LD 297 Maine House · 132nd Legislature (2025-2026)

An Act Regarding The Management Of Oversized Bulky Waste From Wastewater Treatment Plants

This bill amends Maine's waste disposal law to allow solid waste processing facilities to count up to 25,000 tons of excess residue from processing "oversized bulky waste" (like appliances, furniture, and construction debris) as state-generated waste when disposed in state-owned landfills. It extends the effective period for this rule from July 2025 to July 2028 and makes the changes retroactive to June 2023. The key change clarifies that residue used as landfill cover from this waste type counts as state-generated, while other excess residue does not. This directly affects waste processing facilities handling construction/debris waste and the state-owned landfill.
Bill status signed 4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Jun 2025
House Passage
Jun 2025
Senate Failed
Jun 2025
Signed into Law
Jun 2025
Introduced Jan 30, 2025 Signed Jun 20, 2025
Floor votes · Senate Jun 12, 2025 · House Jun 9, 2025

How they voted

820
Failed
Total votes 28
Jun 12, 2025
D Democratic18
7 Yea 11 Nay
61% Nay
I Independent1
1 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican9
9 Nay
100% Nay
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
75
Key actions
13
Committee
8
Amendments
3
Jun 20, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by Governor
executive
Jun 16, 2025
Upper · Passed
PASSED TO BE ENACTED, in concurrence. PREVAILED
upper
Jun 16, 2025
Lower · Passed
PASSED TO BE ENACTED.
lower
Jun 13, 2025
Amended
Motion by Senator BENNETT of Oxford to RECONSIDER ADOPTION of Committee Amendment "A" (H-537) FAILED
upper
Jun 13, 2025
Upper · Passed
On motion by Senator STEWART of Aroostook Senate Amendment "A" (S-392) READ and ADOPTED. PREVAILED
upper
Jun 12, 2025
Amended
Motion by Senator BENNETT of Oxford to RECONSIDER ADOPTION of Committee Amendment "A" (H-537) FAILED
upper
Jun 12, 2025
Upper · Passed
On motion by Senator STEWART of Aroostook Senate Amendment "A" (S-392) READ and ADOPTED. PREVAILED
upper
Jun 11, 2025
Amended
Motion by Senator CARNEY of Cumberland to ADOPT Senate Amendment "A" (S-324) to Committee Amendment "A" (H-537) FAILED
upper
Jun 11, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee Amendment "A" (H-537) READ.
upper
Jun 11, 2025
Upper · Passed
Subsequently, The Majority Ought to Pass As Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (H-537) Report ACCEPTED. PREVAILED
upper
Jun 10, 2025
Upper · Passed
On motion by Senator PIERCE of Cumberland Tabled until Later in Today's Session, pending Motion by Senator TEPLER of Sagadahoc to ACCEPT The Majority Ought to Pass As Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (H-537) Report in concurrence.
upper
Jun 10, 2025
Upper · Passed
Senator TEPLER of Sagadahoc moved to ACCEPT The Majority Ought to Pass As Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (H-537) Report.
upper
Jun 9, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee Amendment "A" (H-537) was READ and ADOPTED.
lower
Jun 9, 2025
Lower · Passed
On motion of Representative DOUDERA of Camden, the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report was ACCEPTED.
lower
Jun 9, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (93-37-6)
house
Jun 6, 2025
Legislature · Passed
Reported Out - OTP-AM/ONTP
legislature
Jan 30, 2025
Committee
The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to Joint Rule 401.
lower
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor

Sponsors