MaineMaine law sets up a health registry for Gagetown trainees
Maine law directs its veterans’ services bureau to gather voluntary information from eligible Base Gagetown trainees and a commission to study chemical exposure and report by November 2026.
What it does
Maine’s Bureau of Veterans’ Services must set up a registry for voluntary service and health information from eligible Base Gagetown trainees. The information is confidential, with limited sharing for health research when the person or, if deceased, their next of kin gives written consent.
A 12-member commission studies harmful chemical exposure among people who trained at Base Gagetown. It must report findings and recommendations, including suggested legislation, by November 4, 2026.
The state sets aside $250,000 in one-time funding for consulting costs to create the Base Gagetown Training Registry.
Argument forOutreach through veterans’ groups and medical centers could help former trainees learn about the registry and share health information.
Argument againstBecause the registry relies on voluntary reports, it could miss some former trainees and health problems, leaving gaps in outreach and research.
More detail
Maine’s Bureau of Veterans’ Services must establish a registry for voluntary service and health information. The registry covers people who trained at Base Gagetown while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, its reserve component, or a state National Guard, and who live in Maine or lived there when they trained. Next of kin may submit information for someone who has died. The bureau may use the information for research on how chemical exposure affects health. The information is confidential. It may be shared for that research only with written consent from the person, or from their next of kin if the person has died. The bureau must report each year by February 15 on the registry and its outreach efforts.
A 12-member commission must study harmful chemical exposure among people who trained at Base Gagetown and report its findings and recommendations. The study covers U.S. service members, reservists, and National Guard members who trained at the Canadian military support base in Gagetown, New Brunswick. Members include lawmakers, veterans’ advocates, a veteran’s family member, a veterans’ claims expert, former trainees exposed to harmful chemicals, and experts in chemical, environmental, or health fields. The commission may request information from federal agencies. Legislative Council staff support is unavailable while the Legislature is in session. Appointments are due within 30 days after the Act’s effective date. The report is due by November 4, 2026.
The state sets aside $250,000 for consulting costs to create the registry. The funding is for Veterans Services in the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management. The money must be used for the registry and carried forward for that purpose. The appropriation is listed for fiscal year 2026–27.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
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 14Subsequently, PASSED TO BE ENACTED, in concurrence.Major
- Apr 14On motion by Senator DUSON of Cumberland taken from the Special Study Table
- Apr 14On motion by Senator DUSON of Cumberland placed on the SPECIAL STUDY TABLE pending PASSAGE TO BE ENACTED, in concurrence.
- 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" (S-347) as Amended by Senate Amendment "A" (S-700) thereto.Minor
- Apr 13Sent down for concurrence.
- Apr 13PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED BY Committee Amendment "A" (S-347) as Amended by Senate Amendment "A" (S-700) thereto in NON-CONCURRENCE.Minor
- Apr 13Committee Amendment "A" (S-347) as Amended by Senate Amendment "A" (S-700) thereto ADOPTED.Minor
- Apr 13On further motion by Same Senator Senate Amendment "A" (S-700) to Committee Amendment "A" (S-347) READ and ADOPTED.
- Apr 13On further motion by Same Senator the Senate SUSPENDED THE RULES to RECONSIDER their actions whereby Committee Amendment "A" (S-347) 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" (S-347) 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 13On motion by Senator RENY of Lincoln PLACED ON THE SPECIAL APPROPRIATIONS TABLE pending ENACTMENT in concurrence
- Jun 12Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
- Jun 12PASSED TO BE ENACTED.Became Law
- Jun 12This being an emergency measure, a two-thirds vote of all the members elected to the House was necessary.
- Jun 11Reported Out - OTP-AM
- Jun 11In concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
- Jun 11The Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (S-347).Minor
- Jun 11Under suspension of the rules CONSENT CALENDAR - SECOND DAY.
- Jun 11CONSENT CALENDAR - FIRST DAY
- Jun 11Ordered sent down forthwith for concurrence.
- Jun 11Under suspension of the Rules, READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED BY Committee Amendment "A" (S-347).Minor
- Jun 11Committee Amendment "A" (S-347) READ and ADOPTED.Minor
- Jun 11READ ONCE.Minor
- Jun 11Report READ and ACCEPTED.
- Apr 30Voted - OTP-AM
- Apr 30Work Session Held
- Apr 11Received by the Secretary of the Senate on April 11, 2025 and REFERRED to the Committee on VETERANS AND LEGAL AFFAIRS pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2Introduced
VeteransHealthcareGovernment & Ethics