Proposals

Because the State’s surface water and near surface groundwater resources are so extensive, wetlands can be hydrologically connected over large distances. Currently, wetlands that contain significant wildlife habitat, peatlands, or critically imperiled or imperiled plant communities are considered Wetlands of Special Significance and only a limited list of activities can be permitted within them, regardless of the distance between the proposed activity and the triggering feature. The proposed rule would allow the Department to permit additional activities within wetlands that are Wetlands of Special Significance because they contain significant wildlife habitat, peatlands, or critically imperiled or imperiled plant communities, provided: a) the activity is at least 750 feet from the triggering feature and b) the activity does not have an unreasonable adverse effect on the significant wildlife habitat, peatlands, or critically imperiled or imperiled plant community.

The Maine State Housing Authority uses funds from certain federal and state resources to give grants to agencies for a variety of activities to assist people who are experiencing homelessness. This Rule governs MaineHousing’s allocation of resources for such programs, program design, the publication and distribution of program guides, and potential selection criteria. Some resources are distributed according to a funding formula set forth in the applicable Program Guide and Application. Other resources may be distributed according to programs designed by MaineHousing.

The Department is proposing to amend Chapter 165, General Permit for Class IV-A Incinerators, to clarify applicability and exclusions, allow for the submission of registrations and other information through an electronic licensing system, align requirements for visible emissions with those in Chapter 101, Visible Emissions Regulation, and address the voluntary surrender and transfer of a general permit.

The Department is proposing to amend Chapter 164, General Permit for Concrete Batch Plants, to clarify applicability and exclusions, remove emission standards for nonroad engines, allow for the submission of registrations and other information through an electronic licensing system, align requirements for visible emissions with those in Chapter 101, Visible Emissions Regulation, and address the voluntary surrender and transfer of a general permit. All or parts of this rule may be submitted for inclusion in Maine's State Implementation Plan.

The Department is proposing to amend Chapter 149, General Permit Regulation for Nonmetallic Mineral Processing Plants, to clarify applicability and exclusions, remove emission standards for nonroad engines, allow for the submission of registrations and other information through an electronic licensing system, align requirements for visible emissions with those in Chapter 101, Visible Emissions Regulation, and address the voluntary surrender and transfer of a general permit. All or parts of this rule may be submitted for inclusion in Maine's State Implementation Plan.

This rule chapter sets forth the standards and processes for determining eligibility for disability retirement benefits. The proposed amendments to the rule eliminate the requirement for continuous service before a member can be eligible for disability retirement without meeting pre-existing condition criteria. The proposed amendments simplify continued eligibility for disability retirement benefits consistent with statute.

This rule establishes a consolidated retirement plan as required by 5 M.R.S. §18801 et seq. for local districts that are participating local districts under 5 M.R.S. Chapter 425 and Chapter 427. The proposed amendments to the rule allow Participating Local District (PLD) members with prior non-military federal service to purchase up to five years of service credit at actuarial cost. The proposed amendments also allows the chief administrative office of participating local district to clarify ambiguities in actions taken by the governing body regarding plan participation. The proposed amendments also ensures that 401(a) defined contribution plan elections conform with federal plan qualification requirements. The proposed amendments also removes an infrequently used and inefficient provision that permits a member retiring early to forgo cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) until they attain normal retirement age.

This rule sets forth the requirements for members to purchase or repurchase creditable service. The proposed amendments to the rule allows Maine Public Employees Retirement System members of the State Employee and Teacher Retirement Program and the Participating Local District Consolidated Plan with prior federal employment to purchase up to five years of service credit at actuarial cost.

The rule is updated to conform to changes in law made by Public Law 2025, Chapter 348.

The proposed rule changes are necessary to enforce compliance with PL 2023, Ch. 584 (LD 1740, “An Act to Protect a Patient’s Access to Affordable Health Care with Timely Access to Health Care Prices”).

As a result of the discovery of the presence of largemouth bass, an illegally introduced, warmwater species in West Musquash Lake located in T6 R1 NBPP, the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is proposing the following change to South

The Board of Licensure in Medicine proposes amendments to the rule to: define the terms “clinical license”, “post graduate medical education”, “reentry license”, and “telehealth”; change the term “permanent license” to “clinical license”; require applicants to personally complete application materials; amend the criteria regarding administratively incomplete applications; set the fee to renew an inactive status license at $100; add a “reentry license” type and define the requirements to obtain and renew a “reentry license”; change the fee structure for citations; and delegate review and approval of requests to withdraw applications to the Board Secretary.

The rule is amended in response to changes in law made by Public Law 2025, Chapter 291 to prohibit spread pricing by pharmacy benefits managers.

These proposed amendments to Chapter 5 will update the Maine Criminal Justice Academy Training Standards to implement a separate basic training course and certification standards for probation and parole officers as authori

These proposed amendments to Chapter 3 will create the entrance standards for the Basic Probation and Parole Training Program (BPPTP) as authori

The Department is proposing to amend rule Chapter 90, to establish designations for currently unavoidable uses of intentionally added PFAS in products subject to sales prohibition beginning January 1, 2026.

