Environment (Coastal & Flood Protection)

signed · Maine · Senate May 30, 2025

LD 758: Resolve, To Update Flood Mapping In The Sandy River Watershed To Federal Emergency Management Agency Standards

This bill directs Maine's Office of Community Affairs to create a pilot project updating flood maps in the Sandy River watershed to meet federal FEMA standards. It requires coordination with state agencies (like Environmental Protection and Emergency Management) and federal partners (FEMA, USGS) to develop new flood modeling. The project must seek federal or nonstate funding to cover costs, and the office will provide technical support to affected communities, riverfront landowners, and local organizations. The primary impact is on communities within the Sandy River watershed, which will receive updated flood risk information.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentUpdates flood maps to FEMA standards via watershed coordination, involving environmental agencies to protect natural resources and reduce flood risks per federal requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection Water Quality

signed · Maine · Senate May 30, 2025

LD 1340: An Act To Establish The Municipal Stream Crossing Fund

LD 1340 establishes the Municipal Stream Crossing Fund within Maine's Department of Transportation to provide competitive grants for upgrading or replacing culverts on municipal roads. The fund accepts money from bonds, state appropriations, and private contributions to support projects by local governments, conservation commissions, soil and water districts, and nonprofits. Grants are awarded based on how well projects improve flood resilience, restore fish habitat (including sea-run fish and brook trout), and meet engineering standards for stream health. Projects must address high-risk culverts, reduce flood damage, and include cost-sharing from other sources - excluding state roads and full cost coverage.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEstablishes state-funded grant program using appropriations for municipal infrastructure projects, advancing fiscal management through dedicated budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentFunds projects restoring fish habitat and improving flood resilience, directly advancing environmental conservation through infrastructure upgrades.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill establishes Transportation Department fund for grants to upgrade road culverts (infrastructure), directly funding transportation projects to improve flood resilience and habitat on municipal roads.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection

died · Maine · Senate Apr 29, 2026

LD 457: An Act To Fund Climate Resiliency Projects Related To The Repair Of Campus Infrastructure Used For Active Transportation And Outdoor Recreation

This bill allocates $1 million from the General Fund to support climate resiliency projects at Southern Maine Community College. It targets historic campus structures used by the public for active transportation (like walking/biking paths) and outdoor recreation, focusing on areas vulnerable to sea level rise, flooding, and erosion. The funding is one-time and aims to encourage matching investments from private sources and federal programs. It directly affects the college's non-educational infrastructure that serves community members.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $1M from General Fund for climate infrastructure, directly increasing state spending on public infrastructure projects.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentFunds climate resiliency projects targeting sea level rise, flooding, and erosion vulnerabilities at public infrastructure, directly advancing environmental protection through climate adaptation measures.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationFunds climate-resilient infrastructure for walking/biking paths (active transportation), directly supporting transportation infrastructure maintenance and sustainability.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection Parks & Recreation

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signed · Maine · Senate Apr 16, 2026

LD 1870: An Act To Establish A Climate Superfund Cost Recovery Program To Impose Penalties On Climate Polluters

LD 1870 establishes Maine's Climate Superfund Cost Recovery Program, targeting entities that operated fossil fuel businesses (like coal, oil, and gas extraction/processing) between 1995 and 2024. It requires these responsible parties to pay for climate adaptation projects - such as flood protections, infrastructure upgrades, and health programs addressing heat waves or wildfire smoke - through a "cost recovery demand" mechanism. Funds collected will finance public projects directly addressing climate impacts, including nature-based solutions like restored wetlands and energy-efficient building retrofits. The program applies to corporations, partnerships, and individuals involved in fossil fuel operations during the covered period, with entities in a "controlled group" treated as a single liable party. This creates a state-level mechanism to recover costs for climate-related damages historically linked to fossil fuel use.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyTargets fossil fuel businesses (coal/oil/gas) with cost recovery demands to fund climate adaptation, reducing fossil fuel dependence and advancing climate goals.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates fossil fuel polluters to fund climate adaptation projects (flood protection, infrastructure, health programs) via cost recovery, directly strengthening environmental accountability and addressing climate impacts.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Coal Oil & Gas Coastal & Flood Protection Forestry Hazardous Materials

failed · Maine · House Mar 20, 2025

LD 235: Resolve, Regarding The Operation And Future Capacity Of State-Owned Landfills

