PRIA Logo™
MaineLD 497132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026)House

An Act Regarding the Regulation of Significant Vernal Pools Under the Natural Resources Protection Act

Sponsored By: Victoria Doudera (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPTENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPT - POWERS

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

Tighter building rules near vernal pools

The law defines significant vernal pool habitat as the pool plus critical land within 250 feet of the spring or fall high‑water mark. It sets a 100‑foot protection zone inside that area. No disturbance is allowed in the pool depression, and you should avoid disturbing land inside 100 feet to the greatest extent practicable. If habitat crosses property lines, the same protections apply on neighboring parcels that do not contain the pool. This can limit building and clearing near these pools.

Easier 'not significant' decisions for pools

If a pool is split by a property line and you cannot access the neighbor’s land, only your side counts when deciding if it is significant. A written "not significant" decision under this rule stays valid. Agencies may also decide a pool is not significant if it dries after filling and before July 15 in northern Maine. In southern Maine, it must dry before July 1. This drying rule applies only when the pool was not previously found significant and DEP or Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is making a new decision.

Lower mitigation costs for working waterfronts

If your working waterfront license is for land in a state or federal brownfields program or a voluntary response action program (section 343‑E), rules cannot require two things. You do not have to replace lost habitat with equal or greater function. You also do not have to pay a compensation fee under section 480‑Z. This lowers some mitigation costs for those applicants.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Victoria Doudera

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Denise Tepler

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 95 • No: 84

House vote • 6/10/2025

ACC MAJ OTP AS AMENDED REP

Yes: 77 • No: 70

Senate vote • 6/10/2025

ACCEPT MAJORITY OUGHT TO PASS AS AMENDED REPORT

Yes: 18 • No: 14

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by Governor, ACTPUB Chapter 338

    6/17/2025

  2. PASSED TO BE ENACTED, in concurrence.

    6/11/2025Senate

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

    6/10/2025House

  4. Reports ReadOn motion by Senator TEPLER of Sagadahoc the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report ACCEPTED. PREVAILED Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 440 Yeas 18 - Nays 14 - Excused 3 - Absent 0 Bill READ ONCE. Committee Amendment "A" (H-606) READ and ADOPTED. Under suspension of the Rules, READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED by Committee Amendment "A" (H-606) in concurrence.

    6/10/2025Senate

  5. Reports READ.On motion of Representative DOUDERA of Camden, the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report was ACCEPTED.ROLL CALL NO. 405(Yeas 77 - Nays 70 - Absent 2 - Excused 2)The Bill was READ ONCE.Committee Amendment "A" (H-606) 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" (H-606). Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    6/10/2025House

  6. Carried over, in the same posture, to the next special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature, pursuant to Joint Order SP 519.

    3/21/2025House

  7. Received by the Clerk of the House on February 6, 2025.The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to Joint Rule 401.

    2/6/2025House

Bill Text

  • Amendment C-A (H-606), adopted by House & Senate

    PDF

  • Enacted

    PDF

  • Introduced

    PDF

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation