Employment & Worker Protection · Maine
Maine Salary History Ban
LD 278 - enacted in Maine.
- Enacted
- Status
- 2019
- Enacted
- 51
- States with employment & worker protection laws
- 34/100
- Maine strictness
The bottom line
Maine Salary History Ban is an enacted law in Maine, part of a mature, broadly-adopted employment & worker protection landscape.
- Enacted
- effective 2019-10-18
- 51
- states have employment & worker protection laws
- 107/107
- employment & worker protection laws enacted nationally
- 34/100
- Maine strictness score
Data compiled 2026-03-18 from the official Maine legislative record linked below; laws can be amended or repealed after this date.
Regulatory Snapshot: Maine Salary History Ban
Maine Salary History Ban (LD 278) is an enacted law in Maine under the Employment & Worker Protection category. It was enacted on 2019-06-26 and becomes effective on 2019-10-18. Maine currently reports 2 tracked regulations with 2 already in force, giving the state a regulatory strictness score of 34/100 relative to the national baseline. PlainRegWatch compiled this entry's data on 2026-03-18; consult the linked official source for the current, authoritative text.
Nationally, 107 employment & worker protection statutes have been enacted and 0 additional bills remain pending - 51 distinct jurisdictions have codified rules in this area so far. That places Maine within a mature and broadly adopted employment & worker protection landscape where compliance programs typically hinge on definitions in LD 278 itself.
Applicability under Maine Salary History Ban: All Maine employers. Penalty exposure is documented as: Maine Human Rights Commission enforcement. Notable exemptions: Voluntary disclosure by applicant..
Summary
Maine prohibits wage history screening in hiring process.
Key Requirements
Cannot request or use salary history to screen applicants. Employer may confirm history if voluntarily disclosed by applicant.
Penalties
Maine Human Rights Commission enforcement.
Applicability
All Maine employers.
Exemptions
Voluntary disclosure by applicant.
Official Source
https://legislature.maine.gov/billtracking/bills/hp/hp0278/How Maine compares on employment & worker protection
51 states regulate employment & worker protection - Maine ranks #22 by overall regulatory strictness. Bar = state strictness score (0–100).
| # | State | Strictness |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 100 |
| 2 | Colorado | 76 |
| 3 | Texas | 69 |
| 4 | Connecticut | 62 |
| 5 | Illinois | 62 |
| 6 | Minnesota | 62 |
| 7 | New York | 62 |
| 8 | Oregon | 62 |
| 9 | Washington | 62 |
| 10 | Delaware | 59 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which states have employment & worker protection regulations?
As of the last verification, 51 states have enacted employment & worker protection regulations, with 0 additional bills pending across other states. Maine is among the states that has enacted such legislation. Browse all employment & worker protection regulations at plainregwatch.com for the complete state-by-state comparison.
When was Maine Salary History Ban enacted?
Maine Salary History Ban was enacted on 2019-06-26 and became effective on 2019-10-18. It was introduced as LD 278.
What are the penalties for violating Maine Salary History Ban?
Maine Human Rights Commission enforcement. Note that enforcement mechanisms and penalty structures may vary. Consult the official statute and qualified legal counsel for specific compliance requirements.
Does Maine Salary History Ban apply to small businesses?
All Maine employers. Many state regulations include thresholds or exemptions for smaller organizations. Review the full applicability criteria and consult legal counsel to determine your obligations.
How does Maine compare to other states on employment & worker protection?
Maine has a regulatory strictness score of 34/100, based on 2 enacted regulations out of 2 tracked. Nationally, 51 states have enacted employment & worker protection laws. Visit our state comparison page for a full ranking.
Where can I read the full text of Maine Salary History Ban?
The official text of Maine Salary History Ban (LD 278) is available from the Maine legislature. PlainRegWatch links to the official source for every tracked regulation. We recommend reviewing the full statute alongside qualified legal counsel for compliance planning.
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Disclaimer: This summary is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Regulation details may have changed since this data was compiled (2026-03-18). Always consult official sources and qualified legal counsel for compliance guidance.
More Maine Regulations
The bottom line
This law is already in force - here's what matters for employment & worker protection compliance.
- Maine Salary History Ban is enacted in Maine, effective 2019-10-18. Official source
- 51 states now regulate employment & worker protection; Maine ranks #22 by strictness - compare requirements before you operate across state lines. Compare states
- See every regulation Maine tracks across all five policy areas. Maine profile
Summaries are general information, not legal advice; always confirm against the official statute and qualified counsel.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
Verify with the official Maine source →
Every figure on PlainRegWatch is rendered directly from state source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal and state source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.