PRIA Logo™
MaineLD 1023132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026)SenateWALLET

Resolve, to Reestablish the Blue Economy Task Force to Support Maine's Emergence as a Center for Blue Economy Innovation and Opportunity in the 21st Century

Sponsored By: Jill C. Duson (Democratic)

Became Law

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - PLANNING

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: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Stronger blue economy job training

The task force must recommend how to improve blue‑economy education and training. The work covers elementary and secondary schools and colleges, public and private. The goal is to connect students and workers to jobs in blue‑economy fields.

Blue Economy Task Force launches now

The law creates the Blue Economy Task Force in the Department of Economic and Community Development. It has 23 members: one senator, two House members, the Maine Technology Institute president or designee, and many members the Commissioner appoints. Commissioner appointees include research groups, blue‑economy businesses, fisheries, aquaculture, and equity investors. A majority of the Commissioner’s picks must be from businesses or groups commercializing research. The Commissioner names two co‑chairs, one from a state agency and one from outside state government. DECD staffs the group, other agencies must share information, and the task force may accept grants and private funds. All appointments are due by June 30, 2025. The task force must report to the Housing and Economic Development Committee by December 3, 2025. Because of the emergency clause, the law takes effect when approved.

Plan for a Blue Economy Center

The task force must draft recommendations to set up a Center for the Blue Economy. The plan includes an organization design and a budget for ongoing funding. It must state whether the center sits inside an existing institution or stands alone. It may include services like business support, R&D and financing, shared labs and tools, data systems, and help following sector plans.

Seed funding for blue‑economy projects

The law provides $100,000 from the General Fund in fiscal year 2025–26 to the Maine Technology Capacity Fund. This one‑time money matches support for blue‑economy research, business growth, and education or training. It also authorizes $500 in Other Special Revenue spending in 2025–26 and $500 in 2026–27 so the task force can spend money it receives from outside sources.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Jill C. Duson

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Allison Hepler

    Democratic • House

  • Cameron D. Reny

    Democratic • Senate

  • Holly Stover

    Democratic • House

  • Marianne Moore

    Republican • Senate

  • Mark W. Lawrence

    Democratic • Senate

  • Morgan Rielly

    Democratic • House

  • Rachel Talbot Ross

    Democratic • Senate

  • Richard A. Bennett

    Independent • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 74 • No: 64

House vote • 6/25/2025

RECEDE AND CONCUR

Yes: 74 • No: 64

Actions Timeline

  1. RESLV Chapter 114

    5/1/2026

  2. FINALLY PASSED, in concurrence.

    6/25/2025Senate

  3. FINALLY PASSED.Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    6/25/2025House

  4. The House RECEDED and CONCURRED to PASSAGE TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (S-297) as Amended by Senate Amendment "A" (S-485) thereto.ROLL CALL NO. 594(Yeas 74 - Nays 64 - Absent 11 - Excused 2)ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    6/25/2025House

  5. On motion by Senator ROTUNDO of Androscoggin taken from the Special Appropriations Table On motion by Same Senator the Senate SUSPENDED THE RULES to RECONSIDER their actions whereby the Resolve was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED by Committee Amendment "A" (S-297) On further motion by Same Senator the Senate SUSPENDED THE RULES to RECONSIDER their actions whereby Committee Amendment "A" (S-297) was ADOPTED. On further motion by Same Senator Senate Amendment "A" (S-485) to Committee Amendment "A" (S-297) READ and ADOPTED. Committee Amendment "A" (S-297) as Amended by Senate Amendment "A" (S-485) thereto ADOPTED. PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED BY Committee Amendment "A" (S-297) as Amended by Senate Amendment "A" (S-485) thereto in NON-CONCURRENCE. Sent down for concurrence.

    6/25/2025Senate

  6. On motion by Senator ROTUNDO of Androscoggin PLACED ON THE SPECIAL APPROPRIATIONS TABLE pending ENACTMENT - Emergency -2/3 Elected Required In NON-CONCURRENCE

    6/10/2025Senate

  7. This being an emergency measure, a two-thirds vote of all the members elected to the House was necessary.FAILED FINAL PASSAGE.Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    6/9/2025House

  8. Reports READ.On motion of Representative GERE of Kennebunkport, the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report was ACCEPTED.The Resolve was READ ONCE.Committee Amendment "A" (S-297) was READ and ADOPTED.Under suspension of the rules, the Resolve was given its SECOND READING without REFERENCE to the Committee on Bills in the Second Reading.The Resolve was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (S-297). In concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    6/9/2025House

  9. Reports READ On motion by Senator CURRY of Waldo The Majority Ought to Pass As Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (S-297) Report ACCEPTED Resolve READ ONCE Committee Amendment "A" (S-297) READ and ADOPTED Under suspension of the Rules, READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED by Committee Amendment "A" (S-297) Sent down for concurrence

    6/5/2025Senate

  10. CARRIED OVER, in the same posture, to the next special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature, pursuant to Joint Order SP 519.

    3/21/2025Senate

  11. Received by the Secretary of the Senate on March 12, 2025 and REFERRED to the Committee on HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2

    3/12/2025Senate

Bill Text

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation