Environment

failed · Maine · House Apr 6, 2026

LD 2036: An Act To Clarify The Approval Process For And The Operation Of The Commingling Program For The Management Of Beverage Containers

This bill clarifies the rules for Maine's beverage container recycling program, requiring the managing cooperative to transition from sorting containers by brand to sorting by material type by October 1, 2026, provided that 90% of participating deposit initiators submit sales data by June 30, 2026. The legislation also specifies that the state department must review and approve the cooperative's operation plan within 120 days after holding a public meeting, while clarifying that this review is not treated as a formal permit decision. Additionally, the bill sets a January 15, 2026 deadline for implementing the approved plan and establishes penalties for non-compliance, with all provisions applying retroactively to January 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill strengthens beverage container recycling by requiring sorting by material type, improving recycling efficiency and reducing waste.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Recycling

Track

signed · Maine · House Mar 9, 2026

LD 2037: An Act To Update The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Allowances

LD 2037 updates Maine's annual carbon dioxide emissions limits under the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) for 2027-2037, setting specific caps that decline from 2,065,595 tons in 2027 to 221,314 tons by 2037. The bill removes Maine's ability to withdraw from RGGI by repealing related provisions, ensuring continued state participation in the regional program. These changes directly affect power plants and large industrial facilities in Maine that must comply with the state's emissions cap under RGGI. The policy establishes a fixed annual reduction schedule without new regulatory mechanisms beyond the updated caps.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill sets declining CO2 caps under RGGI, requiring emissions reductions from power plants, aligning with renewable energy transition goals.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill enforces declining emissions caps (2M to 221k tons) under RGGI, strengthening climate policy by mandating continued participation and reducing CO2 limits.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Climate Change

signed · Maine · House Mar 19, 2026

LD 2055: An Act To Amend Or Correct Certain Inland Fisheries And Wildlife Laws

This bill amends Maine's inland fisheries and wildlife laws primarily to strengthen regulations around fish imports and moose permits. It extends the waiting period for individuals who transfer a moose permit from three to four years before they can obtain a new permit. For fish imports, it requires importers to provide health certificates from certified professionals confirming no viral diseases (like viral hemorrhagic septicemia) and mandates a minimum $1,000 fine for violations. The bill also clarifies that local governments can receive limited permits to stock fish in specific ponds, with courts ordering violators to pay for cleanup costs. These changes directly affect fish importers, moose permit holders, and local governments managing water bodies.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentStrengthens fisheries/wildlife regulations by preventing disease spread via import health certificates and extending moose permit waiting periods, protecting natural resources and ecosystem health.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Wildlife

died · Maine · House Apr 29, 2026

LD 2115: An Act To Protect Private Wells From Hazardous Substances

LD 2115 creates a Well Contamination Response Fund to address PFAS contamination in private drinking water wells in Maine. The fund, financed by a $1 million appropriation for 2026-2027, covers testing, investigation, and cleanup (like installing water filters or providing bottled water) for wells with PFAS levels exceeding 20 parts per trillion for six specific chemicals. It also pays for administrative costs and may support wells with lower contamination if funds remain available. The state environmental department must report on fund usage every two years starting in 2027.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $1M appropriation for PFAS well contamination response fund, directly funding public safety program through state budget.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill creates fund to address PFAS contamination in private wells, directly protecting drinking water resources and controlling pollution from hazardous substances.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Drinking Water

Track

signed · Maine · Senate May 9, 2025

LD 130: An Act To Establish The Pfas Response Program And To Modify The Fund To Address Pfas Contamination

LD 130 establishes Maine's PFAS Response Program to address contamination affecting commercial farms. The program provides testing for PFAS in soil, water, and farm products; technical assistance for mitigation efforts; and financial support for costs like water filtration, livestock depopulation, and clean feed. It modifies a fund to collect revenue from property sales and solar development to finance these services. The program directly assists agricultural producers impacted by PFAS contamination, helping them meet safety standards and maintain farm viability. The Department of Agriculture administers the program with oversight from a public advisory committee holding annual hearings.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesModifies fund to collect revenue from property/solar sales to finance PFAS Response Program, funding essential services for affected farms.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill creates PFAS Response Program to address soil/water contamination, providing testing, technical assistance, and financial support for mitigation (e.g., water filtration). Directly advances pollution control and environmental protection.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Drinking Water

failed · Maine · House May 13, 2025

LD 1885: An Act To Create A State Property Tax Directed Toward 2Nd Homes For The Purposes Of Funding Education, Early Childhood Programs And The Land For Maine'S Future Trust Fund