The purpose of this chapter is to implement changes made by statute P.L. 2023, Ch. 333, moderni

This regulation would establish open harvest days and tote limits for the taking of sea urchins by divers, rakers, trappers, and draggers in

The proposed amended rules eliminates reference to the offset of disability retirement benefits for Social Security benefits received by a member for the same condition.

The Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is proposing to repeal Chapter 22 rules. The Chapter is now obsolete as the Department’s maga

The Land Use Planning Commission’s current fee schedule works well for complex and multi-faceted projects, but has adversely impacted the time needed to process residential development permits. The Commission is proposing to revise its fee schedule to simplify the application fee structure for residential development. Proposed revisions also include clerical edits.

Statutory authority for this Rule is 5 MRSA, Chapter 6, §95-C. This chapter prescribes policies, standards, and procedures for the economical and efficient management of State records. We will add a statement requiring state agencies to get approval from the Maine State Archives before purchasing a new document management system to ensure proper document management capability.

To amend the Oil Import Fees listed in Section 4 of the rule by increasing the fee from 18 cents per barrel of gasoline to 20 cents per barrel as well as increasing the fee from 6 cents per barrel for other petroleum products except unrefined crude oil, liquid asphalt, and number 6 fuel oil to 10 cents per barrel.

This Rule administers the State of Maine drinking water requirements for approximately 1,900 public water systems by the Department’s Maine CDC Drinking Water Program (Department), which has federal primacy. The Department proposes rule changes to reflect current practice, by removing any outdated language and meet a Legislative Resolve approved by emergency on June 21, 2021: Resolve to Protect Consumers of Public Drinking Water by Establishing Maximum Contaminant Levels for Certain Substances and Contaminants (Resolves 2021, ch. 82; S.P. – LD 129), which requires public water systems to test and monitor drinking water for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The Department also proposes to incorporate the recently announced by USEPA in April 2024 for federal PFAS standards into this Maine rule EPA for six PFAS compounds. Community public water systems, non-transient non-community systems, and bottled water suppliers will be required to test for PFAS and report their results to the Department, resulting in possible mitigation, if levels are reported above certain levels. The Department also proposes to require seasonal transient public water systems and all community public water systems to test for total coliform on a monthly basis, to further protect public health and alert the Department to possible bacterial contamination quicker. The Department proposes to add a definition for “common scheme of development” to clarify its process to identify and regulate public water systems, and finally, the Department proposes a new rule title to reflect Maine CDC rulemaking formatting convention.

This proposed amendment would revise the language of the rule referencing the current amount for eligible reimbursement per night, establish an individual annual and lifetime grant cap, incorporate recent legislative changes to the statute, and update outdated definitions. Amended rules may incorporate and align these annual and lifetime grant caps with 15-215, Chapter 2: Administration of the Veteran's Financial Assistance Program.

This proposed amendment would revise the language of the rule referencing the current amount for an individual annual grant and reinforce the lifetime cap of $10,000. Amended rules may incorporate and align these annual and lifetime grant caps with 15-215, Chapter 3: Administration of the Veteran's Homelessness Prevention Coordination Program.

The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is proposing regulation changes for the upcoming ice fishing and open water fishing seasons. These regulations are needed to provide for the effective conservation of Maine’s inland fisheries and to enhance fishing opportunities throughout the State. This rule-making packet includes 12 individual proposals presented in the following “theme” categories: Special Need; Salmonid Growth, Condition, and Performance; Expanded Angler Opportunity; and Errors, Conflicts, and Confusion. The complete list of proposals may be obtained from the Agency Contact Person or online at: https://www.maine.gov/ifw/news- events/rulemaking-proposals.html. The proposals, if adopted, will become effective January 1, 2026. Members of the public are encouraged to review the proposals and provide comments by submitting written comments by mail or email to the contact person for this filing or by participating in the public hearing. (All comments must be related to this rulemaking packet.) Note: Written comments are given equal consideration to testimony given at the public hearing.

This rule establishes the requirements for the use of trailer transit plates pursuant to 29-A M.R.S.A. Section 462, sub-section 8.

This rule establishes the requirements for licensing and for receipt of registration plates for vehicle dealers, persons in the business of conducting vehicle auctions, vehicle recyclers, mobile crushers, and holders of loaner and transporter plates. The rule sets forth required facilities, equipment, records and hours and describe required application procedures. The rule also establishes requirements for annexes and for secondary locations.

This chapter establishes a consolidated retirement plan, as required by 5 M.R.S. §18801 et seq. for local districts that are participating local districts under 5 M.R.S., Chapter 425. The proposed amended rule eliminates of the reduction of disability retirement benefits due to receipt of Social Security benefits for the same condition.

This rule provides guidance on disability compensation limits and benefit offsets. The proposed amended rules eliminates reference to the offset of disability retirement benefits and compensation limits for Social Security benefits received by a member for the same condition.

