What happened?

On June 9, 2025, Maine Governor Janet Mills signed Legislative Document 898 into law, allowing certain pay differences to help recruit and retain health care workers in rural areas. Because the law was passed as an emergency, it took effect immediately upon signing.

Overview:

The new law, passed as an emergency measure, directs the Maine Department of Labor to update its rules under the Maine Equal Pay Law. These updates will allow employers to offer different pay rates based on:

• Where the employee works (such as rural vs. urban locations),
• The employee’s experience, and
• The employee’s professional credentials.

These changes aim to address workforce shortages in rural health care settings by giving employers more flexibility in how they compensate workers.

The law also clarifies that:

• Different hospital or health care facilities at separate locations are not considered a single “establishment” for pay equity purposes.
• Seniority systems must prioritize either years of service or relevant experience and credentials.

The Department of Labor must finalize these rule changes by October 1, 2025

Source References

• Maine LD 898 – Resolve, to Support Rural Health Care Workforce Recruitment

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