An Act To Facilitate The Reconstruction Of Storm-Damaged Commercial Fisheries Facilities And Infrastructure

This bill allows commercial fishery business owners in Harpswell to bypass a standard requirement when rebuilding storm-damaged infrastructure. It exempts qualifying petitions for variances from local zoning rules if the damage resulted from the January 9-13, 2024 storms, specifically for docks, piers, or water-dependent structures needing reconstruction. The exemption removes the need to prove the property yields "no reasonable return" (a barrier preventing access to federal disaster funds), enabling owners to qualify for federal assistance. The deadline for submitting such variance requests is December 31, 2027. This directly supports Harpswell’s commercial fishing industry in recovering from the 2024 storm damage.