# Maine LD 1696: Resolve, to Study Maine's Absolute Dominion and Beneficial Use Laws Relating to Water Rights

Maine LD 1696, Resolve, to Study Maine's Absolute Dominion and Beneficial Use Laws Relating to Water Rights, is a 132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026) House bill sponsored by Lori Gramlich (Democratic); status failed, last action 2026-04-29 (Died on Adjournment) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD1696-132
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Maine LD 1696
- State: Maine
- Session: 132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026)
- Title: Resolve, to Study Maine's Absolute Dominion and Beneficial Use Laws Relating to Water Rights
- Status: failed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-04-17
- Last action: 2026-04-29, Died on Adjournment
- Sponsor: Lori Gramlich (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 9
- Subjects: GROUNDWATER, GROUNDWATER - WATER RIGHTS
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 1 (19 yes, 13 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Lori Gramlich (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Adam LEE
- Cosponsor: Christopher Kessler (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Daniel Sayre (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: David Sinclair (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Nicole C. Grohoski (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Richard A. Bennett (Independent), Senate
- Cosponsor: Richard Campbell (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Sean Faircloth (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Victoria Doudera (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-05-21 | Senate | ACCEPT MAJORITY OUGHT TO PASS AS AMENDED REPORT | pass | 19 | 13 |   |

## Actions (9)

- 2026-04-29: Died on Adjournment
- 2026-04-29: Died in Possession of the Senate when the Legislature adjourned Sine Die and was PLACED IN THE LEGISLATIVE FILES. (DEAD) (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)
- 2025-05-27: On motion by Senator DUSON of Cumberland placed on the SPECIAL STUDY TABLE pending FINAL PASSAGE in concurrence. (Senate)
- 2025-05-27: FINALLY PASSED.Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH. (House)
- 2025-05-21: Reports ReadOn motion by Senator TEPLER of Sagadahoc the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report ACCEPTED. PREVAILED Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 197 Yeas 19 - Nays 13 - Excused 3 - Absent 0 Bill READ ONCE Committee Amendment "A" (H-156) READ and ADOPTED Under suspension of the Rules, READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED by Committee Amendment "A" (H-156) in concurrence. (Senate)
- 2025-05-20: Reports READ.On motion of Representative DOUDERA of Camden, the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report was ACCEPTED.The Resolve was READ ONCE.Committee Amendment "A" (H-156) 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" (H-156). Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH. (House)
- 2025-04-17: The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES in concurrence (Senate)
- 2025-04-17: Committee on Environment and Natural Resources suggested and ordered printed. The Resolve was REFERRED to the Committee on ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES.Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH. (House)

## Bill text

- Amendment C-A (H-156), adopted by House & Senate: [PDF](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP1131&item=2&snum=132)
- Introduced: [PDF](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP1131&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 (H-156), adopted by House & Senate (PDF)](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP1131&item=2&snum=132)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP1131&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-LD1696-132 (as of 2026-10-17).