55 Years of Fighting for Maine Lakes

Bill Title: An Act to Regulate Nonwater-dependent Floating Structures on Maine's Waters 

Bill Summary: This bill implements a prohibition on the placement or use of a nonwater-dependent floating structure in, on or over inland waters or coastal waters.  As defined in the bill, a "nonwater-dependent floating structure" is a waterborne structure that is supported wholly or partially by the structure's own buoyancy and that supports a nonwater-dependent use.  "Nonwater-dependent uses" is defined as those uses that can function in a location other than the surface waters of the State and that do not require, for their primary purpose, location on submerged lands or direct access to inland waters or coastal waters.  The prohibition includes exceptions for functionally water-dependent uses, swimming structures, water toys, ice fishing shacks and aquaculture facilities.  The bill also clarifies the regulation of houseboats and homemade watercraft under the laws regulating watercraft.

Status: Awaiting committee hearing and vote.

Position: Support

Public Hearing:  The public hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, April 30th at 1:00 before the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee, Room 206 of the Cross Office Building.

Work Session: Has not been scheduled yet.

Bill Information HERE 
Bill Printed HERE 
Maine Lakes DRAFT Testimony HERE
Maine Lakes Legislative Alert COMING SOON

Resolve, Directing the Department of Health and Human Services to Amend Its Rules to Protect Water Quality by Reducing Nutrient Pollution from Septic Systems

Bill Summary: This resolve directs the Department of Health and Human Services to amend its rule governing subsurface wastewater disposal by:  

1. Amending the design standards for disposal fields in a manner that addresses short  circuiting by reducing nutrient loading from septic tank effluent through natural processes;  

2. Applying the amended design standards only to soil profiles that pose a high risk of short circuiting due to the presence of sand or gravel layers in lower soil horizons or bedrock fractures; and

3. Providing that an area of land suitable for the installation of a disposal field may not be rendered unsuitable due to any changes in the rule amended pursuant to this resolve.

Status:  Awaiting public hearing

Position: Support 

Public Hearing: Scheduled for April 22nd at 1 p.m. before the Health and Human Services Committee, Room 209 in the State Office Building.

Bill Information HERE
Bill Printed HERE 
Maine Lakes Draft Testimony COMING SOON
Maine Lakes Legislative Alert COMING SOON

An Act to Allow a Municipality or Locally Recognized Lake Association to Post Certain Information on the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife's Information Kiosks Located at State Boat Launch Facilities

Bill Summary: This bill requires the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to provide reasonable space to display information on the department's informational kiosks located at state boat launch facilities to municipalities and local lake associations and similar nonprofit organizations so they can share lake-specific information to lake users and the general public.

Status:  Awaiting work session

Position: Support 

Public Hearing: We had very little notice of this hearing, which was held on Wednesday, April 16th in front of the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee. You can watch the hearing HERE (jump to 12:49 for the start of the hearing for this particular bill). 

Bill Information HERE
Bill Printed HERE 
Maine Lakes Draft Testimony COMING SOON
Maine Lakes Legislative Alert HERE

An Act to Appropriate Funds to the Department of Environmental Protection, Lake Water Quality Restoration and Protection Fund 

Bill Title: An Act to Exempt Certain Watercraft From Registration Requirements

Bill Summary: This bill was amended to reduce registration fees and the Lake and River Protection Sticker Fee to $10 each for canoes, kayaks and rowboats that are equipped with a motor having  a manufacturer's horsepower rating less than 5 HP. The amendment was made verbally at the last minute before the committee voted and with no input from the public or the department. 

Status: Despite overwhelming opposition to the bill (33 pieces of testimony against and just one in support), the department's opposition, and an undetermined (negative) fiscal impact, the bill was voted "Ought to Pass" by a slim majority (6-5). The department is pulling together the likely fiscal impact (early estimates are a loss of as much as $100K in revenue) for the committee and we are hopeful the bill will be reconsidered in light of this additional information.

Position: Oppose

Public Hearing: The Public Hearing was held on Monday, February 10 at 1:00 before the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee. The Committee received 33 pieces of testimony from individuals and organizations (read testimony HERE). The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife opposes the bills for many reasons, including the loss of registration revenue from an estimated 30,000 boats, the loss of a pathway for education and outreach to these boaters, and the potential loss of revenue from the Lake and River Protection Sticker, which while still legally required would likely not be purchased by the majority of these boaters once they were exempt from registration.  Note that the 100 HP was a typo, and that the bill sponsor intended the language to read 100 "pounds of thrust" which translates into a much smaller HP motor (less than 5 HP). 

Work Session: Has not been scheduled yet. 

Bill Information: HERE
Bill Printed HERE
Maine Lakes Draft Testimony: HERE
Maine Lakes Legislative Alert HERE 

Bill Title: An Act to Enhance Protections Regarding Invasive Aquatic Plant Infestations in Inland Waters of the State

Bill Summary: This bill requires the Commissioner of Environmental Protection and the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to jointly review and recommend more stringent watercraft inspection protocols on inland waters of the State known to be infested with invasive aquatic plants and to review surface use restrictions and notification of those restrictions to members of the public.

Status: Voted majority "Ought to Pass as Amended" (8-5). Awaiting word on when this bill will go to the House floor for a vote.

Position: Support

Public Hearing:  The public hearing was held Wednesday, February 12 at 1:00 before the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee. The Committee received testimony from 41 individuals and organizations, with no one speaking against the bill. You can read testimony HERE. This bill brings back language that was unanimously approved by the committee in 2023, with the bill dying on the appropriations table because it had also requested funding for invasives risk reduction work. This years' bill has no funding request. 

Work Session: Has not been scheduled yet.

Bill Information HERE 
Bill Printed HERE 
Maine Lakes Testimony HERE
Maine Lakes Legislative Alert HERE