AUGUSTA – Several key pieces of legislation sponsored by Rep. Amy Kuhn, D-Falmouth, will go into effect today.
“It seems that with every headline, there is nothing but amplifies the chaos and disarray happening within our federal government,” said Kuhn. “It can be hard not to feel overwhelmed, but that’s in such uncertain times. That is why I prioritized passing legislation that upholds Mainer’s’ rights to the truth, justice and basic access to healthcare. Even if Washington can’t get its act together, here in Maine, the Legislature is doing everything we can to uphold our rights and build a better future.”
LD 517 will require campaign advertisements that contain convincing deepfake material to include a written disclosure. The law reflects rising concerns around the increasing presence of artificial intelligence (AI) in American politics, as the technology has been used to manipulate media at the expense of public trust. For example, In 2024, the Federal Communications Commission fined a political consultant for orchestrating a robocall scam that artificially fabricated the voice of then-President Biden, calling Democratic households in New Hampshire to dissuade them from voting.
Another bill, LD 2082, will allow licensed clinicians to use AI tools to reduce administrative burdens like scheduling appointments, sending reminders, and processing billing. However, the bill prohibits providers from using AI tools to replicate core tasks that depend upon their training, experience, judgment and ethical decision-making — such as directly interacting with clients in any form of therapeutic communication or generating therapeutic recommendations and treatment plans without review.
A third measure sponsored by Kuhn, LD 1691, will increase access to justice in rural Maine by creating incentives for law school students and recent graduates to practice law in underserved areas. The bill creates a loan repayment program administered by the Finance Authority of Maine (FAME). It aims to solidify new lawyers’ long-term commitment to settling and working in Maine while addressing the shortage of legal services that are available in rural areas.
Kuhn’s bill to protect access to reproductive healthcare, LD 335, also served as the basis for a provision within the state’s supplemental budget to provide $5 million in ongoing funding for Maine’s family planning network and create a first-in-the-nation safety net to ensure the state will step in to backfill lost funds if the federal government withholds Medicaid payments or Title X funding in the future.
Rep. Kuhn is serving her second term in the Maine House and represents part of Falmouth. She is the House chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Judiciary.
Contact: Brian Lee (Kuhn) | 305-965-2744