OTP-AM

  5. 2025-05-22 Committee

    Work Session Held

  6. 2025-05-22 Committee

    Voted; OTP-AM

  7. 2025-05-15 Committee

    Work Session Held; TABLED

  8. 2025-03-04 Committee

    Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services.

Official Summary Text

An Act to Clarify the Release of Information by the Department of Health and Human Services in the Law Regarding Automatic Referrals
Sponsor:
Representative Michele Meyer
Reference committee:
Health and Human Services
Governor action:
Signed by the Governor (Emergency Measure)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Page 1 - 132LR1895(03)
STATE OF MAINE
_____
IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD
TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FIVE
_____
H.P. 575 - L.D. 889
An Act to Clarify the Release of Information by the Department of Health
and Human Services in the Law Regarding Automatic Referrals
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, individuals who are eligible to enroll in certain state programs will be
referred to other programs for which they are eligible through an automatic referral project
created by Public Law 2023, chapter 412; and
Whereas, individuals must be able to opt out of information sharing, and establishing
that ability requires a statutory change; and
Whereas, the Department of Health and Human Services and other state agencies,
quasi-state agencies and other entities are currently developing and implementing the
project, and this legislation must take effect immediately to avoid any delays; and
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now,
therefore,
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §3110, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. VV, §1, is
amended to read:
2. Authorization required. Before providing any information pursuant to this
section, the department must receive express authorization from the recipient of assistance
agreeing to the release of that information in accordance with federal and state law this
section. The department shall develop a simplified process to give the recipient of
assistance the choice to opt out of authorizing the a release of information pursuant to this
section at the time of application or recertification for assistance under this subtitle or at
another time of the individual's choice.
Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation
takes effect when approved.
APPROVED
JUNE 17, 2025
BY GOVERNOR
CHAPTER
330
PUBLIC LAW