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On Tuesday, the League provided testimony on LD 142, which would prevent duplicate non-sufficient fund (NSF) fees for represented items. Testimony emphasized the technical difficulties with compliance and shared how current policies are designed to make it easier for members to request fees be reversed.
Additionally, the League testified on LD 201, a proposal to cap credit cards for state charters at 24.9%. While federal credit unions are capped at 18%, state credit unions have no cap for credit cards. Revolving loans, which are currently capped at 30% for loans under $2,000 and 18% for loans over $4,000, would see the rate cap go from 30% to 24.9%. While this would only impact a small number of credit unions, the League’s testimony emphasized the need for flexibility to provide credit to those who may not otherwise qualify.
Last week’s Weekly Update covered testimony provided on LD 97, which would facilitate credit builder loans for residents of correctional facilities. The bill was voted out of work session with a unanimous Ought to Pass vote, meaning it has a high likelihood of passing both the House and Senate. Any credit unions interested in working with correctional facilities should reach out to Krista Simonis, Director of Governmental Affairs, at ksimonis@mainecul.org.
On Wednesday, the League testified in opposition to LD 61, regarding employer surveillance. A version of the bill was introduced last session. This version contains a prohibition on audiovisual monitoring in an employee’s home, which we are concerned could impact remote workers, like tellers or loan officers who need to appear on camera. The committee seemed receptive to the League’s comments and we look forward to seeing what changes they make to the bill at the upcoming work session.
As the Maine Department of Labor continues to implement Paid Family Medical Leave, they will be holding a public hearing for employers to comment on the experience thus far. The hearing will be held on February 25 at 9:00 am. If you would like to submit testimony or attend the hearing, please reach out to Krista Simonis or any member of the Governmental Affairs team. You can also register for the hearing directly on the MDOL website.
To stay up to date on upcoming bills, please sign up for the Governmental Affairs Team’s Advocacy Update, which is sent once a week during the legislative session.