COURT FACILITIES PROPOSAL MOVES AHEAD

LD 882, a bill proposing to increase the maximum amount of securities that may be issued by the Governmental Facilities Authority to assist with the consolidation and improvement of court facilities in Augusta, along with improvements and renovation of the court house in Dover-Foxcroft and planning for court facility upgrades in Machias, has been reported out of the Judiciary Committee and has received initial approval in the Senate. The bill will receive additional scrutiny in the Senate before it moves to its review and deliberations in the House.

MEDIATION IN FORECLOSURES SIGNIFICANTLY CHANGED

A bill of concern to both the Consumer and Financial Institution and Real Estate and Title Sections, LD 1418, was significantly amended during its review before the Insurance and Financial Services Committee. The proposal which originally required mandatory mediation in foreclosures, and made a sweeping change to landlord-tenant provisions, has been significantly altered by the Committee. It does establish a mediation process, but a process that is not mandatory in all situations. The proposal also seeks to establish a hot-line for questions, and makes other changes that are less troubling to the two Sections. It is anticipated that the amended version of the proposal will reach the House and Senate for deliberations within the next few days.

UPDATE ON BIENNIAL BUDGET

The Appropriations Committee has continued to work daily to deliberate on the proposals for inclusion in the biennial budget for fiscal years 2010-2011. The Committee was unable to reach agreement on the budget this week, so that the negotiations are continuing. Originally, leadership had hoped for the budget to be before the full House and Senate the week of May 11. But that was unable to occur. Leadership is now hoping that the budget will be closed so the deliberations may start during the week of May 18.

UPCOMING ISSUES

For the status of other issues of interest, please review the linked Legislative Database.

LEGISLATIVE DATABASE

An updated Legislative Database is linked to this Weekly Report for your information. It contains any newly introduced bills that we have identified of interest to the MSBA, along with updated status listings of previously introduced bills.

Click here for your Legislative Database.

Click here for a text document of this report.

As always, please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions:
Pattie Aho at 207-622-6311 or paho@pierceatwood.com