Stay updated with the latest news, insights, and upcoming events through our public blog and comprehensive events calendar, including highlights like the Craft Championships and photo galleries of our events.
Membership blog
LD 229: An Act to Bring Fairness in Income Taxes to Maine Families by Adjusting the Tax Brackets and Tax Rates
Committee: Taxation (TAX)
Status: Divided Report - OTP-A/ONTP
Summary: Adjusts income tax brackets starting 2026, adding new rates (7.52%, 7.15%, 8.2%) and indexing to inflation.
ABC Maine Position: OPPOSE
LD 1005: An Act to Allow Municipal Fire Departments with Trained Personnel to Conduct Sprinkler Plan Reviews
Committee: Criminal Justice and Public Safety (CJPS)
Summary: Permits municipal fire departments with certified staff to conduct sprinkler plan reviews.
LD 1117: An Act to Strengthen Maine’s Workforce Through Certified Preapprenticeship Training Programs
Committee: Labor (LAB)
Status: House, Second Reading
Summary: Allocates $8M for preapprenticeship programs, prioritizing high-wage ($35+/hour) jobs and marginalized communities, but excludes programs without union ties or proven employment outcomes.
Why It Matters: Restrictive criteria could exclude ABC Maine and member programs from some funding for preapprenticeship programs
LD 1226: An Act to Protect Consumers by Licensing Residential Building Contractors
Committee: Housing (HED)
Status: AFA Table
Summary: Establishes licensing for residential contractors with a new board and penalties, with a $600K fiscal note (offset).
LD 1270: An Act to Create the Department of Energy Resources
Committee: Environment and Natural Resources (ENR)
Summary: Creates a new Department of Energy Resources to oversee energy policy and programs (details limited in provided data).
ABC Maine Position: MONITOR
LD 1984: An Act to Correct Inconsistencies, Conflicts and Errors in the Laws of Maine
Committee: Judiciary (JUD)
Status: No status provided
Summary: Corrects technical inconsistencies and errors in Maine laws (specific changes unclear without text).
Why It Matters: May include revisions affecting labor definitions. Addition of the word “dispute” could be problematic.
Each issue is packed with valuable updates, event highlights, safety resources, advocacy news, and member features—curated to keep our community informed, connected, and engaged. Whether you're a long-time member or a new face in the chapter, this archive provides a convenient way to catch up, revisit important information, and access tools to help your business thrive.
Monthly issues from January 2024 to the present
Safety updates and links to industry resources (including STEP)
Workforce development and training announcements
Member spotlights and new member welcomes
Legislative updates and ABC National news
Event recaps and registration links for upcoming programs
Each newsletter reflects the value of ABC membership, the strength of our Maine construction community, and the collective progress we’re building together.
Browse the full archive here: https://www.abcmaine.org/Membership/Merit-Messenger-Archives
If your company has exciting news to share or you’d like to be featured in a future issue, reach out to the ABC Maine team. We’re always proud to highlight the stories of our members.
As the 132nd Maine Legislature advances through its 2025 session, several key policy developments may directly impact our industry and the broader construction and business community.
First, lawmakers passed the “Part One” biennial budget (LD 210), totaling $11.3 billion for fiscal years 2026–2027. This budget maintains baseline funding for things like education, revenue sharing, and Maine Care, but delays significant new initiatives to a forthcoming “Part Two” budget. Legislative Democrats have been relying on updated revenue forecasts to determine how to move forward. As members approach the end of session, legislators will have to grapple with how to fund the largest budget in Maine history while maintain government services at current levels. The Legislature is scheduled to adjourn June 18.
Implementation of Maine’s Paid Family and Medical Leave program is now underway. Employer and employee payroll contributions began in January 2025, with benefits scheduled to begin in May 2026. Several bills under consideration—LD 894, LD 1712, and LD 1307—seek to refine the program’s implementation. LD 1307, in particular, may offer relief to ABC Maine members by pausing premium payments for employers with equivalent private plans and expediting exemption approvals. Maine’s PFML program has been heavily scrutinized by Maine’s business community during its implementation.
Finally, LD 1226, sponsored by Rep. Tiffany Roberts, proposes licensure for residential general contractors on projects exceeding $15,000 or those involving multiple licensed trades. The bill responds to a rising number of consumer complaints and would create a Residential Construction Board to oversee education, insurance, and disclosure requirements. While commercial and small-scale work is excluded, ABC Maine is closely monitoring this legislation for potential long-term implications on industry standards and precedent.
REGISTER HERE
Albin, Randall & Bennett and Verrill invite you to an exclusive in-person event for construction industry professionals. Join us to explore key financial and legal trends impacting your business.
