Blog
New Labor Laws Going into Effect
- By: Anna Black
- On: 07/22/2026 10:05:39
- In: Legislative/Government Affairs
Below you'll find an overview of some of the newly effective Maine labor laws. Please forward this to your HR/compliance managers so they are aware.
Pay Transparency
LD 54 – An Act to Require Employers to Disclose Pay Ranges and Maintain Records of Employees' Pay Histories establishes new pay transparency requirements. Beginning July 29, employers with 10 or more employees must include the anticipated pay range in advertisements for available positions. Current employees may also request the pay range for their position. Employers must maintain records concerning employee positions and pay history during employment and for three years after separation.
Employer Surveillance
LD 61 – An Act to Regulate Employer Surveillance to Protect Workers establishes new notice and privacy requirements regarding electronic workplace surveillance.
Employers that engage in covered forms of electronic monitoring must notify prospective employees during the hiring process and provide annual written notice to current employees. The law also limits audiovisual monitoring in employees' residences, personal vehicles and personal property, and allows employees to decline requests to install employer surveillance applications on their personal electronic devices. 26 MRS §620 prohibits employers from retaliating against employees who exercise their rights under this law (and all the other labor protections in Title 26, Chapter 7).
Health Care Noncompete Agreements
LD 2200 – An Act to Prohibit Noncompete Agreements for Health Care Professionals expands worker mobility within Maine's health care workforce. The law prohibits employers from requiring noncompete agreements for health care practitioners while preserving existing protections contained elsewhere in Maine law.
Workplace Safety
LD 1993 – An Act to Increase the Annual Cap on Funds Assessed for the Safety Education and Training Fund increases the statutory cap supporting the Safety Education and Training Fund. The fund supports workplace safety education and training programs administered by the Maine Department of Labor that help employers identify hazards, prevent injuries and create safer workplaces across Maine.
** To review Maine DOL's SafetyWorks! Program, including training schedules, safety video library, and resources click here.
** To review Maine DOL's SafetyWorks! Program, including training schedules, safety video library, and resources click here.
Substance Use Testing Modernization
LD 2110 – An Act to Update Employer Substance Use Testing Policy Requirements modernizes Maine's workplace substance use testing laws. Among other changes, the law requires the use of Medical Review Officers in applicable circumstances, authorizes qualifying employers to use rapid oral fluid screening devices, incorporates breath alcohol testing into the statute, updates terminology, clarifies reasonable suspicion standards, revises treatment provisions and updates several statutory definitions.
Health Care Gap Year Program
LD 703 – An Act to Establish a Health Care Gap Year Program for Recent College Graduates provides funding to expand career pathways into Maine's health care workforce. The initiative supports placement of recent college graduates into critical health care positions, particularly in rural and underserved communities, while helping employers address workforce shortages.
**To learn more about the Gap Year program that runs through The Roux Institute at Northeastern University with support from Maine's Department of Labor, click here.
**To learn more about the Gap Year program that runs through The Roux Institute at Northeastern University with support from Maine's Department of Labor, click here.
Paid Family and Medical Leave
LD 2018 – An Act to Amend the Requirements Governing Self-Insurance Plans in the Paid Family and Medical Leave Benefits Program clarifies requirements for employers operating self-insured private plans. The law establishes bond requirements, clarifies that employers may not pool insurance risk across multiple employers and reinforces safeguards that protect workers' access to Paid Family and Medical Leave benefits.
To learn more about these and other labor laws follow this link to watch a recording of a July 16 webinar the Maine Department of Labor held to share information about these recent changes to Maine state law and regulations on wage and hour, workplace safety, and other labor standards.