An Act to Replace the
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 0853
Committee Amendment CA_A_H212 (House)
Amends: 26 MRSA §664

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A "to H.P. 539, L.D. 853, "An Act to Replace the 
Minimum Hourly Wage with a Regionally Based Living Wage" 
Amend the bill by striking out all of section 4 and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 4. 26 MRSA §664, sub-§1, as amended by IB 2015, c. 2, §1, is repealed and 
the following enacted in its place: 
, 1. Minimum wage, The minimum hourly wage is $14.65 per hour in the coastal 
region. northern region and Portland metropolitan region through December 31. 2025. 
Beginning January 1. 2026. the minimum hourly wage in the coastal region is 80% of the 
living wage determined by the institute for the State as a whole. for one adult with no 
children. as of January 1, 2025, Beginning January 1, 2026. the minimum hourly wage in 
the northern region is 80% of the living wage determined by the institute for the Bangor 
metropolitan area. for one adult with no children. as of January 1. 2025. Beginning January 
1, 2026. the minimum hourly wage in the Portland metropolitan region is 80% of the living 
wage determined by the institute for the Portland-South Portland metropolitan area. for one 
adult with no children, as of January 1. 2025. Beginning January 1, 2027. the minimum 
hourly wage in the coastal region is 85% of the living wage determined by the institute for 
the State as a whole. for one adult with no children. as of January 1. 2026. Beginning 
January 1. 2027. the minimum hourly wage in the northern region is 85% of the living wage 
determined by the institute for the Bangor metropolitan area, for one adult with no children. 
as of January 1. 2026, Beginning January 1. 2027. the minimum hourly wage in the 
Portland metropolitan region is 85% of the living wage determined by the institute for the 
0 
Portland-South Portland metropolitan area, for one adult with no children. as of January 1. 
2026. Beginning January 1. 2028. the minimum hourly wage in the coastal region is 90% 
of the living wage determined by the institute for the State as a whole. for one adult with 
no children, as of Janua1y 1, 2027, Beginning Januaiy 1. 2028, the minimum hourly wage 
in the northern region is 90% of the living wage determined by the institute for the Bangor 
metropolitan area, for one adult with no children, as of January 1. 2027, Beginning January 
1. 2028. the minimum hourly wage in the Portland metropolitan region is 90% of the living 
wage dete1mined bythe institute for the Portland-South Portland metropolitan area. for one 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
ROS 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT A--" to H.P. 539, L.D. 853 
adult with no children, as of Janua:ty 1, 2027. Beginning Janua:ty 1, 2029, the minimum 
hourly wage in the coastal region is 95% of the living wage determined by the institute for 
the State as a whole, for one adult with no children, as of Janua:ty 1, 2028. Beginning 
Janua:ty L 2029, the minimum hourly wage in the northern region is 95% of the living wage 
determined by the institute for the Bangor metropolitan area, for one adult with no children, 
as of Janua:ty 1, 2028. Beginning January 1, 2029, the minimum hourly wage in the 
Portland metropolitan region is 95% of the living wage determined by the institute for the 
Portland-South Portland metropolitan area, for one adult with no children, as of Janua:ty 1, 
2028. Beginning Janua:ty 1, 2030, the minimum hourly wage in the coastal region is 100% 
of the living wage determined by the institute for the State as a whole, for one adult with 
no children, as of January 1, 2029. Beginning January 1, 2030, the minimum hourly wage 
in the northern region is 100% of the living wage determined by the institute for the Bangor 
metropolitan area, for one adult with no children, as of J anua:ty 1, 2029. Beginning J anua:ty 
1, 203.0, the minimum hourly wage in the Portland metropolitan region is 100% of the 
living wage determined by ·the institute for the Portland-South Portland metropolitan area, 
for one adult with no children, as of January 1, 2029. On Janua:ty 1, 2031 and each January 
1st thereafter; the minimum hourly wage for the coastal. northern and Portland 
metropolitan regions is 100% of the living wage determined by the institute for the State 
as a whole, for one adult with no children, as of January 1st of the prior year. 
For the purposes of this subsection. "institute" means the Massachusetts Institute of 
Technology or a successor organization that publishes living wage data for the State. 
Sec. 5. 
Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and 
allocations are made. 
ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCIAL SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF· 
Departments and Agencies - Statewide 0016 
Initiative: Provides ongoing funds for the cost of replacing the statewide minimum wage 
with a gradual implementation of a regional living wage provided by the Massachusetts 
Institute of Technology, Living Wage Calculator or its successor beginning January· 1, 
2026. 
GENERAL FUND 
Per~onal Services 
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
HIGHWAY FUND 
Personal Services 
IDGHWAYFUND TOTAL 
ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCIAL 
SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF 
DEPARTMENT TOTALS 
GENERAL FUND 
2025-26 
$492,603 
$492,603 
2025-26 
$584,927. 
