ME LD156

Requires health care providers to notify the Maine Department of Health and Human Services when an infant is identified as affected by substance abuse, withdrawal symptoms from prenatal drug exposure, or fetal alcohol spectrum disorder

Mandates the department to develop a "family care plan" for each notified infant, working with health care providers to arrange appropriate service referrals for the child and caregiver

Explicitly clarifies that notifications about substance-exposed infants do not establish a legal definition of "abuse" or "neglect" and do not require criminal prosecution for prenatal substance exposure

Expands the definition of "health care provider" to include midwives and any person who assists in childbirth for compensation

Signed into law on June 18, 2025 as Public Law Chapter 353, replacing previous statutory provisions (22 MRSA §4004-B and §4011-B)