---
type: "Bill"
title: "Resolve, To Establish The Task Force On Accessibility To Appropriate Communication Methods For Deaf And Hard-Of-Hearing Patients"
description: "Resolve, To Establish The Task Force On Accessibility To Appropriate Communication Methods For Deaf And Hard-Of-Hearing Patients"
jurisdiction: "us/states/me"
legislature: "Maine Legislature"
session: "131"
identifier: "LD 976"
citation: "Maine LD 976 (131)"
classification: ["bill"]
subjects: ["ACCESSIBILITY", "DISABLED PERSONS", "HEALTH CARE SETTINGS"]
status: "enacted"
primary_sponsors: ["Janice DODGE"]
version_count: 3
action_count: 25
vote_count: 0
first_action: "2023-03-02"
last_action: "2023-07-11"
source: "openstates"
source_identifier: "ocd-bill/779ef10f-364d-4847-92f9-3a6efa31c2b1"
source_url: "https://legislature.maine.gov/LawMakerWeb/dockets.asp?ID=280086958"
source_hash: "266537b878fcd9516090574586b7f0f65d5522bdb565735642a39164bf6079e9"
vintage: "2026-07-01"
source_snapshot: "https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-06"
confidence: "reported"
tags: ["legislation", "bill", "us-me"]
---

# Maine LD 976 (131) — Resolve, To Establish The Task Force On Accessibility To Appropriate Communication Methods For Deaf And Hard-Of-Hearing Patients

## Version chain

The bill's text revisions, in order — the diff chain from filing to enrollment.

1. **Adopted Amendments** (committee substitute) — [source](http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0623&item=2&snum=131)
2. **Documents and Disposition** (committee substitute) — [source](http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0623&item=1&snum=131)
3. **Final Disposition** (committee substitute) — [source](http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0623&item=3&snum=131)

## Sponsors

- Janice DODGE — primary (person)
- Cheryl GOLEK — cosponsor (person)
- Daniel ANKELES — cosponsor (person)
- Joseph BALDACCI — cosponsor (person)
- Joseph RAFFERTY — cosponsor (person)
- Lynne WILLIAMS — cosponsor (person)
- Nicole GROHOSKI — cosponsor (person)
- Stanley ZEIGLER — cosponsor (person)
- Walter RISEMAN — cosponsor (person)
- William PLUECKER — cosponsor (person)

## Timeline

The legislative action history — every referral, reading, and vote.

- **2023-03-02** Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed.
- **2023-03-02** The Resolve was REFERRED to the Committee on HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. `referral-committee`
- **2023-03-02** Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
- **2023-03-02** The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES in concurrence `referral-committee`
- **2023-03-30** Carried over, in the same posture, to any special or regular session of the 131st Legislature, pursuant to Joint Order SP 594.
- **2023-05-02** CONSENT CALENDAR - FIRST DAY
- **2023-05-02** Under suspension of the rules CONSENT CALENDAR - SECOND DAY.
- **2023-05-02** The Resolve was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (H-91). `reading-3`
- **2023-05-02** Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
- **2023-05-03** Report READ and ACCEPTED in concurrence
- **2023-05-03** READ ONCE `reading-1`
- **2023-05-03** Committee Amendment "A" (H-91) READ and ADOPTED `committee-passage-favorable`
- **2023-05-03** ASSIGNED FOR SECOND READING NEXT LEGISLATIVE DAY.
- **2023-05-04** COMMITTEE ON BILLS IN THE SECOND READING REPORTS NO FURTHER VERBAL AMENDMENTS NECESSARY. REPORT ACCEPTED.
- **2023-05-04** READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED BY Committee Amendment "A" (H-91), in concurrence. `reading-2, reading-3`
- **2023-05-04** Ordered sent down forthwith.
- **2023-05-09** FINALLY PASSED. `passage`
- **2023-05-09** Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
- **2023-05-11** On motion by Senator DAUGHTRY of Cumberland PLACED ON THE SPECIAL STUDY TABLE pending FINAL PASSAGE, in concurrence.
- **2023-07-06** On motion by Senator DAUGHTRY of Cumberland TAKEN FROM THE SPECIAL STUDY TABLE
- **2023-07-06** FINALLY PASSED in concurrence `passage`
- **2023-07-11** Signed by Governor `executive-signature`
- **2023-04-19T04:00:00+00:00** Work Session Held
- **2023-04-19T04:00:00+00:00** Voted - OTP-AM
- **2023-05-01T04:00:00+00:00** Reported Out - OTP-AM

## Source

OpenStates / OpenCivicData bulk snapshot [2026-07-01](https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump); origin `ocd-bill/779ef10f-364d-4847-92f9-3a6efa31c2b1`. Confidence: reported (aggregated from official Maine legislature records).