$584,927 
2025-26 
$492,603 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
2026-27 
$1,405,735 
$1,405,735 
2026-27 
$1,850,455 
$1,850,455 
2026-27 
$1,405,735 
ROS 
• 10 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A" to H.~. 539, L.D. 853 
IDGHWAY FUND 
$584,927 
$1,850,455 
DEPARTMENT TOTAL-ALL FUNDS 
$1,077,530 
$3,256,190 
COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM, BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE MAINE 
Maine Community College System-Board of Trustees 0556 
Initiative: Provides ongoing funds for the cost of replacing the statewide minimum wage 
with a gradual implementation of a regional living wage provided by the Massachusetts 
Institute of Technology, Living Wage Calculator or its successor beginning January 1, 
2026. 
GENERAL FUND 
All Other 
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM, BOARD OF 
TRUSTEES1OF THE MAINE 
DEPARTMENT TOTALS 
GENERAL FUND 
2025-26 
$887,320 
$887,320 
2025-26 
$887,320 
DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS 
$887,320 
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF 
Medical Care - Payments to Providers 0147 
2026-27 
$1,774,640 
$1,774,640 
2026-27 
$1,774,640 
$1,774,640 
Initiative: Provides funding for the Department of Health and Human Services to ensure 
that the labor components of rates for certain services equal at least 125% of the minimum 
wage for services under Public Law 2021, chapter 398, Part AAAA. 
GENERAL FUND 
2025-26 
2026-27 
All Other 
$5,786,737 
$13,329,692 
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
$5,786,737 
$13,329,692 
FEDERAL EXPENDITURES FUND 
2025-26 
2026-27 
All Other 
$9,126,425 
$20,569,971 
FEDERAL EXPENDITURE~ FUND TOTAL 
$9,126,425 
$20,569,971 
FEDERAL BLOCK GRANT FUND 
2025-26 
2026-27 
All Other 
$109,515 
$247,636 
FEDERAL BLOCK GRANT FUND TOTAL 
$109,515 
$247,636 
Office of Aging and Disability Services Central Office 0140 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
ROS 
22. 
COMMI~EE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 539, L.D. 853 
Initiative: Provides funding for the Department of Health and Human Services to ensure 
rate parity for similar services as those subject to the requirement that the labor components 
of rates equal at least 125% of the minimum wage for services under Public Law 2021, 
chapter 398, Pait AAAA. 
GENERAL FUND 
All Other 
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
Office ofMaineCare Services 0129 
2025-26 
$6,918 
$6,918 
2026-27 
$15,725 
$15,725 
Initiative: Provides funding for ·one Public Service Coordinator I position and related All 
Other Costs to support the implementation and management of the regionally based 
minimum wage law. 
GENERAL FUND 
POSITIONS - LEGISLATIVE COUNT 
Personal Services 
All Other 
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
FEDERAL EXPENDITURES FUND 
Personal Services 
All Other 
FEDERAL EXPENDITURES FUND TOTAL 
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, 
DEPARTMENT OF 
DEPARTMENT TOTALS 
GENERAL FUND 
FEDERAL EXPENDITURES FUND 
FEDERAL BLOCK GRANT FUND 
DEPARTMENT TOTAL-ALL FUNDS 
LABOR, DEPARTMENT OF 
Regulation and Enforcement 0159 
2025-26 
1.000 
$62,380 
$3,628 
$66,008 
2025-26 
$62,380 
$5,159 
$67,539 
2025-26 
$5,859,663 
$9,193,964 
$109,515 
$15,163,142 
2026-27 
1.000 
$65,500 
$3,628 
$69,128 
2026-27 
$65,500 
$5,232 
$70,732 
2026-27 
$13,414,545 
$20;640,703 
$247,636 
$34,302,884 
Initiative: Provides ongoing funds for 2 Labor and Safety Inspector positions and related 
All Other costs to support the implementation and enforcement of the regionally based 
minimum wage law. 
