An Act to Increase State Funding for the Campuses of the
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1219
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: TIPPING, ROEDER
Amends: 20-A MRSA §10901, 20-A MRSA §10912

Legislative Document
No. 1219
S.P. 508
In Senate, March 20, 2025
An Act to Increase State Funding for the Campuses of the 
University of Maine System and to Raise the Minimum Hourly 
Wage for Employees of the System
(EMERGENCY)
Reference to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator TIPPING of Penobscot.
Cosponsored by Representative ROEDER of Bangor and
Senators: BALDACCI of Penobscot, CURRY of Waldo, PIERCE of Cumberland, 
RAFFERTY of York, TALBOT ROSS of Cumberland, TEPLER of Sagadahoc, 
Representatives: BRIDGEO of Augusta, DODGE of Belfast.
Emergency preamble.  Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, additional funding to the University of Maine System is necessary for the 
beginning of fiscal year 2025-26, which will begin before the 90-day period expires; 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.  20-A MRSA §10901, sub-§1-A is enacted to read:
1-A.  Peer institution.  "Peer institution" means a postsecondary education institution 
that is used for comparative analysis and benchmarking of institutional qualities as 
determined by the trustees for each campus of the university.
Sec. 2.  20-A MRSA §10912 is enacted to read:
§10912.  Campus funding levels; hourly employee minimum wage
1. Fiscal year 2026-27 funding level. Beginning July 1, 2026, for the 2026-27 fiscal 
year, each campus of the university must be funded at no less than 95% of the funding that 
the campus's peer institution receives from the peer institution's state on a per student basis. 
The university, in calculating the peer institution's funding, shall use the most recent data 
available.
2. Fiscal year 2027-28 funding level. Beginning July 1, 2027, for the 2027-28 fiscal 
year, each campus of the university must be funded at no less than 100% of the funding 
that the campus's peer institution receives from the peer institution's state on a per student 
basis. The university, in calculating the peer institution's funding, shall use the most recent 
data available.
3. Minimum wage to hourly employees. Beginning July 1, 2025, the minimum hourly 
wage at the university is equal to 125% of the minimum hourly wage established in Title 
26, section 664, subsection 1.
Sec. 3.  Appropriations and allocations.  The following appropriations and 
allocations are made.
UNIVERSITY OF MAINE SYSTEM, BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE
Educational and General Activities - UMS 0031
Initiative: Provides ongoing funds to support a 6% increase in funding for fiscal year 
2025-26 and an additional 4% increase in funding for fiscal year 2026-27 to support the 
continuation of current University of Maine System operations.
GENERAL FUND
2025-26
2026-27
All Other
$14,371,274
$24,526,974
__________
__________
GENERAL FUND TOTAL
$14,371,274
$24,526,974
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation 
takes effect when approved.
SUMMARY
This bill requires that, beginning July 1, 2026, each campus of the University of Maine 
System be funded at no less than 95% of the funding that the campus's peer institution 
receives on a per student basis. Beginning July 1, 2027, each campus of the University of 
Maine System must be funded at no less than 100% of the funding that the campus's peer 
institution receives on a per student basis. For the purposes of these provisions, the bill 
provides that peer institutions are determined by the trustees for each campus of the 
University of Maine System. The bill also requires that, beginning July 1, 2025, the 
minimum hourly wage at the University of Maine System be equal to 125% of the State's 
minimum hourly wage. The bill also provides ongoing funds to support a 6% increase in 
funding for fiscal year 2025-26 and an additional 4% increase in funding for fiscal year 
2026-27 to support the continuation of current University of Maine System operations.