Sen. Bailey to introduce bill strengthening Maine’s landmark medical debt law

AUGUSTA — When the 132nd Maine Legislature reconvenes in January, Sen. Bailey will introduce legislation to expand protections for Mainers with medical debt. “An Act to Strengthen Consumer Protections by Prohibiting Liens on Principal Residences and Wage Garnishments for Medical Debt” was approved for introduction in the Legislature’s Second Regular Session by a majority of the Legislative Council in an October 23 meeting.

“This year, we worked hard to protect Mainers with medical debt,” said Sen. Bailey. “We banned consumer credit reporting agencies from including medical debt on their reports, and we prohibited health care centers, clinics and facilities from reporting medical debt to the agencies. Still, given the extent of medical debt, with nearly half of Maine households incurring it, we have more work to do. Mainers should not fear losing their homes or their hard-earned wages while paying off their medical bills.”

Currently, a debt collection agency can sue a person with medical debt and, with a court order, recover the money owed to them by placing a lien on the person’s home or garnishing their wages. New York is the only state to protect patients with medical debt from having liens placed on their homes or having their wages garnished.

New legislation in the Second Regular Session of the Maine Legislature must be approved for introduction by the Legislative Council, which is made up of the Democratic and Republican leaders in the Maine Senate and House of Representatives.

The Legislature is set to reconvene for the Second Regular Session on Wednesday, January 7, 2026.

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