An Act to Amend the Education Laws Regarding the State Board of
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 2045
Sponsors: PIERCE
Amends: 20-A MRSA §10708

Legislative Document
No. 2045
S.P. 838
In Senate, December 11, 2025
An Act to Amend the Education Laws Regarding the State Board of 
Education's Authority Concerning Degree-granting Institutions
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
203.
Received by the Secretary of the Senate on December 9, 2025.  Referred to the Committee 
on Education and Cultural Affairs pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator PIERCE of Cumberland.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  20-A MRSA §10708, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2005, c. 85, §1, is further 
amended to read:
3.  Noncredit courses.  Offer courses or programs that are not for academic credit; and
Sec. 2.  20-A MRSA §10708, sub-§4, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 85, §2, is amended 
to read:
4.  Religious, nonpublic, educational institution.  Meet the following criteria.
A.  The educational institution must be substantially owned, operated or supported by 
a bona fide church or religious organization.
B.  The educational programs of the educational institution must be primarily designed 
for, aimed at and attended by persons who seek to learn the particular religious faith or 
beliefs of the church or religious organization under paragraph A.
C.  The programs under paragraph B must be intended to prepare students to assume 
leadership positions in, or enter into some other vocation closely related to, the 
particular faith of the church or religious organization under paragraph A.
The exemption under this subsection does not apply to any educational institution that 
represents to any student or prospective student that the major purpose of its program is to 
prepare the student for a vocation not closely related to the particular religious faith of the 
educational institution or to provide the student with a  general educational program 
substantially equivalent to the educational programs offered by schools or departments or 
branches of schools that are not exempt from this section.  Any educational institution 
receiving an exemption under this subsection must inform all applicants of its exempt status 
in writing and must prominently display the following statement on all written materials, 
including, but not limited to, any electronic materials, made available to potential 
applicants or to the general public: "Pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20‑A, 
section 10708, subsection 4, this institution is not required to obtain authorization from 
either the State Board of Education or the Maine State Legislature in order to:  (1) use the 
name "junior college," "college" or "university," (2) offer courses or programs for academic 
credit or (3) confer degrees."; and
Sec. 3.  20-A MRSA §10708, sub-§5 is enacted to read:
5.  Certain branch or extension campuses.  Operate a branch or extension campus 
within this State that is affiliated with a nonprofit educational institution operating in 
another state that:
A.  Has been continuously authorized by the state board to offer degree programs at 
the graduate level in this State for 5 years or more;
B.  Has been continuously accredited as a degree-granting educational institution for 
years or more by an accrediting association recognized by the state board;
C.  Maintains eligibility to participate in financial aid programs under the federal 
Higher Education Act of 1965, Title IV; and
D.  Is recognized for its extensive academic research and innovation, doctoral programs 
and advanced facilities and resources.
The exemption under this subsection applies only to a branch or extension campus within 
this State that meets the requirements of this subsection.
SUMMARY
This bill exempts from the laws governing degree-granting educational institutions 
educational institutions that operate a branch or extension campus in this State that is 
affiliated with a nonprofit educational institution operating in another state that meets 
certain criteria. This exemption applies only to such a branch or extension campus.