Understanding Maine’s AED Access Laws

What is Legislative Document 587?

Everything you need to know about Maine’s’ AED Access Law.

Maine’s LD 587, approved by Governor Mills on January 11, 2026, requires schools to place automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in occupied school buildings and at any athletic events taking place on school grounds, including team practices. There must also be an approved and implemented athletic emergency action plan (EAP) designating which school personnel will be responding in instances of sudden cardiac arrest, or similar life-threatening medical emergencies.

First aid, ambulance, rescue service, or other appropriate local emergency medical service providers must be notified of the location and type of AED acquired. AEDs need to remain easily accessible, regularly tested, and properly maintained according to the manufacturer’s guidelines to ensure they are operational in an emergency.

Lastly, Public schools are also required to offer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and AED training to students. 

What to Know

Maine’s Legislative Document 587

An AED, or automated external defibrillator, is a portable device used during cardiac arrest to deliver an electric shock to the heart that can temporarily restart the heart and restore breathing. AEDs are essential for treating cardiac arrest victims in the critical first few minutes while waiting for EMS to arrive.

AEDs are designed to be used by bystanders with little or no medical training, giving audio and/or visual instructions that guide the user through each step. AEDs are safe to use and cannot hurt the victim or rescuer. It will only provide a shock if it detects one is needed.

Sudden cardiac arrest can happen to anyone at any time. It’s not just something that affects the elderly or unhealthy people. Studies have shown that 1 in 300 youth athletes have an undiagnosed heart condition. Being prepared for a cardiac emergency protects not just the students or athletes but also the coaches, faculty, parents, and spectators who might be in the stands. 

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a life-saving procedure that continues circulation of the blood when someone’s heart stops beating. Regular CPR and AED training gives an individual knowledge and confidence to recognize the symptoms of a sudden cardiac arrest and the confidence to respond quickly and effectively. Performing CPR, locating the closest AED, and using the device correctly in those few short minutes before emergency medical professionals arrive can double or even triple the victim’s chance of survival.

According to the American Heart Association, 9 in 10 cardiac arrest victims who receive a shock from an AED in the first minutes live. But for every minute that passes without defibrillation, survival rates drop 7-10% percent.

This law is improving safety measures at school functions and athletic events by requiring school boards to create an emergency action plan (EAP) and expand AED access in their facilities.

Any school-sponsored events in which students are participating on school property, including team practices, are required to comply.

Schools will need to ensure that AEDs are readily accessible on school grounds and that an emergency action plan is in place for events. For example, school-sponsored athletic events that happen in designated areas for games and practices. This includes all competitive games, matches, and-or athletic contests involving students.

The bill doesn’t specify how many AEDs need to be present, however, school athletic events should have at least one present or direct access to one.

The American Heart Association recommends AEDs to be in nearby locations where they can be retrieved and applied to a victim within 3 minutes of collapse.

Maine’s LD 587 doesn’t specify AED placement, but they should be kept visible, accessible, and incorporated in the emergency action plan. Whenever there’s a school athletic event or the school buildings are occupied, one must be present.

AEDs are typically housed in wall-mounted enclosures designed for rapid access in an emergency. These cabinets keep the device visible, protected, and ready for immediate use. The organizations should account for regular inspection and maintenance of their AEDs in order to ensure they are operable in the event of an emergency.

For outdoor facilities, placement requires additional consideration. Exposure to weather, temperature extremes, moisture, dust, and pollen can damage an AED over time and compromise its reliability when it matters most. In some outdoor areas, theft and tampering can also be concerns.

Solutions exist to address all of these challenges — from weatherproof enclosures with heat/cooling systems to resist the elements, to 911-integrated “secure access” cabinets that are only unlocked with a code issued by emergency dispatchers — which ensure that your devices remain protected, compliant, and ready at a moment’s notice.

For travel sports teams or outdoor adventure organizations mobile kits can be effective alternatives to permanent AED placements. These kits store AEDs in portable, weatherproof cases that can be easily brought everywhere the group goes.

Beginning in the 2027-2028 school year, the school administration will need to have developed and implemented a policy that provides access to AEDs with an emergency action plan.

The cost of an AED device is estimated between $1,200 and $3,000. Total costs range based on size of schools and ongoing maintenance requirements. Additional costs in the school’s policy related to AEDs at school-sponsored events, can be absorbed within existing budgeting resources.

360,000+

Out-of-Hospital Sudden Cardiac Arrests in the US each year

~20%

of Cardiac Arrests Occur in Public Settings

2-3x

Increased Survival Rates with Early Access to Defibrillation

Frank Gorham’s Story

On November 16, 2024, Frank Gorham went to see his grandson play at the 8-man Football Championships at Kennebunk High School in Kennebunk, Maine. Just moments after texting his wife that he had made it safely to the game, Gorham unexpectedly collapsed. Bystanders and first responders quickly carried him from the top of the bleachers to ground level and immediately started CPR. Fortunately, the school had an emergency response plan and an AED present. The AED delivered a shock three times before Gorham was successfully revived and transported to the hospital.

In light of the incident’s successful outcome, Maine legislators worked together to pass a new law requiring schools to provide AEDs and develop an emergency response plan so that favorable outcomes like Frank Gorham’s become more common. Governor Janet Mills approved LD 587 on January 11, 2026, with an implementation deadline of the 2027-2028 school year.

Maine raised the bar. We can help you meet it.

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