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132nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
FIRST REGULAR SESSION-2025
Legislative Document No. 1219S.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. Page 1 - 132LR1731(01)1 acts and resolves of the Legislature do not
2 become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
3 additional funding to the University of Maine System is necessary for the
4 beginning of fiscal year 2025-26, which will begin before the 90-day period expires; and
5 in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within
6 the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as
7 immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now,
8 therefore,
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10 is enacted to read:
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12 that is used for comparative analysis and benchmarking of institutional qualities as
13 determined by the trustees for each campus of the university.
14 is enacted to read:
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16 Beginning July 1, 2026, for the 2026-27 fiscal
17 year, each campus of the university must be funded at no less than 95% of the funding that
18 the campus's peer institution receives from the peer institution's state on a per student basis.
19 The university, in calculating the peer institution's funding, shall use the most recent data
20 available.
21 Beginning July 1, 2027, for the 2027-28 fiscal
22 year, each campus of the university must be funded at no less than 100% of the funding
23 that the campus's peer institution receives from the peer institution's state on a per student
24 basis. The university, in calculating the peer institution's funding, shall use the most recent
25 data available.
26 Beginning July 1, 2025, the minimum hourly
27 wage at the university is equal to 125% of the minimum hourly wage established in Title
28 26, section 664, subsection 1.
29 The following appropriations and
30 allocations are made.
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33 Initiative: Provides ongoing funds to support a 6% increase in funding for fiscal year
34 2025-26 and an additional 4% increase in funding for fiscal year 2026-27 to support the
35 continuation of current University of Maine System operations.
GENERAL FUND 2025-26 2026-27All Other $14,371,274$24,526,974
____________________
GENERAL FUND TOTAL
$14,371,274$24,526,974
36373839 Page 2 - 132LR1731(01)
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2 takes effect when approved.
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4 This bill requires that, beginning July 1, 2026, each campus of the University of Maine
5 System be funded at no less than 95% of the funding that the campus's peer institution
6 receives on a per student basis. Beginning July 1, 2027, each campus of the University of
7 Maine System must be funded at no less than 100% of the funding that the campus's peer
8 institution receives on a per student basis. For the purposes of these provisions, the bill
9 provides that peer institutions are determined by the trustees for each campus of the
10 University of Maine System. The bill also requires that, beginning July 1, 2025, the
11 minimum hourly wage at the University of Maine System be equal to 125% of the State's
12 minimum hourly wage. The bill also provides ongoing funds to support a 6% increase in
13 funding for fiscal year 2025-26 and an additional 4% increase in funding for fiscal year
14 2026-27 to support the continuation of current University of Maine System operations.
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