Condo Media - December 2024 - 25

CAI extends
appreciation and
thanks to volunteer
LAC delegates around
New England for
their time and
efforts in affecting
legislative changes that
benefit communities.
The following session
reports were prepared
by CAI national staff
in August when several
state legislative sessions
had adjourned.
THIS ANNUAL UPDATE
FINDS A VERY ACTIVE
2024 SESSION for CAI
Legislative Action Committees
(LACs) around New England.
Milestone legislation passed in
some New England states, and
several bills opposed by state LACs
successfully died in committee.
Some bills championed by LAC
delegates before legislators at
committee hearings never made it
to the House and/or Senate floor,
and some that did failed to get the
support or backing they needed
to pass.
With a busy 2024 session over,
it is anticipated that 2025 will be
another year in which CAI LACs
will be called upon to champion
the community association housing
model before state legislators.
For more information about CAI
LACs and how you can be involved
and/or support LAC activities,
visit caionline.org.
CHARLES M. KATZ-LEAVY, ESQ.
Jensen Baird | Portland, ME
CHAIR
Maine Legislative Action
Committee (MELAC)
[MELAC]
2024 CAI Maine
Legislative Session Report
THE CAI MAINE LEGISLATIVE ACTION COMMITTEE (MELAC) spent the 2024 legislative
session advocating on behalf of the approximately 127,000 Mainers living in
55,000 homes in fewer than 2,000 community associations.
In this legislative session spanning from Jan. 3 to April 17, the legislature introduced
more than 300 pieces of legislation, and the MELAC monitored two pieces of legislation
that would have directly impacted the community association housing model.
Below is a brief overview of the most important legislative issues from this year:
ME LD 1976: AN ACT TO UPDATE THE GROWTH MANAGEMENT PROGRAM LAWS
The MELAC monitored this bill, which deals with several elements of affordable housing
and housing growth, to ensure that amendments did not include prohibitions on
community associations from self-regulating.
STATUS: The bill failed in committee (failed sine die).
ME LD 654: RESOLVE, DIRECTING THE FINANCE AUTHORITY OF MAINE
TO ESTABLISH A PILOT PROGRAM TO ENCOURAGE THE DEVELOPMENT
OF ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS
The MELAC monitored a bill directing the Office of Policy Innovation and the Future to
study methods for encouraging the development of accessory dwelling units (ADUs).
This involved convening a stakeholder group to explore financing, incentive programs,
building designs, and municipal ordinances related to ADUs, with a report submitted to
the Joint Select Committee on Housing by March 1, 2024. Subsequently, a resolve was
passed to establish a two-year pilot program through the Finance Authority of Maine,
aiming to promote ADU development by offering reduced interest rates on community
bank loans for up to 100 ADUs. Annual reports on program usage are required, with the
first report due by Nov. 6, 2024.
STATUS: Passed; as of this writing, the first report was due Nov. 6, 2024.
December 2024 CONDOMEDIA 25
http://www.caionline.org
Condo Media - December 2024

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