Proposed new bill in Maine to not allow evictions until 90 days..

[Jeremy A.]

[Jeremy A.]

Maine people Please contact your state Representative and Senator now to express opposition to LD 1255, “An Act To Prohibit Evictions Until 90 Days After the End of the Governor’s Declaration of Emergency.” This bill could come up for floor vote as soon as this week. PLEASE DON’T WAIT.

LD 1255, introduced by Portland Representative Grayson Lookner, mandates that once the Governor’s Pandemic Emergency Declaration expires, most for-cause evictions are banned for ninety days.

It specifically and by name or number bans evictions for:

• Rental default
• Expiration of lease
• Tenant causing substantial damage to property – 14 MRS § 6002(1)(A)
• Tenant causing a nuisance-at-law or causing the property to become unfit for habitation – 14 MRS § 6002(1)(B)
• Tenant is a perpetrator of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking against another tenant – 14 MRS § 6002(1)(D)
• Tenant or guest threatens or commits violence, threatens violence or sexual assault against a tenant, guest, landlord or landlord’s agent – 14 MRS § 6002(1)(E)
• Person is an unauthorized squatter – 14 MRS § 6002(1)(F)

We suggest you tell your legislators:

• “Right now, during the emergency, my tenants are protected, under law, from bad tenants. Their guests get protection under law. My manager and I get protection under law. This bill says that once things are better we need to stop that. That kind of thinking puts all of our safety at risk. Please don't vote for LD 1255.”
• “This bill barely made it out of the Judiciary Committee on a 7-6 vote. Both Democrats and Republicans voted against it. Please vote against this bill, too.”
• “Right now, during the emergency, we have an eviction system which is slow but at least it works. This bill says that once things are better we need to stop for-cause evictions completely. That’s backward thinking! Please don't support LD 1255."
• “I know it’s hard to vote down a bill on the floor, but please help me protect my tenants, their guests, my manager, myself and my property. Please vote against LD 1255.”