Maine State Chamber of Commerce v. Department of Labor

The Maine Legislature enacted the PFML program in 2023, which allowed covered individuals to take up to twelve weeks of leave for qualifying reasons starting May 1, 2026. The state’s Department of Labor adopted a rule requiring employers to remit quarterly premiums starting January 1, 2025. The plaintiffs challenged the rule, arguing in part that it violated Article I, Section 21 of the Maine Constitution and the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The court found no unconstitutional taking under the Maine or U.S. Constitutions, as the obligation to remit premiums does not involve a specific, identifiable property interest.