Maine AED requirements at a glance
Here is what Maine law asks of an AED program, row by row, with the statute behind each answer.
| Requirement | Required? | What the law says |
|---|---|---|
| Inspect and maintain AEDs | Limited | No general rule for AED owners. |
| Train expected users | No | No training rule for AED owners or users. |
| Notify agencies of AEDs | Limited | Through AED placement reporting: see that row. |
| Register the program | No | Not in state law. |
| Report AED locations | Limited | No general rule for AED owners. |
| Physician medical direction | No | Not in state law. |
| Report each AED use | No | Not in state law. |
| Written plan or records | Limited | No general rule for AED owners. |
| Call 911 when an AED is used | No | Not in state law. |
| School cardiac emergency plan | Yes | Every school administrative unit must adopt and carry out an athletic emergency action plan, based on national heart health or athletic training group advice, for staff AED use at school-sponsored athletic events and practices on school property (20-A M.R.S. § 6304-B, law since January 2026). It covers athletics only. |
| Other requirements | No | Not in state law. |
| AEDs required at specific sites | Yes | School sports. See the list below. |
Compare nearby states: New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts and New York, or see every state on the AED laws by state table.
Is medical direction required in Maine?
No. Maine law doesn’t require a physician to oversee an AED program.
Some programs choose a medical director anyway, for example to write the response protocol or review each use. If you want one, AED Log’s Medical Direction add-on is $65 per AED per year.
Training requirements
No. Maine law doesn’t require AED training for AED owners in general.
No training rule for AED owners or users.
School staff and the public may be trained; public schools must offer students CPR and AED training under Department of Education rules (20-A M.R.S. § 6304).
Training still matters: an AED talks the rescuer through each step, but people who have practiced start CPR sooner and hesitate less. Keep each responder’s card current, since most CPR and AED cards last two years. See how long CPR and AED certification lasts.
Inspection and maintenance
Only in certain settings. Maine sets maintenance rules for some AED owners, not all.
No general rule for AED owners.
Starting in 2027-28, AEDs that a school administrative unit acquires under its athletic-event access policy must be tested and maintained by the manufacturer's operating guidelines (20-A M.R.S. § 6304-A).
Written plan and records: No general rule for AED owners. Each school administrative unit must adopt an athletic emergency action plan (20-A M.R.S. § 6304-B) and, from 2027-28, a policy on AED access at school-sponsored athletic events that explains how attendees can reach an AED (§ 6304-A). Neither section says 'written'.
Either way, the manufacturer’s instructions are the standard to follow: check the status indicator, the pads’ and battery’s expiration dates and the cabinet on a regular schedule, replace anything used or expired, and keep a dated record of each check. Our AED inspection requirements guide covers the routine, and the free AED inspection checklist is a printable version.
EMS notification, registration and placement reporting
Only in some cases. Maine doesn’t require every AED owner to register or report AED locations.
Placement reporting: No general rule for AED owners. Starting in 2027-28, a school administrative unit must tell local first aid, ambulance, rescue or other EMS providers the location and type of each AED it acquires under its athletic-event access policy (20-A M.R.S. § 6304-A).
Keep the confirmation with your program records, and update it when an AED moves or is replaced. AED Log’s document library keeps registrations, letters and notices with the AEDs they cover.
Notification after an AED is used
No. Maine law doesn’t require a report after an AED is used.
After any use, replace the pads, check the AED and its rescue kit, and write down what happened while it’s fresh. AED Log’s incident reports record whether a shock was advised, how many were delivered, whether CPR was given and when EMS arrived.
AEDs required at specific locations in Maine
Yes. Maine law requires AEDs at one kind of site.
- School-sponsored athletic events and practices on school property (from the 2027-28 school year) 20-A M.R.S. § 6304-A (PL 2025, c. 529, § 1; amended PL 2025, c. 757, Pt. H, § 1)
School cardiac emergency plans: Every school administrative unit must adopt and carry out an athletic emergency action plan, based on national heart health or athletic training group advice, for staff AED use at school-sponsored athletic events and practices on school property (20-A M.R.S. § 6304-B, law since January 2026). It covers athletics only.
See AEDs in schools by state to compare, and our cardiac emergency response plan template for a starting point.
Does Maine's Good Samaritan law protect AED users?
Yes. Under Maine law, anyone using an AED in good faith is protected, and so is the AED’s owner, with only the usual exceptions.
What the Maine (ME) Good Samaritan law covers: Anyone who voluntarily gives first aid, emergency treatment or rescue help without expecting pay from the person helped is not liable unless the harm was willful, wanton, reckless or grossly negligent. Paid members of nonprofit or government ambulance and rescue units are also covered, but the law does not apply to care given on hospital or clinic premises.
