AUGUSTA – The Legislature’s Labor Committee voted unanimously of those present on Tuesday to advance a bill sponsored by Rep. Amy Roeder, D-Bangor, that would ensure highway maintenance workers killed on the job in Maine receive death benefits commensurate with the danger of their profession.
Roeder put forward the legislation after two workers from the Maine Department of Transportation (DOT), James Brown and Dwayne Campbell, lost their lives in the line of duty in a horrific accident on January 13.
As amended, LD 669 would provide DOT highway maintenance personnel who have died in the line of duty the same death benefit that other public servants, like law enforcement and firefighters, receive. That benefit is $100,000 to surviving children, parents or a spouse. The amendment would also allow for an interim payment of $3,000 to survivors under certain circumstances.
“Passing this legislation is an important step in acknowledging that highway maintenance jobs carry a higher risk of injury and death.” said Roeder. “These risks are real and directly associated with this line of work. This bill will help ensure that we have the backs of those who put their lives on the line every day to maintain our transportation infrastructure and keep our roads safe.”
Roeder also read testimony on behalf of Tyler Brown, a Transportation Crew Leader for the MaineDOT, son of James and stepbrother to Dwayne.
According to a 2026 Bureau of Labor Statistics Report, workers in transportation and material moving occupations represented the occupational group with the most fatalities with 1,391 fatal work injuries in 2024. Transportation incidents continue to be the most frequent type of fatal event, accounting for 38.2 percent of all occupational fatalities in 2024.
During the public hearing, the legislation was supported by the Maine Service Employees Association (MSEA), Local 1989 of the Service Employees International Union, the Maine AFL-CIO, the Maine Department of Transportation and many others.
The bill faces votes in the House and Senate in the coming weeks.
Roeder is serving her third term in the Maine House of Representatives and is House chair of the Labor Committee. She represents House District 23, which includes a portion of Bangor.
Contact:
Brian Lee (Roeder) | 305-965-2744