Governor Janet Mills (D) has again opted not to sign a controversial piece of legislation, allowing new “ghost gun” regulations to become law in Maine without her signature.
The bill, LD 1126, updates state law to require serial numbers on homemade firearms and bans guns that cannot be traced. The measure is scheduled to take effect in January 2027 and includes exemptions for rare and antique firearms.
The ghost gun bill is the second contentious measure in recent weeks that Mills has declined to sign while still allowing it to become law. Earlier this month, she took the same approach with legislation restricting cooperation between Maine law enforcement agencies and federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials.
Rather than signing or vetoing the ghost gun bill, Mills left it unsigned after the legislative session ended in June, when roughly 60 bills were sent to her desk without final action.
Under the new law, penalties start with a $250 fine for a first offense and increase to $500 for a second offense. A third violation would be classified as a Class E crime, punishable by up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.
The legislation passed the Maine Legislature by narrow margins. It cleared the Senate by a single vote, with two members absent, after amendments reduced penalties and added exemptions for antique firearms.
When lawmakers return to Augusta on Jan. 7, Mills will have three days to veto any bills passed during the previous session. If she takes no action, the measures, including the ghost gun restrictions, will automatically become law.
