55 Years of Fighting for Maine Lakes

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

Outcome: Passed

Effective Date:  September 24, 2025

Bill Summary: This law 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 law, 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 limited exceptions for functionally water-dependent uses, swimming structures, water toys, ice fishing shacks and aquaculture facilities, authorized nonwater dependent floating structures, and preexisting nonwater-dependent floating structures with preexisting leases.

The law includes allowance for existing structures to continue to be used through a lease program managed by the Submerged Lands Program under the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry along with detailed information regarding the application requirements, its process and the renewal process.

The law also clarifies the regulation of houseboats and homemade watercraft under the laws regulating watercraft.

Bill Information HERE 
Bill Printed HERE 
Maine Lakes Testimony HERE

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

Outcome: Passed

Bill Summary: Ensures septic systems are better designed in vulnerable soils, helping towns avoid costly groundwater contamination and long-term cleanup liabilities. Specifically, this bill 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.

Bill Information HERE
Bill Printed HERE 
Maine Lakes Testimony HERE

Bill Title: 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

Outcome: Failed

Bill Summary: This bill would have required 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.

Position: Support 

Bill Information HERE
Bill Printed HERE 
Maine Lakes Legislative Alert HERE

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

Outcome: Passed; Funded at $50,000/year for next two years (rather than original request of $1M)

Provides $50,000 annually over two years for projects that improve lake health, helping to protect tourism, property values, and local economies.

Bill Information HERE

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

Outcome: Failed

Bill Summary: This bill would have removed registration requirements for small boats and reduced the lake and river protection sticker fee—raising concerns about the loss of revenue to support invasive species risk-reduction and enforcement.

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

Outcome: Passed

Bill Summary: Requires DEP and IFW to improve inspection and notification protocols in infested inland waters—reducing invasive spread and future mitigation costs.

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

Bill Title: Resolve, Establishing the Commission to Study Unmanaged Storm Water Pollution

Outcome: Supported by the committee but tabled for further consideration.

Bill Summary: This resolve establishes the Commission to Study How to Address Unregulated Storm Water Pollution.  The commission is directed to review, study and analyze existing scientific literature and data on storm water pollution and to submit a report to the Joint Standing Committee on Environment and Natural Resources by December 3, 2025.

Bill Information HERE 
Bill Printed HERE 
Maine Lakes Testimony HERE