This bill creates a new property tax on second homes in Maine to generate revenue for specific public programs. The tax revenue will directly fund three established accounts: the Land for Maine's Future Trust Fund (for land conservation), early childhood education programs, and a new "Fund for Essential Programs and Services" (referenced in Section 41). The tax applies to real property classified as second homes under existing law, with all funds directed to these designated purposes without expiration. The bill specifies that unspent funds in these accounts must carry forward annually, and requires annual reports on fund usage to legislative committees.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill imposes new property tax on second homes to fund education, early childhood programs, and land conservation trust fund, directly increasing state revenue allocation for public services.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationDirectly allocates property tax revenue to fund early childhood education programs and a new 'Fund for Essential Programs and Services' (referenced in Section 41), explicitly advancing education funding.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentDirectly funds Land for Maine's Future Trust Fund (land conservation) with tax revenue from second homes, explicitly advancing environmental protection through conservation funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax Revenue Early Childhood

Track

failed · Maine · House May 20, 2025

LD 1721: An Act To Amend The Laws Governing Commingling Of Beverage Containers

This bill amends Maine's beverage container recycling laws to standardize how containers are mixed (commingled) for recycling. It updates the list of materials considered "like materials" (e.g., specific glass colors, plastic types) for commingling, ensuring containers are grouped by material, size, and deposit value. It clarifies that commingling groups cannot refuse containers sorted per approved agreements or processed by reverse vending machines if recycling value isn't reduced, and prohibits deposit initiators from requiring dealers to sort containers beyond current rules. The bill directly affects redemption centers, dealers, commingling groups, and the Department of Environmental Protection, which will set rules for container value and processing standards. It takes effect July 15, 2025.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentStandardizes beverage container commingling for efficient recycling, conserving resources and reducing waste per Maine's updated recycling laws.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Recycling

Track

signed · Maine · Senate Jun 9, 2025

LD 1450: An Act Regarding The Voluntary Municipal Farm Support Program

LD 1450 establishes the Voluntary Municipal Farm Support Program, enabling Maine municipalities to pay farm owners to keep land in agricultural use through conservation easements. Under the program, municipalities make annual payments covering up to 100% of property taxes on farmland (up to the easement's fair market value) for a minimum 10-year term, with easements preventing non-farm development. Municipalities are limited to including no more than 3% of their total taxable land valuation in the program (with a 1% annual cap without a two-thirds vote). The bill moves the program from agricultural law to taxation law and reduces the minimum easement term from 20 to 10 years.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill enables municipalities to cover farmland property taxes (up to 100%), providing tax relief to farmers through municipal funding, aligning with tax relief indicators.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentUses conservation easements to prevent non-farm development, protecting agricultural land and natural resources per bill's conservation focus.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation

failed · Maine · Senate May 14, 2025

LD 825: An Act To Prohibit Geoengineering, Including The Use Of Cloud Seeding, Weather Modification, Excessive Radio Waves And Microwave Radiation

Maine's LD 825 prohibits any "geoengineering" activity within the state, including cloud seeding, weather modification, and excessive radio/microwave radiation emissions. The law defines "geoengineering" broadly as intentional large-scale interventions in Earth's systems, such as stratospheric aerosol injection or harmful radiation levels exceeding specific technical thresholds (e.g., -85 decibel-milliwatt for radio signals). The Maine Department of Environmental Protection enforces the ban, with violators facing Class C crimes and daily fines up to $500,000. This law directly affects individuals, companies, or entities conducting such activities in Maine, including potential federal or out-of-state operations impacting the state's atmosphere.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentProhibits geoengineering activities (cloud seeding, weather modification) and excessive radiation, preventing potential environmental harm and strengthening Maine's environmental regulations.95% confidence

Track

failed · Maine · House May 29, 2025

LD 1095: An Act To Restrict Removal Of Common Loons For Relocation In Maine From Bodies Of Water Of 500 Acres Or Less

This bill prohibits wildlife relocation programs from moving common loons from bodies of water that are 500 acres or less in Maine. It directly affects wildlife management programs operating in smaller lakes and ponds, preventing them from removing loons for relocation purposes. The key provision amends state law to explicitly ban such removals, applying only to water bodies of 500 acres or smaller. The law does not restrict relocation efforts from larger bodies of water.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRestricts loon relocation in small water bodies to protect species habitat, aligning with wildlife conservation goals and preventing habitat disruption.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Wildlife

Track