This emergency resolution addresses Maine's urgent waste management crisis by authorizing the Department of Environmental Protection to proceed with expanding the state-owned Juniper Ridge Landfill. It directly affects 159 municipalities that lost access to two major waste disposal facilities (Coastal Resources of Maine and Penobscot Energy Recovery) in 2020 and 2023, respectively. The landfill's partial expansion - approved for 9.3 million cubic yards in 2017 - is now projected to reach capacity by 2028 (five years earlier than planned), necessitating immediate action to avoid service disruptions. The resolution focuses on enabling the expansion process to maintain compliance with state law requiring municipalities to manage solid waste disposal.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentAuthorizes DEP to expand state landfill to resolve waste crisis, preventing unregulated disposal that could harm environment; directly manages solid waste under environmental agency oversight.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection Recycling Waste Management

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failed · Maine · House Apr 17, 2025

LD 735: An Act To Protect Sand Dunes On Sears Island And To Establish Criteria For Legislation Regarding Land Development

LD 735 protects Sears Island's coastal sand dunes by requiring state agencies to obtain certification from an indigenous lands protection committee before authorizing any development on the island. This committee, composed of representatives from five Maine tribes and a gubernatorial appointee, must confirm proposed development areas do not contain sacred indigenous sites. The bill repeals prior laws permitting a wind terminal project and a conservation plan for a specific 10-acre parcel, and establishes a two-thirds vote requirement for any land development legislation conflicting with EPA regulations, with sponsorship limited to legislators from the affected district.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyRepeals prior law permitting wind terminal project, blocking renewable energy development per bill's explicit language on wind terminal repeal.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentProtects coastal sand dunes via development restrictions, conserving natural resources and preventing harm to sensitive ecosystems.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection

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failed · Maine · House May 13, 2025

LD 630: An Act To Implement Portions Of The "Protecting Maine'S Beaches For The Future: 2017 Update" Report Regarding Beach Nourishment And Dune Restoration Projects

LD 630 implements specific recommendations from Maine's 2017 "Protecting Maine's Beaches for the Future" report regarding beach nourishment and dune restoration projects. The bill establishes a standardized process for funding and managing these coastal restoration efforts across Maine's shoreline. It directly affects coastal communities, local governments, and property owners by creating clear guidelines for erosion control and storm damage prevention. This policy change focuses on using the report's science-based approach to protect beaches through concrete, actionable project frameworks.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentEstablishes standardized process for beach/dune restoration to protect coastal ecosystems from erosion and storm damage, directly advancing environmental conservation as per report title and subjects.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection

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failed · Maine · House May 13, 2025

LD 1625: An Act Regarding The Preservation Of Working Waterfronts

This bill (LD 1625) clarifies and protects access to working waterfronts for commercial fishing and aquaculture. It amends Maine law to explicitly define "working waterfront property" as municipal or private piers and wharves operated to provide access for commercial fishers, aquaculturists, or their cooperatives. The key provision (Section 2) ensures these facilities are recognized as protected under state conservation efforts. This directly affects commercial fishing operations and aquaculture businesses by safeguarding their physical access points to coastal resources. The bill focuses on preserving existing infrastructure, not creating new programs or funding.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill explicitly ties working waterfront preservation to state conservation efforts, protecting natural resources used for sustainable fishing/aquaculture per Section 2.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection

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signed · Maine · House Apr 16, 2026

LD 646: Resolve, Establishing The Commission To Study Unregulated Storm Water Pollution

LD 646 establishes a 13-member commission to study unregulated storm water pollution in Maine. The commission, including state agency representatives and environmental/municipal stakeholders, will analyze how storm water affects coastal waters, habitats, and species, identify data gaps, and recommend policies to reduce pollution. It must submit a report with findings and suggested legislation to the Environment Committee by December 3, 2025. This study directly affects Maine's coastal ecosystems and public health by addressing pollution sources like urban development and climate change impacts. The commission's work will inform future state policies but does not enact new laws itself.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill creates commission to study and recommend policies reducing storm water pollution impacting coastal ecosystems, directly aligning with pollution control and environmental protection indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Climate Change Coastal & Flood Protection Water Quality

failed · Maine · Senate Feb 3, 2026

LD 382: An Act To Establish A System Of Revenue Sharing For The Use And Management Of Coastal Resources

LD 382 would create a system where fees for commercial, industrial, and recreational use of Maine's coastal resources (like fishing, tourism, and port activities) are collected. Revenue from these fees would be split: a portion retained by the state for oversight and enforcement, and the remainder distributed to coastal communities most impacted by resource use. A new revenue sharing board - comprising state agencies, local governments, and stakeholders - would administer the program and manage fee collection and distribution. This directly affects coastal businesses, residents, and municipalities along Maine's shoreline.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates new revenue stream from coastal fees, distributing funds to impacted communities, advancing fiscal management and community funding95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill funds coastal resource management via revenue sharing, strengthening conservation through community support and oversight enforcement for protected areas.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection Recycling

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