AUGUSTA, Maine–Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) has signed a bipartisan bill into law that prohibits financial institutions from charging customers/members a fee for opting to receive paper statements. 

Originally sponsored by a bipartisan group of legislators, LD 580 was ultimately approved by substantial majorities in both the House and the Senate, according to MaineWire.com.

Although Maine state law currently prohibits businesses from penalizing customers who choose to receive paper statements, as opposed to electronic ones, depository institutions — including banks and credit unions — have until now been exempt, the report stated.

“In a single sentence, LD 580 repealed this exemption, meaning that 90 days after the Legislature adjourns for the session, these institutions will no longer be permitted to charge Mainers a fee for receiving their statements the old-fashioned way: on paper,” MaineBWire.com reported. “While the Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee was divided over whether or not this bill should ultimately be approved, only a handful of lawmakers voted to reject the proposal.”