AED-specific protection: Maine's AED law gives civil immunity, absent gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct, to the AED's acquirer, the premises owner or manager, anyone who retrieves, uses or fails to use it, the prescriber, program operators and trainers. The immunity has no training, maintenance, good-faith or no-pay condition written into it.
Statutes and sources
Every answer on this page comes from these laws, read on Maine’s official legislature or code website.
- 22 M.R.S. § 2150-C: Automated external defibrillators; immunity from civil liability
- 14 M.R.S. § 164: Immunity from civil liability (Good Samaritan)
- 20-A M.R.S. § 6304: Automated external defibrillators and cardiopulmonary resuscitation
- 20-A M.R.S. § 6304-A (PL 2025, c. 529, § 1; amended PL 2025, c. 757, Pt. H, § 1): Policy for access to automated external defibrillators
- 20-A M.R.S. § 6304-B (PL 2025, c. 529, § 2): Athletic emergency action plans; automated external defibrillator
- PL 2025, c. 529 (LD 587, S.P. 270), law without the Governor's signature January 11, 2026: An Act to Require School Boards to Adopt a Policy on Automated External Defibrillator Access at School-sponsored Athletic Events
Last reviewed against each statute on the state’s official website. This is a plain-language summary for general information, not legal advice. Laws change, so read the statute or ask a lawyer before you rely on it.
Managing a compliant AED program in Maine
AED Log keeps the records Maine law asks for, and reminds you before anything lapses.
- Monthly AED inspections on a phone, with a dated record of every check (inspection tracking)
- Pad and battery expiration dates, with a warning before each one (expiration tracking)
- Registrations, EMS notices and your written plan, filed with the AEDs they cover (document management)
Plans start at $114 a year for one AED, with unlimited users and locations. Start a free trial (no credit card) or talk to us.
Maine AED laws FAQ
Are businesses required to have an AED in Maine?
No. Maine law requires AEDs only at school sports, not at businesses in general, and federal OSHA has no AED standard.
Where does Maine law require an AED?
Maine law requires AEDs in school sports. See the full list, with each statute, on this page.
Do you need medical direction for an AED in Maine?
No. Maine law doesn’t require a physician to oversee an AED program. You can still choose one: AED Log’s Medical Direction add-on is $65 per AED per year.
Is AED training required in Maine?
Not for AED owners in general. School staff and the public may be trained; public schools must offer students CPR and AED training under Department of Education rules (20-A M.R.S. § 6304).
Does Maine law require AED inspections?
Only for some AED owners. Starting in 2027-28, AEDs that a school administrative unit acquires under its athletic-event access policy must be tested and maintained by the manufacturer's operating guidelines (20-A M.R.S. § 6304-A).
Do you have to register an AED in Maine?
Only in some settings. Starting in 2027-28, a school administrative unit must tell local first aid, ambulance, rescue or other EMS providers the location and type of each AED it acquires under its athletic-event access policy (20-A M.R.S. § 6304-A).
What does Maine law require after an AED is used?
Maine law doesn’t require a report after an AED is used. Call 911 anyway, then replace the pads, check the AED and its rescue kit, and write down what happened while it’s fresh.
Are AEDs required in Maine schools?
Maine law requires AEDs at school-sponsored athletic events and practices on school property (from the 2027-28 school year).
Do Maine schools need a cardiac emergency response plan?
Yes. Every school administrative unit must adopt and carry out an athletic emergency action plan, based on national heart health or athletic training group advice, for staff AED use at school-sponsored athletic events and practices on school property. It covers athletics only.
Do gyms in Maine need an AED?
No. Maine law doesn’t require health clubs or gyms to have an AED.
What does the Maine Good Samaritan law cover?
Anyone who voluntarily gives first aid, emergency treatment or rescue help without expecting pay from the person helped is not liable unless the harm was willful, wanton, reckless or grossly negligent.
Does the Maine Good Samaritan law protect someone who uses an AED?
Yes. Acquirers, premises owners and anyone who retrieves, uses or fails to use an AED are immune absent gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct, with no training or program conditions (22 M.R.S. § 2150-C(6)).
Which Maine laws cover AEDs?
Maine’s AED rules come from 22 M.R.S. § 2150-C; 14 M.R.S. § 164; 20-A M.R.S. § 6304; 20-A M.R.S. § 6304-A (PL 2025, c. 529, § 1; amended PL 2025, c. 757, Pt. H, § 1); 20-A M.R.S. § 6304-B (PL 2025, c. 529, § 2); and one more, each linked to its official text on this page.