Event Details:
Featured Topics:
ARB's David Jean and Ben Lord will dive into Financial Trends in the Construction Industry, covering essential areas such as succession planning, common obstacles in leadership transitions, and the growing popularity of ESOPs as an exit strategy. They’ll also examine valuation drivers, private equity trends, and strategies to protect and enhance your business’s value while ensuring continuity during ownership transitions.
Verrill's John Giffune and Rob Ruesch will discuss Emerging Trends in Construction Law. Learn how tariffs, supply chain disruptions, modular construction, and other evolving factors are impacting contractors across New England and beyond. Gain practical insights to navigate this changing legal and economic landscape effectively.
Don’t miss this opportunity to gain actionable information and connect with industry peers.
RSVP Today! Space is limited. Reserve your spot today!
And join us after the seminar for a networking reception. Light snacks and refreshments will be provided.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Please reach out to [email protected] or [email protected] with questions.
Albin, Randall & Bennett, 130 Middle Street, 3rd Floor, Portland, ME 04101, USA, 207.772.1981
The Maine Legislature is at the midway point of this year’s legislative work. Members are still debating part two of the biennial budget, transportation and infrastructure bonding, as well as general legislative business. There is still much to do and about two months left before Legislators will head home until next January. Here are some things we have been watching at the State House.
Maine Legislative Democrats and Republicans are stalled in negotiations over the second part of the 2025-2027 biennial budget, following the $11.3 billion baseline budget passed in March 2025. Democrats aim to address a $450 million structural gap, proposing targeted revenue increases like cigarette and cannabis taxes, while Republicans demand spending cuts and MaineCare reforms to curb costs. Both sides face pressure to avoid cuts to core services like education and healthcare. Tensions remain high after a partisan first budget, with calls for bipartisan compromise growing urgent as the July 1, 2025, fiscal year start looms.
A group of Republican lawmakers have launched a People’s Veto of the first round of the budget. If successful, the people’s veto could launch the Legislature and the State into uncharted waters. By placing the budget on the ballot in November 2025, all state services would be shut down from July 1 – November 4 at the earliest. Supporters have until mid-June to collect almost 70,000 signatures.
Maine lawmakers are debating transportation and infrastructure funding for 2025. Republicans, led by Sen. Brad Farrin (R-Somerset), have proposed a $100 million transportation bond and redirecting vehicle sales taxes to the Highway Fund, avoiding new taxes. The state’s $4.8 billion three-year plan includes road, bridge, and transit projects, but rising costs and reliance on bonds have sparked concerns on both sides of the aisle.
Maine’s State Auditor, Matt Dunlap, recently released a 2024 audit exposing systemic overuse and abuse of no-bid contracts by the Mills administration. The report highlights $2.1 billion in procurement spending with inadequate oversight, including undocumented sole-source contracts and bypassed competitive bidding. Notable issues include "contract stacking" to avoid scrutiny and missing cost analyses, raising risks of waste and cronyism. While the administration claims existing controls suffice, Republicans demand deeper investigations, citing potential corruption. The audit, spanning 19 federal programs, underscores the need for transparency as agencies resist findings, prompting legislative calls for reform.
Legislative Advocacy Update: Fighting for Maine’s Builders
As we reach the halfway mark of the first session of the 132nd Legislature, the State House is buzzing with activity. ABC’s lobbying and advocacy team is hard at work representing you in Augusta. Here’s a snapshot of key issues we’re monitoring and influencing.
Supplemental and Biennial State Budgets
Lawmakers remain deadlocked over a solution to fill a $121 million shortfall in the state’s current budget. Rising enrollment and inflation have driven a $118 million deficit in MaineCare. The supplemental budget also includes funding to combat the spruce budworm, which is ravaging Maine’s forest products industry.
Democrats and Republicans have been negotiating for nearly a month. Republicans are seeking increased controls on state contributions to local General Assistance programs, along with long-term reforms to transition people to private health insurance. On March 11, progress appeared possible when the Maine House voted 113-27 in favor of the supplemental budget. However, the Maine Senate’s 22-11 vote fell just short of the two-thirds majority needed for emergency enactment. Without emergency passage, payments to providers could be delayed until October.
Simultaneously, legislators are negotiating the state’s $11.7 billion budget for 2026-2027—the largest in Maine’s history. With a nearly $500 million shortfall, lawmakers must either cut services or find new funding sources. In the last two budget cycles, Maine Democrats passed a budget via simple majority to avoid negotiations with Republicans. If they take the same approach this time, the budget must pass by April 1—no joke!
Right-to-Work Bill Fails in Committee
On February 26, the Legislature’s Labor Committee voted 7-4 against LD 187, a bill sponsored by Rep. Josh Morris (R-Turner) to extend private-sector employees the same union membership rights as public-sector employees. ABC Maine testified in support of the bill on February 12. The measure now moves to the House floor for final consideration.
