Bill > LD1462

This bill introduces a new section to Maine state law that defines and protects the rights of artisans and performers to sell expressive matter in municipal spaces. The bill defines "expressive matter" as creative materials or objects with artistic content, including written works, visual art, and performance art, while explicitly excluding purely commercial materials. It limits municipalities' ability to restrict the sale of expressive matter, allowing them to create regulations only if those restrictions are directly related to specific public concerns such as health, safety, welfare, maintaining park character, ensuring sanitary conditions, or complying with disability access standards. Municipalities can impose reasonable limitations on the time, place, and manner of selling expressive matter, but cannot completely prohibit such sales. Importantly, the law does not require municipalities to create new regulations if their existing ordinances already substantially comply with these guidelines. This legislation aims to protect artists' and performers' rights to sell their creative works in public spaces while giving local governments some flexibility to manage these activities responsibly.

Government Affairs

https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=1462&snum=132