This chapter establishes a consolidated retirement plan, as required by 5 M.R.S. §18801 et seq. for local districts that are participating local districts under 5 M.R.S., Chapter 425. The proposed amended rule eliminates of the reduction of disability retirement benefits due to receipt of Social Security benefits for the same condition.

This rule repeals license application and renewal requirements for collection agencies in Chapter 300 superseded by requirements in Bureau Rule Chapter 705, clarifies surety coverage requirements for residential real estate property preservation provider and debt buyer licensees, and repeals the requirement that licensees receive pre-approval of form letters used in communicating with Maine debtors.

At the annual Highland Plantation meeting on April 26, 2025, residents in attendance voted 11-6 to repeal the comprehensive plan and land use ordinance. Pursuant to 12 M.R.S. §685-A(4-A)(B), this rule needs to be updated to officially reestablish the Commission’s jurisdiction regarding land use planning and

The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) is a federal program that provides food assistance to low-income households. It's a partnership between the USDA, states, and local organi

Chapter 2 of the Commission’s rules sets out the minimum requirements to be Eligible to accept assignments from the Commission. The rules in Chapter 3 are promulgated to establish the eligibility requirements for Speciali

This rule package is to create a rule to define special events and remove the requirement for form 5475.

This chapter outlines the procedures governing the award of death benefits to the child, spouse or parent of a law enforcement officer who dies while in the line of duty. 25 MRS §§1611 – 1612.

The Department determines that adoption of this rule is necessary for compliance with federal rule changes adopted in April 2024 for the use of CCDF funds, according to 42 U.S.C. 9858 et seq., 45 C.F.R. Pt. 98. This routine/technical rulemaking is necessary to comply with Federal Rule updates according to 42 U.S.C. 9858 et seq., 45 C.F.R. Pt. 98. The Department adopted these changes on an emergency basis on 5/19/25 and this proposed rulemaking will adopt them after the emergency rule expires on 8/17/25 at 11:59pm EST (U.S. and Canada). Revisions to payment processes, including paying prospectively and by enrollment, as well as changes to co-payments are required to meet these federal rule changes. As well, the Department has proposed paying child care providers the market rates as part of these rule changes.

This proposed rulemaking repeals Rule Chapter 901. Chapter 901 was adopted in 1986 to provide a schedule for adjustments to confidential state employee’s average final compensation for the period January 1986 through March 1987. This rule appears to no longer have any application.

This rule defines the requirements to qualify as a full-time student for the purposes of survivor benefit payments to a dependent child of a deceased member. Rule Chapter 102 was adopted in 1986 and has not been substantively amended since that date. The proposal is to repeal and replace the rule. The proposed replacement rule includes updated language and formatting, and the removal of wording for consistency with existing statutory language.

This rule amends Chapter 709 as it pertains to reporting requirements for unhosted cryptocurrency wallets. The existing provisions have proven difficult or impossible for industry to comply with and new methods have been developed and are being implemented to address the concerns surrounding unhosted wallets.

The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is recommending the following changes to Chapter 14 rules Commercial Whitewater Rafting: Changing the whitewater guide total training run requirement for a Level One Whitewater Guide from the current 20 to 15 total training runs; changing the whitewater guide written exam waiting period for an applicant that is unsuccessful in passing the written exam from the current 30 days to 14 days; and, clarifying the language that requires a whitewater guide to carry on their person a knife. The proposed changes will assist outfitters in the quality of training runs and increase safety for rafters. Please contact the agency contact person for a complete copy of the rule proposal.

The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is proposing to amend Chapter 20 rules to separate the current “Mammals and Heads” classification into their own classifications. Separate mammal and head classifications will allow applicants to choose one or both classifications for testing, which may help with the quality of the specimen produced during the exam process. Please contact the agency contact person for a complete copy of the rule proposal.

The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is proposing a deer management assistance program (DMAP) to improve ability to serve some landowners that have deer conflicts. Part of this program will be providing landowners with additional deer removal options where deer are damaging market trees and crops, and this additional removal will come by way of DMAP permits allowing for the removal of additional antlerless deer from impacted properties. Please contact the agency contact person for a complete copy of the rule proposal.

The proposed rulemaking reflects the Appraisal Qualifications Board’s (AQB) adoption of changes to continuing education requirements contained in the 2026 Real Property Appraiser Qualification Criteria (Criteria). Licensed appraisers completing continuing education for the renewal of their license will be subject to these changes effective January 1, 2026. The Maine Board of Real Estate Appraisers proposes to adopt the following changes made by the AQB to continuing education requirements:

The Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IFW) is proposing to adopt antlerless deer permit (ADP) numbers for the 2025 deer hunting seasons and special mu

This rule implements the recent change in Maine law creating a universal exclusion list for all areas of gambling under the oversite of the Gambling Control Board and Gambling Control Unit respectively.

In this Rule, the Commission proposes to set forth a process for mediation between a municipality and a video service provider relating to negotiations of a franchise agreement or contract, the obligations of the Participants under the agreement or contract, or the obligations of the Video Service Provider.

This Chapter establishes a method for Counsel to seek payment for Secretarial Services and Paralegal Services on assigned cases.