Friday, March 15, 2024
MMA Legal Services has recently issued two new supplements to the 2016 revised edition of its Guide to Municipal Liens. On March 14, 2024, Supplement No. 4 was issued to update the Manual's discussion of bankruptcy law and its impact on the municipal lien process (contained in chapter 6 of the Manual) and also updated forms in related appendices.
In addition, the Manual was updated in October, 2023 with Supplement No. 3, which revised chapter 3 of the Manual and related...
Monday, March 4, 2024
MMA Legal Services issued a new supplement to MMA’s Town Meeting and Elections Manual. Supplement No. 2, which was issued on January 24, 2024, updates the January 2020 version of the Manual to reflect recent legislative changes and court decisions. These changes have been incorporated into the online version of the Manual, but we encourage you to print Supplement No. 2 for use with printed versions. If you have any questions about this Supplement, please contact MMA Legal Services at...
Thursday, November 30, 2023
On April 27, 2022, Governor Mills signed affordable housing legislation into law, P.L. 2021, c. 672, entitled, An Act To Implement the Recommendations of the Commission To Increase Housing Opportunities in Maine by Studying Zoning and Land Use Restrictions (hereinafter the Affordable Housing Law). The law was later amended by P.L. 2023, c. 192, which was entitled An Act to Clarify Statewide Laws Regarding Affordable Housing and Accessory Dwelling Units. Together, these bills made significant...
Thursday, October 12, 2023
MMA Legal Services issued time sensitive information regarding a nationwide settlement agreement between public water suppliers and PFAS manufacturers, 3M, and DuPont. For more information on the settlement and the options available to your community, please click here (login required).
Wednesday, September 27, 2023
In light of several recent "Zoom bombing" incidents, MMA Legal Services has developed guidance on administering public comment at municipal board meetings with remote means for participation.
Click here for details (login required)
Thursday, September 21, 2023
In collaboration with the Office of the Attorney General and Office of Fiscal and Program Review, the Secretary of State has published the Citizen's Guide to the 2023 Maine Referendum Election, which provides a non-partisan overview of the ballot measures voters will consider at the polls this November. Click here to review the guide.
Thursday, September 21, 2023
The U.S. Treasury is reporting that 4,300 ARPA recipients have not filed required reports. Although the list of non-filers has not been released, it is possible that some municipalities in Maine have missed the deadline. The concern among municipal officials is if reporting deadlines are not fulfilled, the federal government will seek to “claw back” the distributed revenue. Even if a municipality has nothing to report, they must comply with the filing...
Friday, September 15, 2023
MMA Legal Services has developed guidance on municipal rights and obligations under FOAA.
Guidance
Tuesday, September 5, 2023
Update 8/31 –The state statute modifying the new sales procedures for tax-acquired property (30-A M.R.S. § 943-C) requires municipalities to use forms notices and instructions provided by Maine Revenue Services. Those forms are now available on the Maine Revenue Services Website. MMA Legal Services has updated its guidance on the new sales procedures to reflect this new information.
Click here for details
Tuesday, August 29, 2023
The Office of Cannabis Policy (OCP) is seeking public comments on proposed rules impacting the delivery, return, marketing and advertising of adult use cannabis, as well as the requirements for specified event permits. A copy of the proposed rules can be found here. OCP is accepting public comments through September 17, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. and will host an in-person public hearing on September 6, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. as another opportunity to solicit public comments and address...