MaineLD 493132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026)HouseWALLET

An Act to Expand Testing for Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances to Private Drinking Water Wells

Sponsored By: Laurie Osher (Democratic)

Became Law

PUBLIC SAFETYPUBLIC SAFETY - SAFE DRINKING WATER

Your PRIA Score

Score Hidden

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to start

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Landlords must test wells and share results

Starting January 1, 2022, landlords who use a private well to supply tenants must test the water every five years for arsenic and the other contaminants in the state’s uniform recommendation. A state‑certified or accredited lab must do the testing. Landlords must give results to each tenant within 10 days and give new tenants the most recent results within 10 days. By January 1, 2027, landlords must also test for PFAS using the latest EPA‑approved methods that quantify PFAS. PFAS tests must also use a state‑certified or accredited lab.

New funding and staff for PFAS outreach

The state provides $16,000 one time in fiscal year 2026–27 to create brochures that add PFAS to the well testing guidance. It also funds one Environmental Specialist III at the Maine CDC, with $106,877 in fiscal year 2026–27 for salary and small operating costs. In total, $122,877 supports rulemaking, outreach, and education about well water testing for landlords and private well users.

State adds PFAS to well testing

The Maine CDC includes PFAS in its standard recommendation for private well testing. The department puts this guidance in its written materials. Groups that provide testing, education, or advertising about private well testing must include the state’s recommendation in their written materials. The department may say a listed test is not needed based on past results or credible scientific evidence.

Home sellers must disclose PFAS tests

When you sell a home, you must tell buyers if water tests showed PFAS or other listed water problems. This law adds PFAS detection to the required seller disclosure. Buyers get clearer information about water safety before they purchase.

Free Policy Watch

You just read the policy. Now see what it costs you.

Pick a topic. PRIA runs your household against live legislation and sends you a free personalized readout.

Pick a topic to get started

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Laurie Osher

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Ambureen Rana

    Democratic • House

  • Denise Tepler

    Democratic • Senate

  • Deqa Dhalac

    Democratic • House

  • Henry L. Ingwersen

    Democratic • Senate

  • Lori Gramlich

    Democratic • House

  • Richard A. Bennett

    Independent • Senate

  • Samuel Zager

    Democratic • House

  • Victoria Doudera

    Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 120 • No: 96

Senate vote 4/14/2026

ENACTMENT

Yes: 21 • No: 13

Senate vote 5/29/2025

ACCEPT MAJORITY OUGHT TO PASS AS AMENDED REPORT

Yes: 21 • No: 14

House vote 5/28/2025

ACC MAJ OTP AS AMENDED REP

Yes: 78 • No: 69

Actions Timeline

  1. ACTPUB Chapter 746

    5/4/2026
  2. PASSED TO BE ENACTED, in concurrence PREVAILED Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 956 Yeas 21 - Nays 13 - Excused 1 - Absent 0

    4/14/2026Senate
  3. PASSED TO BE ENACTED. Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    4/14/2026House
  4. On motion by Senator PIERCE of Cumberland the Senate RECEDED and CONCURRED to PASSAGE TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED by Committee Amendment "A" (H-300) as Amended by House Amendment "A" (H-1052) thereto. Ordered sent down forthwith.

    4/13/2026Senate
  5. On motion of Speaker FECTEAU of Biddeford, the House RECEDED.On motion of Representative GATTINE of Westbrook, House Amendment "A" (H-1052) to Committee Amendment "A" (H-300) was READ and ADOPTED.Committee Amendment "A" (H-300) as Amended by House Amendment "A" (H-1052) thereto was ADOPTED.The Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (H-300) as Amended by House Amendment "A" (H-1052) thereto.In NON-CONCURRENCE and sent for concurrence.ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    4/13/2026House
  6. On motion by Senator ROTUNDO of Androscoggin taken from the Special Appropriations Table. Same Senator moved to SUSPEND THE RULES to RECONSIDER whereby the Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED by Committee Amendment "A" (H-300) in concurrence. On motion by Senator STEWART of Aroostook OBJECTED. On motion by Senator ROTUNDO of Androscoggin Bill and accompanying papers COMMITTED to the Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs In NON-CONCURRENCE. Sent down for concurrence.

    4/13/2026Senate
  7. CARRIED OVER, in the same posture, to any special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature, pursuant to Joint Order SP 800.

    6/25/2025Senate
  8. On motion by Senator ROTUNDO of Androscoggin PLACED ON THE SPECIAL APPROPRIATIONS TABLE pending ENACTMENT in concurrence.

    6/2/2025Senate
  9. PASSED TO BE ENACTED. Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    6/2/2025House
  10. Reports ReadOn motion by Senator INGWERSEN of York the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report ACCEPTED. PREVAILED Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 256 Yeas 21 - Nays 14 - Excused 0 - Absent 0 Bill READ ONCE. Committee Amendment "A" (H-300) READ and ADOPTED. Under suspension of the Rules, READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED by Committee Amendment "A" (H-300) in concurrence.

    5/29/2025Senate
  11. Reports READ.On motion of Representative MEYER of Eliot, the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report was ACCEPTED.ROLL CALL NO. 216(Yeas 78 - Nays 69 - Absent 4 - Excused 0)The Bill was READ ONCE.Committee Amendment "A" (H-300) was READ and ADOPTED.Under suspension of the rules, the Bill was given its SECOND READING without REFERENCE to the Committee on Bills in the Second Reading.The Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (H-300). Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    5/28/2025House
  12. Carried over, in the same posture, to the next special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature, pursuant to Joint Order SP 519.

    3/21/2025House
  13. Received by the Clerk of the House on February 6, 2025.The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to Joint Rule 401.

    2/6/2025House

Bill Text

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation

Take It Personal

Get Your Personalized Policy View

Take the PRIA Score to see how policy affects your household, then upgrade to PRIA Full Coverage for year-round monitoring.

Already have an account? Sign in