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132nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
FIRST SPECIAL SESSION-2025
Legislative Document No. 1642S.P. 650 In Senate, April 15, 2025
An Act to Protect Maine Consumers by Simplifying Subscription
Cancellations
Received by the Secretary of the Senate on April 11, 2025. Referred to the Committee on
Housing and Economic Development pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator NANGLE of Cumberland. Page 1 - 132LR1505(01)
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2 as enacted by PL 2019, c. 175, §1, is
3 amended to read:
4 A. "Automatic subscription renewal" means an offer or agreement to provide any of
5 the following goods or services for a specified time and price that is automatically
6 renewed at the end of a definite term for a subsequent term unless the consumer cancels
7 affirmatively acts to cancel the agreement or to reject further provision of the goods or
8 services:
9 (1) Online magazines, journals and periodicals;
10 (2) Online media players;
11 (3) Mobile apps;
12 (4) Social networking services;
13 (5) Internet game services; and
14 (6) Online software.
15 as enacted by PL 2019, c. 175, §1, is
16 amended to read:
17 B. "Extended automatic subscription renewal" means an automatic subscription
18 renewal with a specified subscription term of 12 months or more, in which the
19 subscription automatically renews for a specified term of more than one month unless
20 the consumer cancels affirmatively acts to cancel the subscription or to reject further
21 provision of the goods or services.
22 as enacted by PL 2019, c. 175, §1, is amended
23 to read:
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25 A seller may not make an automatic subscription renewal
26 offer to a consumer in this State unless the seller presents that consumer with an a clear,
27 conspicuous and easily accessible disclosure of all material terms of the renewal offer and
28 of the methods that the consumer may use to cancel the subscription. A seller shall obtain
29 the express consent of a consumer to automatic subscription renewal prior to enrollment
30 through a check box, electronic signature requirement or other affirmative action by the
31 consumer agreeing to the renewal offer. The seller must provide for online cancellation of
32 the subscription by any means of communicating information over a computer network by
33 a consumer using the same method and in the same manner by which the consumer initially
34 agreed to the subscription. If a phone number is also provided for the purposes of
35 cancellation of the subscription, the number must be and must be prominently
36 displayed in the disclosure. The disclosure must also include, but is not limited to,
37 information regarding the amount and frequency of subscription charges and the seller's
38 refund policy upon cancellation. In marketing, offering or selling a subscription with an
39 automatic subscription renewal, a seller may not make any misrepresentation of a material
40 fact associated with that renewal offer.
41 as enacted by PL 2019, c. 175, §1, is amended
42 to read: Page 2 - 132LR1505(01)
1 subscription renewals; additional notice
2 A seller may not make an extended automatic subscription renewal offer to
3 a consumer in this State unless the seller complies with the same requirements and
4 restrictions applicable to automatic subscription renewals under subsection 2 and
5 additionally notifies the consumer of the automatic renewal in accordance with this
6 subsection. Notice must be provided to the consumer no less No fewer than 30 days and
7 no more than 60 days before the cancellation deadline pursuant to the automatic
8 subscription renewal. The seller must provide for online cancellation of the subscription
9 by any means of communicating information over a computer network. The notice for an
10 extended automatic subscription renewal, the seller must provide notice to the consumer
11 regarding the renewal, which must disclose clearly and conspicuously:
12 A. That unless the consumer cancels the subscription it will automatically renew; and
13 B. Where the consumer can obtain details regarding the automatic subscription
14 renewal and cancellation procedure.
15 as enacted by PL 2019, c. 175, §1, is amended
16 to read:
17
18 Practices Act. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, in addition to damages
19 or penalties authorized pursuant to the Maine Unfair Trade Practices Act, a person found
20 in violation of this chapter based on unauthorized subscription or other charges billed to or
21 paid by a consumer is required to provide to the consumer a refund or credit for 3 times the
22 unauthorized amounts billed or paid.
23 is enacted to read:
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25 chapter and shall bring necessary actions for violations of this chapter in accordance with
26 this section. The Attorney General may adopt rules necessary for the enforcement of this
27 chapter. Rules adopted by the Attorney General pursuant to this subsection are routine
28 technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
29 Notwithstanding the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 10, section
30 1210-C, subsection 4, this Act applies only to offers or agreements entered into or renewed
31 on or after January 1, 2026 under which a seller makes an automatic subscription renewal
32 or extended automatic subscription renewal offer to a consumer in this State.
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34 This bill amends the law regulating automatic subscription renewals to clarify the
35 disclosure requirements for sellers offering such subscriptions, including by requiring a
36 seller to obtain a consumer's express consent for automatic subscription renewal prior to
37 enrollment through a check box, electronic signature requirement or other affirmative
38 action by the consumer agreeing to the renewal offer; by requiring the seller to provide for
39 cancellation of such subscriptions by a consumer using the same method and in the same
40 manner by which the consumer initially agreed to the subscription; and by prohibiting a
41 seller from misrepresenting a material fact regarding an automatic subscription renewal
42 offer in the marketing, offering or selling of such subscriptions.
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1 The bill directs the Attorney General to enforce the provisions of the law regulating
2 automatic subscription renewals, to bring necessary actions for violations of that law and
3 to adopt rules necessary for the enforcement of that law. It also provides that, in addition
4 to damages or penalties authorized pursuant to the Maine Unfair Trade Practices Act, a
5 person found in violation of that law based on unauthorized subscription or other charges
6 billed to or paid by a consumer is required to provide to the consumer a refund or credit for
7 3 times the unauthorized amounts billed or paid.
8 The changes provided in the bill to the law regulating automatic subscription renewals
9 apply only to offers or agreements entered into or renewed on or after January 1, 2026
10 under which a seller makes an automatic subscription renewal or extended automatic
11 subscription renewal offer to a consumer in this State.