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MaineLD 62132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026)House

An Act to Support Municipal and County Actions on Dam Ownership and to Make Other Changes to the Laws Regulating Release from Dam Ownership

Sponsored By: Nina Milliken (Democratic)

Became Law

DAMSDAMS - LICENSING

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

Longer timelines for dam consultations

After you file a petition, you now have 210 days, not 180, to finish required consultations with the Department, Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Marine Resources, and Emergency Management. A public meeting counts for property‑owner consultation if you sent the required notices. You also have 210 days to file the notice‑compliance report and 210 days to file the consultation report, or before any approved extension ends. The department can approve 210‑day extensions to the consultation period. It may approve a second 210‑day extension, but total extra time cannot exceed 420 days. A town or the owner can request an extension, and the department must approve it.

More time for local dam meetings

City and town legislative bodies now have up to 180 days, not 60, to hold a public meeting and act on dam ownership after notice and after the petition is ruled complete. County commissioners have the same 180‑day window to meet and consider ownership.

More paperwork to give up a dam

If you seek to give up dam ownership for a non‑FERC dam, you must file more documents. You must provide owner contact and dam location, title and easement papers, 10 years of inspections and repairs, and an operations and maintenance plan. High or significant hazard dams also need an emergency action plan. You must include a 10‑year scope of work and cost estimate, permits, insurance and risk details, property tax status, and any engineering or environmental reports the department requests. The department must tell you within 15 days if anything is missing; if not, your petition counts as compliant.

More agencies and slower state reviews

The department now also consults the Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry when deciding if the state should take over a dam. Agencies get more time to decide: Inland Fisheries and Wildlife has 90 days (up from 60), Marine Resources has 90 days, Agriculture has 90 days (up from 60), and Emergency Management has 90 days (up from 60). Each agency must tell the department its decision. These reviews apply when no new owner was found and the petition was not rejected.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Nina Milliken

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

Actions Timeline

  1. ACTPUB Chapter 226

    5/1/2026

  2. PASSED TO BE ENACTED, in concurrence.

    6/3/2025Senate

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

    6/3/2025House

  4. Report READ and ACCEPTED, in concurrence.READ ONCE.Committee Amendment "A" (H-391) READ and ADOPTED, in concurrence.Under suspension of the Rules, READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED BY Committee Amendment "A" (H-391), in concurrence.Ordered sent down forthwith.

    6/2/2025Senate

  5. 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" (H-391).Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    6/2/2025House

  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 January 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.

    1/6/2025House

Bill Text

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