Eliminating Outdated Regulations
ABC Maine collaborated with Rep. Lydia Crafts (D-Newcastle) to amend LD 659, originally intended to ease certain requirements for single-family homes and duplexes. Through member input, an outdated and costly fire alarm provision was identified. ABC drafted an amendment, which Rep. Crafts agreed to support, and presented it to the Legislature’s Housing and Economic Development Committee on March 6. A work session is scheduled for a later date.
As always, your ABC Maine Legislative team is always working for you. We invite you to join us Wednesday mornings at 7:30 AM for our Government Affairs committee. Contact Hope for more information.
The Influence of ABC Maine on Me and Cianbro Over the Years
For decades, Associated Builders and Contractors of Maine has played a pivotal role in shaping both my career and the success of Cianbro. Their unwavering commitment to the merit shop and free enterprise philosophy, health & safety, workforce development, political advocacy, and industry networking has strengthened our company, our team members, and the construction industry as a whole.
Building the Next Generation
One of ABC Maine’s most significant contributions has been its dedication to workforce development. Cianbro has long been committed to the education of skilled professionals, and ABC’s apprenticeship programs, health & safety, and educational initiatives have reinforced that mission.
The Maine Craft Championships have provided an invaluable platform for young tradespeople to showcase their skills and compete at a high level. Cianbro has proudly supported and participated in these competitions, recognizing them as a key opportunity to inspire and develop future generations of builders. The championship fosters a sense of pride in craftsmanship and reinforces the importance of continuous improvement—values that align perfectly with our company culture.
A Strong Voice for the Industry
ABC Maine has been a powerful advocate for merit shop construction, helping to ensure a fair and competitive business environment. Over the years, their political advocacy efforts have protected the rights of open-shop contractors, fighting against restrictive labor policies and promoting legislation that benefits Maine’s construction industry. Their engagement with lawmakers has helped shape policies that support workforce development, health & safety initiatives, and job creation—critical elements of our State’s long-term success.
Strengthening Industry Relationships
ABC Maine has also provided Cianbro with a valuable network of industry professionals, business leaders, and policymakers. Through ABC events, conferences, and forums, we’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with like-minded organizations, share best practices, and build lasting partnerships all over the United States. These relationships have not only contributed to our growth but have also strengthened the construction industry throughout the state.
A Legacy of Progress and Excellence
Looking back on the last 40 years, it’s clear that ABC Maine has been an indispensable partner in Cianbro’s journey. Their influence has helped shape policy, elevated workforce standards, and create opportunities for the next generation of builders here in Maine.
As we look toward the future, we remain committed to upholding the values ABC Maine has championed— believing in the system of free enterprise and open competition. A relentless pursuit of excellence, leading with health & safety, and a commitment to developing the finest construction professionals in the industry.
Congratulations ABC Maine on 40 Years of unwavering support to the Maine Construction Industry.
Michael Bennett
Sr. Executive Vice President
The Cianbro Companies
ABC Maine Board of Director’s Past Chair 2008 & 2018
Install Next-Level Managers
It’s difficult to overstate the importance of next-level managers. This is especially true if you’re considering a sale to a third party.
A strong next-level management team is the foundation of your company’s value to outside buyers. They often drive operations, create new efficiencies, and, most importantly, keep the business thriving after you leave it.
If your company relies on you for its success, buyers may hesitate to consider
your business. Generally, buyers are most interested in businesses that run smoothly without the owner at the helm. Next- level management teams position you to leave the business on your terms.
In some cases, business owners who have thriving businesses but no next-level managers must either postpone their retirement or stay with the company after they’ve sold it. This is often not ideal for many business owners.
Business continuity plans are non-binding guides that help your family and business address an unexpected event, such as death, incapacitation, or something else that prevents you from running the business.
Having this kind of plan can provide clearer guidance about your goals. For many business owners, planning for a successful future doesn’t end with achieving financial goals. They may have other aspirational goals they’d like to achieve in tandem.
For example, say you were in the middle of planning a third-party sale and were suddenly incapacitated. Your family and advisors may know that you wanted a certain dollar amount for the business. What they may not have known is that you also wanted to keep the business in your community. But the only way to achieve your financial goal at the time you were incapacitated would be to sell to someone who wanted to move the business out of the community.
A business continuity plan can help you elucidate your goals in instances where you cannot speak for yourself.
Third-party buyers almost always assemble top-notch negotiation teams when purchasing a business. Though business owners are good at a lot of things, negotiating a business sale is an entirely new arena for many.
Negotiations are often complex and require more time than a business owner has to fully dedicate themselves. This is especially true if you don’t have a next-level management team.
It’s no secret that buyers want to maximize their value with any business they purchase. They’ll do comprehensive due diligence and use their findings to pursue this goal.
Assembling a strong negotiation team can help you find weaknesses in your business and then strengthen them before a buyer finds them and tries to leverage them against you. They can also represent your goals, both financial and aspirational, at the negotiation table.
