# Maine LD 1543: An Act to Establish the Maine Green Schools Network Maine LD 1543, An Act to Establish the Maine Green Schools Network, is a 132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026) Senate bill sponsored by Joseph Rafferty (Democratic); status became law, last action 2025-06-24 (ACTPUB Chapter 422) (as of 2026-10-19). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD1543-132 - 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 1543 - State: Maine - Session: 132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026) - Title: An Act to Establish the Maine Green Schools Network - Status: became law - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2025-04-10 - Last action: 2025-06-24, ACTPUB Chapter 422 - Sponsor: Joseph Rafferty (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 4 - Subjects: EDUCATION DEPT, EDUCATION DEPT - POWERS - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 2 (96 yes, 85 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 4 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Grants and green project help for schools: benefit, low. The Network helps with student rides to environmental activities for public pre-K to 12 schools. It supports school projects that use traditional ecological knowledge in recycling, energy, water, habitats, outdoor classrooms, transportation, and health. The department can offer grants through the N… - Green schools report due in 2026: benefit, low. The Network must report to the Legislature by November 4, 2026. The report lists schools in the Network, schools helped, and how many counties take part. It may include recommended law changes. - Maine Green Schools Network launches statewide: benefit, low. The law creates the Maine Green Schools Network inside the Department of Education. The department runs the Network and can invite named educators, agency staff, and public members to take part when funds are available. The department can also keep non-state gifts and grants and use them for this w… - More training and tools for teachers: benefit, low. The Network trains more public school educators in environmental topics. It builds shared lessons, tools, and metrics. It creates a statewide group for teachers and administrators to share what works. The law does not set dollar amounts or schedules. ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Joseph Rafferty (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Christina Mitchell (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Janice Dodge (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Kelly Murphy (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Michael Brennan (Democratic), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-06-10 | House | ACC MAJ OTP AS AMENDED REP | pass | 76 | 71 | | | 2025-06-09 | Senate | ACCEPT MAJORITY OUGHT TO PASS AS AMENDED REPORT | pass | 20 | 14 | | ## Actions (7) - 2025-06-24: ACTPUB Chapter 422 - 2025-06-11: PASSED TO BE ENACTED, in concurrence. (Senate) - 2025-06-10: PASSED TO BE ENACTED. Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH. (House) - 2025-06-10: Reports READ.On motion of Representative MURPHY of Scarborough, the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report was ACCEPTED.ROLL CALL NO. 400(Yeas 76 - Nays 71 - Absent 2 - Excused 2)The Bill was READ ONCE.Committee Amendment "A" (S-316) 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" (S-316). In concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH. (House) - 2025-06-09: Reports READ. On motion by Senator RAFFERTY of York The Majority Ought to Pass As Amended Report ACCEPTED. PREVAILED Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 404 Yeas 20 - Nays 14 - Excused 1 - Absent 0 Bill READ ONCE. Committee Amendment "A" (S-316) READ and ADOPTED. Under suspension of the Rules, READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED by Committee Amendment "A" (S-316) Sent down for concurrence (Senate) - 2025-04-10: The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on EDUCATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS.In concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH. (House) - 2025-04-10: Committee on EDUCATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS suggested and ordered printed REFERENCE to the Committee on EDUCATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS Ordered sent down forthwith for concurrence (Senate) ## Bill text - Amendment C-A (S-316), adopted by House & Senate: [PDF](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=SP0627&item=2&snum=132) - Enacted: [PDF](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=SP0627&item=3&snum=132) - Introduced: [PDF](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=SP0627&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-316), adopted by House & Senate (PDF)](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=SP0627&item=2&snum=132) - [Enacted (PDF)](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=SP0627&item=3&snum=132) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=SP0627&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) - [Maine bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/maine/bills) - [Maine state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/maine) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD1543-132 (as of 2026-10-19).