# Maine LD 128: An Act to Support Permitting of Certain Multifamily Housing Developments Under the Site Location of Development Laws

Maine LD 128, An Act to Support Permitting of Certain Multifamily Housing Developments Under the Site Location of Development Laws, is a 132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026) Senate bill sponsored by Teresa S. Pierce (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-03-09 (Signed by Governor, ACTPUB Chapter 554) (as of 2026-10-19).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD128-132
- As of: 2026-10-19
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Maine LD 128
- State: Maine
- Session: 132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026)
- Title: An Act to Support Permitting of Certain Multifamily Housing Developments Under the Site Location of Development Laws
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-08
- Last action: 2026-03-09, Signed by Governor, ACTPUB Chapter 554
- Sponsor: Teresa S. Pierce (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: LAND USE PLANNING, LAND USE PLANNING - PERMITS
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 1 (23 yes, 9 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 3

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Higher thresholds for small multifamily lots: benefit, low. The law makes state site review less likely for small multifamily-style lots. When every lot is for a single detached home with up to 4 units (and may include one accessory unit), a subdivision only triggers review at 15 or more lots within 5 years and over 30 acres total. Buildings, roads, paved,…
- Local review only for mid-size housing: benefit, low. Some projects skip state site review if they are fully inside a town on the department’s annual “capacity” list and inside a designated growth area. Structures from 3 to 10 acres qualify. Subdivisions with 15 or more qualifying lots and total area from 30 to 100 acres also qualify. The department p…
- Streamlined rules and permit-by-rule option: benefit, low. Most department rules under these development laws are treated as routine technical rules. The department can set a permit‑by‑rule option to speed approvals. Some rules adopted after January 1, 2010 under listed sections remain major substantive and keep fuller review.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Teresa S. Pierce (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-02-12 | Senate | ACCEPT REPORT | pass | 23 | 9 |   |

## Actions (12)

- 2026-03-09: Signed by Governor, ACTPUB Chapter 554
- 2026-03-05: PASSED TO BE ENACTED, in concurrence. (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: PASSED TO BE ENACTED. Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH. (House)
- 2026-02-26: CONSENT CALENDAR - FIRST DAYUnder suspension of the rules CONSENT CALENDAR - SECOND DAY.The Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (S-494).In concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH. (House)
- 2026-02-24: COMMITTEE ON BILLS IN THE SECOND READING REPORTS NO FURTHER VERBAL AMENDMENTS NECESSARY. REPORT ACCEPTED.READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED BY Committee Amendment "A" (S-494).Ordered sent down forthwith for concurrence. (Senate)
- 2026-02-12: Taken from the table by the President Subsequently, ACCEPTANCE of the Ought to Pass As Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (S-494) Report PREVAILED. Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 717 Yeas 23 - Nays 9 - Excused 3 - Absent 0 Bill READ ONCE. Committee Amendment "A" (S-494) READ and ADOPTED.ASSIGNED FOR SECOND READING NEXT LEGISLATIVE DAY. (Senate)
- 2026-02-10: Unfinished Business (Senate)
- 2026-02-03: Report READ and ACCEPTED. On motion by Senator STEWART of Aroostook the Senate RECONSIDERED their actions whereby they ACCEPTED THE OUGHT TO PASS AS AMENDED Report. On motion by Same Senator Tabled until Later in Today's Session, pending ACCEPTANCE of the OUGHT TO PASS AS AMENDED BY Committee Amendment "A" (S-494) Report. Unfinished Business (Senate)
- 2025-06-25: CARRIED OVER, in the same posture, to any special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature, pursuant to Joint Order SP 800. (Senate)
- 2025-03-21: CARRIED OVER, in the same posture, to the next special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature, pursuant to Joint Order SP 519. (Senate)
- 2025-01-08: The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.In concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH. (House)
- 2025-01-08: Committee on HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT suggested and ordered printed REFERENCE to the Committee on HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Ordered sent down forthwith for concurrence (Senate)

## Bill text

- Amendment C-A (S-494), adopted by House & Senate: [PDF](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=SP0057&item=2&snum=132)
- Enacted: [PDF](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=SP0057&item=3&snum=132)
- Introduced: [PDF](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=SP0057&item=1&snum=132)

## Related bills

- LD 1522: An Act to Establish the Maine Eviction Prevention Program (failed)
- LD 2067: An Act to Include Community Mental Health Workers Under the 1998 Special Plan for Retirement (failed)
- LD 1665: An Act to Provide Property Tax Relief to Maine Families (failed)
- LD 1872: An Act to Reinvest in the Pension Funds of the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (failed)
- LD 1611: An Act to Decrease the Retirement Contributions Required for Teachers and State Employees (failed)
- LD 1294: An Act to Expand the Dependent Exemption Tax Credit (failed)

## Sources
- [Amendment C-A (S-494), adopted by House & Senate (PDF)](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=SP0057&item=2&snum=132)
- [Enacted (PDF)](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=SP0057&item=3&snum=132)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=SP0057&item=1&snum=132)

## Related
- [LD 1522: An Act to Establish the Maine Eviction Prevention Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD1522-132)
- [LD 2067: An Act to Include Community Mental Health Workers Under the 1998 Special Plan f…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD2067-132)
- [LD 1665: An Act to Provide Property Tax Relief to Maine Families](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD1665-132)
- [LD 1872: An Act to Reinvest in the Pension Funds of the Maine Public Employees Retiremen…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD1872-132)
- [LD 1611: An Act to Decrease the Retirement Contributions Required for Teachers and State…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD1611-132)
- [LD 1294: An Act to Expand the Dependent Exemption Tax Credit](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD1294-132)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD128-132 (as of 2026-10-19).