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MaineLD 2216132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026)Senate

An Act to Establish the Maine Blue Economy Center

Sponsored By: Sponsor information unavailable

Signed by Governor

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - PLANNING

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

New board and public reporting for center

The law sets a 17‑member board to oversee the center. Thirteen voting members are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate, and four officials serve as nonvoting ex officio members. Appointed directors serve three‑year terms, with the first board staggered at 1, 2 and 3 years for continuity. The board must include voices from small and large businesses, research, higher education, tribes, finance, fishing and working waterfronts, aquaculture, coastal towns and marine tourism. Within 60 days after all members are appointed, the center must deliver an interim report with a five‑year plan, an operations plan and a finance plan. Each year, within 120 days after its fiscal year ends, the center must publish a public report with finances, activities, grants and loans, workforce and investment analysis, database updates and next‑year plans and recommendations.

New center to grow ocean jobs

The law creates the Maine Blue Economy Center at the Maine Technology Institute. The center coordinates state, schools, tribes, research groups and businesses to grow ocean and coastal industries while protecting traditional fishing and working waterfronts. It builds a public database and online tools that track jobs, wages, business counts, revenue and resource trends in the Gulf of Maine. MTI provides staff, and the center can also get help from other agencies and private partners. The center can raise and accept gifts, grants and bequests to fund its work.

One-time $160K funding and budget rules

The law provides a one‑time $160,000 General Fund appropriation in fiscal year 2026‑27 for the Maine Blue Economy Center’s operations. The State Controller must move $160,000 from the Attorney General’s settlement‑funded special revenue account to the General Fund’s unappropriated surplus by June 30, 2027. The law also changes MTI accounting so admin costs for patenting and commercialization support programs are not counted as MTI’s general management operating costs.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

There is no primary sponsor on record.

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 98 • No: 80

House vote • 4/7/2026

ACC MAJ OTP AS AMENDED REP

Yes: 78 • No: 68

Senate vote • 4/6/2026

ACCEPT MAJORITY OUGHT TO PASS AS AMENDED REPORT

Yes: 20 • No: 12

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by Governor, ACTPUB Chapter 735

    4/16/2026

  2. PASSED TO BE ENACTED, in concurrence.

    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" (S-637) as Amended by House Amendment "A" (H-1060) 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-1060) to Committee Amendment "A" (S-637) was READ and ADOPTED.Committee Amendment "A" (S-637) as Amended by House Amendment "A" (H-1060) thereto was ADOPTED.The Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (S-637) as Amended by House Amendment "A" (H-1060) 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" (S-637) 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. On motion by Senator ROTUNDO of Androscoggin PLACED ON THE SPECIAL APPROPRIATIONS TABLE pending PASSAGE TO BE ENACTED, in concurrence.

    4/7/2026Senate

  8. PASSED TO BE ENACTED. Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    4/7/2026House

  9. Reports READ.On motion of Representative GERE of Kennebunkport, the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report was ACCEPTED.ROLL CALL NO. 741(Yeas 78 - Nays 68 - Absent 4 - Excused 0 - Vacant 1)The Bill was READ ONCE.Committee Amendment "A" (S-637) 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-637). In concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    4/7/2026House

  10. Reports READ. On motion by Senator CURRY of Waldo The Majority Ought to Pass As Amended Report ACCEPTED. Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 893 Yeas 20 - Nays 12 - Excused 3 - Absent 0 READ ONCE. Committee Amendment "A" (S-637) READ and ADOPTED. Under suspension of the Rules, READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED by Committee Amendment "A" (S-637) Sent down for concurrence.

    4/6/2026Senate

  11. Report was READ and ACCEPTED.The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTIn concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    2/24/2026House

  12. Reported that the same be REFERRED to the Committtee on HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, pursuant to Resolve, chapter 114, section 7. Report READ and ACCEPTED. Bill and accompanying papers REFERRED to the Committee on HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. Sent down for concurrence

    2/24/2026Senate

Bill Text

  • Amendment C-A (S-637), adopted by House & Senate

    PDF

  • Amendment H-A to C-A (H-1060), adopted by House & Senate

    PDF

  • Enacted

    PDF

  • Introduced

    PDF

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