There is a big day every summer when many new laws go into effect, and it is 90 days after the Maine legislative session ends. For 2026, that date was this week on Wednesday, July 29. Thanks to newsletters from our good friends at the Retail Association of Maine and Maine Tourism Association, plus state governmental agency press releases from the Maine Department of Labor, and the governor’s office, we have been getting a handle on what our businesses need to know.
This is by no means a comprehensive list of all new laws, but here are the ones that jumped out to us in our research that we feel broadly affect the most number of businesses and their employees:
The impact of this one goes without saying, as the new budget includes dozens of key pieces, including $300 relief checks for 500,000 Mainers, enhanced property tax relief, free community college, support for banning cell phones in K-12 classrooms, funding to support tracking sexual assault kits, simplifying the homestead exemption for veterans, and much more. Let’s look at specifically the first three in this list (and google the ‘Maine state budget’ for more details):
$300 relief checks: If you filed a 2025 tax return (or will by Oct. 25, 2026), cannot be claimed as a dependent on anyone else’s 2025 tax return, and made under $50,000 (single filers), $75,000 (head of household) or $100,000 (married, filing jointly), you will be getting a $300 relief check according to the governor’s...
False. The quotes attributed to the politicians have been fabricated by a foreign-run disinformation operation. AAP FactCheck - Pauline Hanson and Anthony Albanese did not trade barbs during a liv...