GENERAL FUND 
POSITIONS - LEGISLATIVE COUNT 
Personal Services 
All Other 
2025-26 
2,000 
$150,671 
$14,005 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
2026-27 
2,000 
$207,761 
$18,674 
ROS 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 539, L.D. 853 
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
LABOR, DEPARTMENT OF 
DEPARTMENT TOTALS 
GENERAL FUND 
DEPARTMENT TOTAL-ALL FUNDS 
SECTION TOTALS 
GENERAL FUND 
IDGHWAYFUND 
• FEDERAL EXPENDITURES FUND 
FEDERAL BLOCK GRANT FUND 
SECTION TOTAL - ALL FUNDS 
$164,676 
$226,435 
2025-26 
2026-27 
$164,676 
$226,435 
$164,676 
-$226,435 
2025-26 
2026-27 
$7,404,262 
$16,821,355 
$584,927 
$1,850,455 
$9,193,964 
$20,640,703 
$109,515 
$247,636 
$17,292,668 
$39,560,149 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section 
number to read consecutively. 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the minimmn wage for the State with a gradual 
implementation of a regional living wage provided by the Massachusetts Institute of 
Technology, Living Wage Calculator, or its successor organization, The gradual 
implementation will occur over 5 years, beginning January 1, 2026. The amendment 
divides the State into regions based on counties for the purposes of a regional living wage, 
The bill provides that, through December 31, 2025, the minimum hourly wage is $14.65, 
which is the minimum hourly wage as of January 1, 2025. Beginning on January 1, 2026, 
the minimum hourly wage will be replaced by 80% of the Massachusetts Institute of 
Technology Living Wage as of January 1, 2025, increasing by 5% yearly until 2030. 
Beginning January 1, 2031, the minimum wage will be 100% of the Massachusetts Institute 
of Technology Living Wage for the State as a whole as of January 1st of the previous year. 
The amendment also adds an appropriations and allocations section to the bill. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 05/05/25 LRL 
LD853 
LR 1278(02) 
An Act to Replace the Minimum Hourly Wage with a Regionally Based Living Wage 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment J1''{1f .,..,J(Z\. 
Committee: Labor 
·.) 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Projections 
Projections 
FY 2025-26 
FY 2026-27 
FY 2027-28 
FY 2028-29 
Net Cost (Savings) 
General Fund 
$7,404,262 
$16,821,355 
$21,248,409 
$26,063,971 
Highway Fund 
$584,927 
$1,850,455 
$3,357,865 
$5,174,433 
Appropriations/ Allocations 
General Fund 
$7,404,262 
$16,821,355 
$21,248,409 
$26,063 °71 
Highway Fund 
$584,927 
$1,850,455 
$3,357,865 
$5,17, 
J 
Federal Expenditures Fund 
$9,193,964 
$20,640,703 
$25,610,296 
$30,668,672 
Federal Block Grant Fund 
$109,515 
$247,636 
$307,737 
$368,667 
Revenue 
Federal Expenditures Fund 
$9,193,964 
$20,640,703 
$25,610,297 
$30,668,673 
Federal Block Grant Fund 
$109,515 
$247,636 
$307,737 
$368,667 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
This bill replaces the minimum wage for the State, cuffently at $14. 65 per hour, with a gradual implementation of a 
regional living wage as detem1ine by the Massachusetts Institute of Teclmology, Living Wage Calculator effective 
Januaiy 1, 2026. The total cost to the State as an employer is estimated to be $1,480,213 in fiscal year 2025-26 and 
$4,522,461 in fiscal year 2026-27. This bill includes General Fund appropriations of $492,603 in fiscal year 2025-26 
and $1,405,735 in fiscal year 2026-27 and Highway Fund allocations of $584,927 and $1,850,455 in fiscal years 2025-
a~d 2026-27, respectively for the state departments and agencies impacted by this legislation to cover the increased 
costs for these two funds. The remaining costs of $402,683 in fiscal year 2025-26 and $1,266,271 in fiscal year 2026-
will be distributed across multiple funds across state government. 
This bill also includes ongoing General Fund appropriations of $5,859,663 in fiscal year 2025-26 and $13,414,545 in 
fiscal year 2026-27 to the Department of Health and Human Services to ensure that the labor components of rates for 
ce1iain services equal at least 125% of the minimum wage under PL 2021, chapter 298, Part AAAA and to establish 
one Public Service Coordinator I position to support implementation and management of the new regionally based 
minimum wage. Federal Expenditures Fund and Federal Block Grant Fund allocations are also included for the Fl- " ~ P 
match. 
LR1278(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of2 
C''A "CH' ~IZ) 
Ongoing General Fund appropriations of $164,676 and $226,435 in fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27 are also 
included in the bill for 2 Labor and Safety Inspector positions within the Department of Labor to support the 
implementation and enforcement of the new regionally based minimum wage. 
This bill also includes ongoing General Fund appropriations of $887,320 in fiscal year 2025-26 and $1,774,640 i11 
fiscal year 2026-27 to the Maine Community College System based on the estimated increase in costs associated with 
the gradual implementation of a regional living wage. Additional costs to the University of Maine System and Maine 
Maritime Academy can not be estimated at this time. 
The increased wages may increase costs to local units of government depending on the existing rates of pay for the 
lowest paid employees at the time a higher wage would be imposed and cannot be detennined at this time. 
• 
LR1278(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 2 of 2