An Act to Protect and Increase Access to Justice in Civil Legal
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1022
Sponsors: CARNEY, POIRIER
Amends: 4 MRSA §18-A

Legislative Document
No. 1022
S.P. 440
In Senate, March 13, 2025
An Act to Protect and Increase Access to Justice in Civil Legal 
Matters for Persons with Low Incomes
(EMERGENCY)
Received by the Secretary of the Senate on March 12, 2025.  Referred to the Committee on 
Judiciary pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator CARNEY of Cumberland.
Cosponsored by Representative POIRIER of Skowhegan and
Senators: BENNETT of Oxford, MOORE of Washington, ROTUNDO of Androscoggin, 
Representatives: DHALAC of South Portland, KUHN of Falmouth, MOONEN of Portland, 
RANA of Bangor.
Emergency preamble.  Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, civil legal aid provides critical assistance to people facing eviction, tax 
disputes, natural disasters, domestic violence, elder abuse and family separation and 
barriers to accessing veterans' benefits and other public benefits including health care; and
Whereas, each year tens of thousands of Maine residents without legal representation 
attempt to handle civil legal cases alone, resulting in the loss of essential rights and 
resources, as well as the damaging economic effects on our communities; and
Whereas, approximately 356,500 Maine residents have incomes below 200% of the 
federal poverty level; and
Whereas, most Maine residents with low incomes face at least one civil legal issue 
each year that cannot be fairly resolved without legal advice or effective legal advocacy; 
and
Whereas, sustaining and increasing investments in civil legal aid is crucial for 
maintaining access to justice and a well-functioning judicial system; and
Whereas, Maine's future relies on a strong workforce in which people are healthy, 
housed and safe; and
Whereas, unless adequate funding is provided in fiscal year 2025-26 and beyond, 
access to justice in civil legal matters will be reduced, leaving even more unrepresented 
litigants, slowing down court proceedings for everyone and subjecting many more persons 
with low incomes to adverse outcomes due to a lack of professional representation and 
advocacy; 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.  4 MRSA §18-A, sub-§3-A, ¶D is enacted to read:
D.  Beginning no later than July 1, 2026, an annual appropriation in an amount no less 
than $9,500,000 must be deposited in the fund in each fiscal year and distributed as 
part of the quarterly distributions made in accordance with subsection 6.
Sec. 2.  4 MRSA §18-A, sub-§3-A, ¶E is enacted to read:
E.  No later than April 1, 2026, and biennially thereafter, the joint standing committee 
of the Legislature having jurisdiction over judiciary matters shall hold a public hearing 
on the annual report of the Civil Legal Services Fund Commission submitted in 
accordance with subsection 6, and on any additional information that organizations 
receiving distributions from the fund or other members of the public may provide 
concerning the extent to which the need for civil legal representation of persons with 
low incomes remains unmet, including without limitation the number of civil legal aid 
attorneys available in the State for each 10,000 persons with incomes below 200% of 
the federal poverty level and the extent to which that number is less than 10 attorneys 
per 10,000 persons with low income.  No later than June 1, 2026, and biennially 
thereafter, the committee shall make a recommendation to the Governor and to the joint 
standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over appropriations and 
financial affairs on the extent to which the appropriation required by paragraph D must 
be increased in the fiscal year following the appropriation and in subsequent fiscal 
years to sustain and improve access to justice in civil legal matters. The 
recommendation must be based on consideration of the annual report of the 
commission submitted in accordance with subsection 6 and other information received 
at the public hearing required by this paragraph. The joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over judiciary matters may report out legislation on 
matters related to the annual reports of the commission submitted in accordance with 
subsection 6 and the committee's recommendation under this paragraph.
Sec. 3.  4 MRSA §18-A, sub-§6, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 173, §7, is amended to 
read:
6.  Distribution of funds.  The Supreme Judicial Court shall appoint the Civil Legal 
Services Fund Commission, consisting of 3 persons knowledgeable about the problems of 
ensuring access to justice in this State, to determine how to distribute the funds in 
accordance with subsection 1 in a manner that will most efficiently and effectively maintain 
and enhance access to justice in this State.  The commission shall review the allocation at 
least every 4 years or on the request of any member of the commission and shall make 
adjustments to the allocation when appropriate.  Funds must be distributed at least quarterly 
with the first distribution occurring no later than January 2, 1998.  The commission shall 
compile information on the types of cases handled by recipient organizations and shall 
report this information and its allocation decisions annually to the joint standing committee 
of the Legislature having jurisdiction over judiciary matters no later than February 1, 1999 
1st.
Sec. 4.  Appropriations and allocations.  The following appropriations and 
allocations are made.
JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT
Maine Civil Legal Services Fund Z367
Initiative: Increases funding for civil legal services for persons with income below 200% 
of the federal poverty level by providing additional funds for distribution by determination 
of the Civil Legal Services Fund Commission pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 
4, section 18-A, subsection 6.
GENERAL FUND
2025-26
2026-27
All Other
$6,400,000
$9,500,000
__________
__________
GENERAL FUND TOTAL
$6,400,000
$9,500,000
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation 
takes effect when approved.
SUMMARY
This bill provides for increases in the ongoing appropriation to the Judicial Department 
for civil legal services. The appropriation supplements existing revenue from ongoing 
sources and replaces one-time funding with additional ongoing revenue to be distributed to 
providers of civil legal services by determination of the Maine Civil Legal Services Fund 
Commission.  The bill also provides an ongoing minimum amount to be appropriated 
annually to the Maine Civil Legal Services Fund. It requires the joint standing committee 
of the Legislature having jurisdiction over judiciary matters to hold a public hearing on 
civil legal services funding in 2026 and biennially thereafter and to make a 
recommendation to the Governor and the Legislature based on those hearings regarding 
additional funding for civil legal services. The bill also requires an annual report by the 
commission to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over 
judiciary matters.