Negotiation teams do everything they can to get you the best deal you can get. They also have specialized skills, such as in valuation, tax reduction, and law, that can protect your interests.
When pursuing a third-party sale, your first chance is often your best chance. This doesn’t mean you must accept the first offer proposed. What it does mean is that you don’t want to pull your business off the market because you didn’t get an offer you liked.
This is called “tainting the marketplace.” When a business comes off the market without selling, it tells potential buyers that there may be something wrong with the business. This may make future buyers more hesitant to purchase your business. Fortunately, by installing a next-level management team, creating business continuity plans, and assembling a negotiation team, you reduce the likelihood of tainting the marketplace.
We strive to help business owners identify and prioritize their objectives with respect to their businesses, their employees, and their families. If you have questions on this topic, we can help with more information or a referral to another experienced professional. Please feel free to contact us at your convenience.
The information contained in this article is general in nature and is not legal, tax or financial advice. For information regarding your particular situation, contact an attorney or a tax or financial advisor. The information in this newsletter is provided with the understanding that it does not render legal, accounting, tax or financial advice. In specific cases, clients should consult their legal, accounting, tax or financial advisor. This article is not intended
to give advice or to represent our firm as being qualified to give advice in all areas of professional services. Exit Planning is a discipline that typically requires the collaboration of multiple professional advisors. To the extent that our firm does not have the expertise required on a particular matter, we will always work closely with you to help you gain access to the resources and professional advice that you need.
This is an opt-in newsletter published by Business Enterprise Institute, Inc., and presented to you by our firm. We appreciate your interest.
Any examples provided are hypothetical and for illustrative purposes only. Examples include fictitious names and do not represent any particular person or entity.
©2025 Business Enterprise Institute, Inc. All rights reserved.
The Maine Legislature is in full swing, and ABC Maine has been working hard fighting for the merit shop in Augusta. Here are a few updates from the hill!
BUDGET STALEMATE
Lawmakers remain at an impasse over the $121 million supplemental budget, causing a potential delay in funding for healthcare and public assistance programs. The budget, which includes $118 million for MaineCare and additional funding for forest protection, passed both chambers but failed to secure the two-thirds majority needed for immediate enactment.
Republicans oppose the one-time funding approach, advocating for long-term reforms to transition individuals to private insurance. They are also seeking stricter fiscal controls, citing concerns over unchecked spending.
Democrats will have to negotiate with Republicans if they want payments to providers to go out on time. The vote will require a two-thirds majority to meet payment deadlines. Democrats have successfully bypassed the need for any Republican support for spending measures for four years.
With the Legislature adjourned until February 25, negotiations are expected to continue. The outcome of upcoming discussions will be critical in determining not only the supplementals fate but the entire two year budget which will come up for votes soon.
RIGHT-TO-WORK LEGISLATION HEARD IN LABOR COMMITTEE
Right-to-Work legislation was introduced in the Labor Committee by Rep. Josh Morris (R-Turner). LD 187 would eliminate the ability of labor unions to require non-union employees to pay service fees for collective bargaining representation. Under current law, employees who choose not to join a union are still required to pay fees that cover collective bargaining expenses. This bill removes that requirement, ensuring that employees cannot be compelled to financially support a union they do not wish to join.
ABC Maine offered testimony in support of LD 187 as a critical step toward worker freedom. A core tenant of the merit shop philosophy is that union membership and financial support should be a voluntary choice, not a condition of employment. The testimony highlighted the Janus v. AFSCME Supreme Court decision, which established this principle for public-sector employees, arguing that it should be extended to all workers.
ABC Maine also emphasized that Right to Work policies promote economic growth, attract investment, and create job opportunities. The testimony further pointed out that unions maintain exclusive representation rights by choice, making it unfair to force non-members to pay fees.
TRANSPORTATION BOND INTRODUCED BY SEN. BRAD FARRIN (R-SOMERSET)
LD 367 proposes a $100 million bond issue for infrastructure improvements, allocating $85 million for roads and bridges and $15 million for nonhighway transportation projects. The bond will be subject to voter approval should it pass the legislature. The bill is sponsored by Sen. Brad Farrin (R-Somerset), a strong advocate for Maine’s construction industry, and has the full support of Maine’s construction industry.
ABC Maine strongly backs this measure to modernize and maintain critical transportation networks and appreciates Sen. Farrin’s leadership on this issue.
In this webinar, Preti Flaherty's John Cronan will review common causes of change orders, the effect change orders can have on project timelines and budgets, managing change orders, legal considerations, and risk mitigation.
Date: January 30, 2025
Time: 8:30 a.m.
Questions? Contact Amber Mann at [email protected].
Partner, Construction Law Group
[email protected]
Register Here
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