Changes to Maine's Smoke/CO Detectors Laws - March 2010

The laws for smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in Maine changed in March 2010. Here are a few resources to assist you:

State Fire Marshal Certification Form (for closings)

Information about Language in the Statute change by MAR Legal Counsel

A video update explaining the changes to the law and buyer compliance: [Note: this video replaces the first one posted]

Maine's New Smoke/CO Detectors Laws

Note: Due to changes in the law (10/30/09) this video is deleted

Reflections from REALTOR Rally ...

Mary Kuykendall reports: Hi, everyone ...

The heavy March rain which pounded down on the St. Paul Center and threatened to distract Linda Gifford in her 2-hour CE class prior to our State House visi.....no, wait a minute, it's late May, isn't it? Well, the temp on my porch at 7:15am as I shuffled to my car and headed for Augusta was 36F, so I just assumed ...

Anyway, Linda's class was lively, informational and helpful, as usual, and we soaked up her insights and headed off to our vehicles at about 10:40 to rendezvous in the Hall of Flags to get our name badges and finish composing our notes to those legislators we felt we had, at least, a minimal "in" with.

Some of us trouped up to the House gallery to listen to proclamations concerning Camp Sunshine, hear a welcome from House Speaker Pingree to her mother who was on the floor visiting and who, in a moment of confusion, she referred to as her daughter, and then caught the bulk of the enthusiastically-supported or, just as enthusiastically-opposed, debate on clotheslines and solar panels being permitted in rental properties and condominiums. In an increasingly energy conscious state, this is not a trivial issue.

We had been issued stickers with the red circle with the slash / through the "1088" which is the LD number of the bill concerning the transfer tax "modernization". These had to be removed, however, in order to enter the gallery to observe the floor action. They would re-appear when we returned to the Hall of Flags for lunch and chatting with legislators.

While Linda admitted that she thinks the stickers are a little tacky, they do seem to work at getting attention.

We kept focused on our tasks rather than too much time for chatting with each other.

One of the highlights of the day had to be when Linda Gifford announced that the flags flying over the State House this morning were to be presented to the Bangor Board as a gift from Rep. Andre Cushing R-Hampden, who is a member of the Bangor Board of Realtors. The proclamation was quite touching and referenced the "dedicated men and women who serve their communities by making the dream of home ownership possible for Americans."

We hope, at most, to have made some legislators consider and vote favorably on those issues which are important to us, and, at least, to make our presence and concern a part of their consciousness.

If you missed Rally Day, I am sorry. If you were there, thanks.

REALTOR Mary Kuykendall serves on the MAR Board of Directors

Thank You, Senator Snowe

MAR continues to applaud and thank Senator Olympia Snowe for her leadership and ongoing efforts to improve health insurance options for small businesses. On April 2, she was among the original cosponsors to introduce the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) Act in the U.S. Senate.

The SHOP Act offers tax incentives to encourage states to reform poorly functioning small group insurance markets to make health insurance premiums for small businesses and the self-employed more affordable and predictable, and encourages the development of state purchasing polls backstopped by a voluntary, nationwide pool.

Many of the largest concerns on Maine's REALTORS, such as health insurance availability/costs, can only be significantly solved with Congressional, legislative and/or regulatory action. Be sure to thank Senator Snowe!

Pictured: Maine Senator Olympia Snowe with REALTOR Shawn Roy (Vallee Real Estate, Hallowell)

Monitoring, Negotiating, Amending, Stopping

This time of year things really heat up in the Legislature, especially as the budget process wraps up and bills need to be reported out of legislative committees. A huge amount of MAR time is spent monitoring bills we don't believe we need to be concerned about (but learned from history have a way of changing if don't actively watch them) and working on bills we know we're concerned about. Some bills require substantial negotiation to get language amended or removed - and that doesn't just happen by asking for it. Frequently research, documents and deep explanation are necessary. In addition, many regulatory agencies consider issues that impact real estate, and those require monitoring and sometimes action too.

MAR even briefly saw another suggestion by the Taxation Committe to remove the Mortgage Interest Deduction as part of "Tax Reform" this week. But looks like that's dead (again).

Today's MAR E-NEWS (our electronic membership newsletter) includes updates about advertising issues at the Maine Real Estate Commission, and legislative updates on lead paint registry, septic system inspection requirement, building codes, vernal pools, historic properties tax credits, protecting sellers when buyers don't pay future taxes, and statewide energy and building codes. Be sure to read it.

What happens in the legislature, at regulatory agencies and in Congress can impact you and your business.

Decision making and influencing decisions

MAR's bylaws allow decision-making by technology - like this conference call equipment which facilitates some calling in with others physically present at a meeting. Certain committees, like legislative, meet frequently and may not have more than an hour of needed deliberations.

Most of this week's hour was around a proposal in the Maine Legislature to require septic system inspections on all coastal properties at the time of transfer. There are already septic system requirements and laws for all properties, but time of transfer laws increases transactional costs. And does nothing to address every other property not for sale. MAR continues to try to get the Legislature to connect the impact of added costs and burdens with home sales to slowing and stopping sales. The economy depends on a good real estate market.

Ignoring it can hurt your business ...

Last week we clearly saw how participating in the political process can have a direct impact on Maine's homeowners. FHA increases supported by the REALTOR organziation and President Bush got the support needed in Congress to be a reality. Some of you responded. But not all. Which means we need to do a better job explaining. Because many market issues (stimulus or slow-downs) are decided by elected officials.

A reason sometimes given for not giving to RPAC (REALTORS Political Action Committee) or for not answering a legislative Call to Action is "I hate politics". Even it you hate it, you can't hate it. Because decisions made by Congress, legislators and regulators are going to impact whether or not people can buy homes, stay in their homes, or be faced with additional taxes or regulations that will price them out of home ownership. The same is true with commercial real estate and land.

Contributing to a PAC can help elect legislators and Congresspeople who "get" the importance of real estate to Maine's economy and Maine citizens; and answering a Call to Action can help move the economy or make an important change to the industry and small business people. Like health insurance.

If you care about your business, you can't hate politics. Political issues are there, and they can hurt you much more by ignoring them than by participating. If real estate is your profession, then politics is your business.

Give to RPAC. Answer Calls to Action.

MAR Legislative Committee Considers Bills

Today MAR's Legislative Committee discussed pending legislation and recommended MAR position and response. Issues included drinking water, predatory lending, historic property tax credits, tax reform, vernal pools, floodplain designations, shellfish resources, natural resource protection, timing of property tax bills/liability. The Committee weighed in on MAR's strategic plan initiatives and established an upcoming MARPAC fundraising program.

REALTORS attending: (pictured) Chairman Sherry Gregory, Mikie Perry, Gail Rizzo, Barbara Berry, Michelle Flaherty, Wayne Syphers, Linda DiTomaso; also attending - Wes Cook, Shawn Roy, Nathan Goldberg, Annie Parker, and Joe Wright.