MaineMaine requires adult education reporting and routes college funds
Maine's education department must hear from adult education students and educators as it sets priorities, and the state provides one-time program funding.
What it does
The Department of Education must assess adult education needs each year and report on program funding, results, and unmet needs to the Legislature's education committee.
The Department of Education must keep clear guidelines for state adult education funds and hear from program directors, educators, students, and a statewide professional group.
Starting in fiscal year 2027-28, the Department of Education must send college transition program funding directly to adult education programs through the state subsidy.
If appropriated adult education funds are not paid out under the stated reimbursement rules, the Department of Education must tell the Legislature why and explain their purpose.
The state provides $150,000 in one-time funding to support adult education programs.
Argument forYearly reports could help lawmakers spot funding gaps and see how state funding affects adult education program results.
Argument againstPrograms may need to adjust how they receive college transition funds because the state must route that money through a different payment channel.
More detail
The Department of Education must assess adult education needs each year and report its findings to the Legislature's education committee. The report must cover each program's funding, eligible funding and any reduction, funding's effect on outcomes, and additional needs. The assessment must compare statewide adult education needs with funding appropriated by the Legislature. The first report is due by December 3, 2026, and another is due each year after that.
The Department of Education must keep clear guidelines for state adult education funds and convene a group to give input. The guidelines cover state funds for adult education programs. The group gives input on statewide goals, funding priorities, and program improvements. The group must include adult education program directors, a statewide adult education professional association representative, instructors, and students; it may include others. The department must convene the group every two years before finalizing its budget.
The Department of Education must distribute college transition program funding directly to adult education programs through the state subsidy. The department may not distribute adult education program funding through a school administrative unit starting in fiscal year 2027-28. The restriction on distributing adult education funding through a school administrative unit starts in fiscal year 2027-28.
The Department of Education must explain to the Legislature why appropriated adult education funds were not paid out and what they were meant to fund. This applies when appropriated funds are not paid out under the reimbursement procedures and rates in the cited adult education laws.
The state provides a one-time $150,000 allocation to support adult education programs. The allocation is listed for the Department of Education's Adult Education program. The allocation is for fiscal year 2026-27.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 16Signed by Governor Janet MillsLatest
- Apr 13PASSED TO BE ENACTED, in concurrence.Major
- Apr 13Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
- Apr 13PASSED TO BE ENACTED.Passed 2nd Chamber
- Apr 13ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
- Apr 13The House RECEDED and CONCURRED to PASSAGE TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (H-611) as Amended by Senate Amendment "A" (S-684) thereto.Minor
- Apr 13Sent down for concurrence.
- Apr 13PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED BY Committee Amendment "A" (H-611) as Amended by Senate Amendment "A" (S-684) thereto in NON-CONCURRENCE.Minor
- Apr 13Committee Amendment "A" (H-611) as Amended by Senate Amendment "A" (S-684) thereto ADOPTED.Minor
- Apr 13On further motion by Same Senator Senate Amendment "A" (S-684) to Committee Amendment "A" (H-611) READ and ADOPTED.
- Apr 13On further motion by Same Senator the Senate SUSPENDED THE RULES to RECONSIDER their actions whereby Committee Amendment "A" (H-611) was ADOPTED.Minor
- Apr 13On motion by Same Senator the Senate SUSPENDED THE RULES to RECONSIDER their actions whereby the Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED by Committee Amendment "A" (H-611) in concurrence.Minor
- Apr 13On motion by Senator ROTUNDO of Androscoggin taken from the Special Appropriations Table
- 2025
- Jun 25CARRIED OVER, in the same posture, to any special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature, pursuant to Joint Order SP 800.
- Jun 12On motion by Senator ROTUNDO of Androscoggin PLACED ON THE SPECIAL APPROPRIATIONS TABLE pending ENACTMENT in concurrence
- Jun 11Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
- Vote recorded FINAL ENACTMENT. Result: pass.Lower
- Jun 11(Yeas 105 - Nays 34 - Absent 10 - Excused 2)
- Jun 11ROLL CALL NO. 439
- Jun 11This being an emergency measure, a two-thirds vote of all the members elected to the House being necessary, a total was taken.
- Jun 11Subsequently, the Bill was PASSED TO BE ENACTED.Passed 1st Chamber
- Jun 11Speaker laid before the House
- Jun 11(Roll Call Ordered)
- Jun 11Later today assigned.
- Jun 11On motion of Representative MOONEN of Portland, TABLED pending PASSAGE TO BE ENACTED.Became Law
- Jun 11Representative MOONEN of Portland REQUESTED a Roll Call. More than one-fifth of the members present expressed a desire for a roll call, which was ORDERED.
- Jun 11This being an emergency measure, a two-thirds vote of all the members elected to the House was necessary.
- Jun 11Ordered sent down forthwith.
- Jun 11Under suspension of the Rules, READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED BY Committee Amendment "A" (H-611), in concurrence.Minor
- Jun 11Committee Amendment "A" (H-611) READ and ADOPTED, in concurrence.Minor
- Jun 11READ ONCE.Minor
- Jun 11Report READ and ACCEPTED, in concurrence.
- Jun 10Reported Out - OTP-AM
- Jun 10Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
- Jun 10The Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (H-611).Minor
- Jun 10Under suspension of the rules CONSENT CALENDAR - SECOND DAY.
- Jun 10CONSENT CALENDAR - FIRST DAY
- May 16Voted - OTP-AM
- May 16Work Session Held
- Apr 17The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on EDUCATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS in concurrenceMinor
- Apr 17Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
- Apr 17The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on EDUCATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS.Minor
- Apr 17Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered printed.Introduced
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