Last week the Maine State Legislature passed Legislative Document 184 and over the weekend Governor Paul LePage signed it into law. Legislative Document 184 requires legislators to wait one year after their term ends before engaging in activities that would require registration as a lobbyist or lobbyist associate.

Exempted from this prohibition are those former legislators who wish to engage in lobbying activities but do not receive compensation. If a legislator does engage in compensated lobbying activities during the restricted period, he or she is subject to a $1,000 civil penalty.

The law will not take effect until the start of the 127th Legislature, which will begin in December 2014.