NRCM reviews every bill being considered by the Maine Legislature to determine which ones deserve support and which ones should be opposed based on their potential impact on Maine’s environment. This page is continually updated during the legislative session to provide you with the latest status and background information on the priority bills that we are following.
How You Can Get Involved
- For tips and videos on how to testify remotely in front of the Maine Legislature visit our new Take Action Toolkit.
- Sign up for NRCM's Action Network to receive action alerts to make your voice heard when legislators need to hear from you.
- Watch public hearings live on the Legislature’s YouTube channels, listed by committee.
- To testify at a public hearing or to submit written testimony on a bill, visit mainelegislature.org/testimony at least 30 minutes prior to the start of the hearing.
Note: Bills are listed in order by bill LD number (found in the left column).
The 2022 Maine Legislature has adjourned. The next session will begin in January 2023.
| 2022 Bill Information & Summary | NRCM Position | Status Update |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission lines not needed for reliability or local generation (LD 170) | Support | Vetoed by the governor. Legislature did not override veto so bill is dead. Read NRCM testimony. |
| Enhance Maine's ecological reserve system (LD 736) | Support | Governor Mills signed bill into law on March 29, 2022 Read bill fact sheet Read special report Read NRCM testimony |
| Balance renewable energy and working lands conservation (LD 856) | Support | Bill passed House and Senate but did not receive funding. |
| Provide access to clean drinking water for Passamaquoddy tribal members living at Pleasant Point in Washington County (LD 906) | Support | Governor Mills signed bill into law on April 21, 2022 Read NRCM testimony |
| Expand Maine's clean energy economy (LD 1350) | Support | Bill died in non-concurrence between the House and Senate Read bill fact sheet Read NRCM testimony |
| Bill to increase recycled content in plastic bottles (LD 1467) | Support | Bill became law without governor's signature on May 7, 2022 Read bill fact sheet Read NRCM testimony. |
| Transition State and local vehicle fleets to 100% zero-emission vehicles (LD 1579) | Support | Governor Mills signed bill into law on May 2, 2022 Read bill fact sheet. |
| Bill to recognize the sovereignty of the Wabanaki (LD 1626) | Support | Bill passed House and Senate, but was not funded by the Appropriations Committee Read NRCM testimony. |
| Create Maine Generation Authority (LD 1634) | Support | Bill died in non-concurrence between the House and Senate Read NRCM testimony. |
| Bill to close loophole that allows out-of-state waste in State-owned landfills (LD 1639) | Support | Governor Mills signed the bill into law on April 18, 2022 Voted out of ENR Committee as Ought to Pass (10-3) on February 7 Read bill fact sheet Read NRCM testimony. |
| Resolve to authorize conveyance of land in Aroostook and Penobscot Counties (LD 1756) | Neither for nor against | Governor Mills signed bill into law on March 25, 2022 Read NRCM testimony. |
| Bill to modify some exemptions for stormwater discharges to certain high classification (Class AA and SA) waters in Maine (LD 1801) | Support | Governor Mills signed bill into law on March 16, 2022 Read NRCM testimony. |
| Establish a pilot program focused on climate education in Maine public schools (LD 1902) | Support | Governor Mills signed bill into law on May 3, 2022 Read NRCM testimony |
| Prohibit contaminating clean soil with so-called "forever chemicals" (LD 1911) | Support | Governor Mills signed bill into law on April 20, 2022 Read NRCM testimony |
| Utility accountability and grid planning bill (LD 1959) | Support | Governor Mills signed bill into law on May 2, 2022 Read NRCM testimony Read bill fact sheet |
| River reclassification for more than 800 miles of Maine rivers, including part of the West Branch of the Penobscot (LD 1964) | Support | Governor Mills signed bill into law on March 31, 2022 Read bill fact sheet Read NRCM testimony |
| Implement agency recommendations related to sea-level rise and climate resilience (LD 1970) | Support | Governor Mills signed bill into law on April 12, 2022 |
| Establish a Maine Climate Corps (LD 1974) | Support | Governor Mills signed the bill into law on May 2, 2022 Read NRCM testimony |
| Rollback of Maine's science-based approach to river restoration (LD 1979) | Oppose | Bill became law without governor's signature on May 1, 2022 Read bill fact sheet Read NRCM testimony |
| Governor's supplemental budget provisions related to Dept. of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry (LD 1995) | Support | Governor Mills signed bill into law on April 20, 2022 Read NRCM testimony |
| Bill to increase housing opportunities by looking at zoning and land use (LD 2003) | Support | Governor Mills signed bill into law on April 27, 2022 Read NRCM testimony |
| Creates a relief fund and advisory committee to address PFAS contamination on Maine farms and assist affected farmers (LD 2013) | Support | Passed with $60 million in the Supplemental Appropriations Bill |
| Bill related to appliance efficiency standards (LD 2026) | Support | Governor Mills signed bill into law on April 7, 2022 Read NRCM testimony |
| Confirmation of Mac Hunter for appointment to Land for Maine's Future Board | Support | Read NRCM testimony. |
Be sure to stay informed about important actions on bills affecting Maine's environment by signing up for NRCM's Action Network. You will be able to take action at a moment's notice on bills related to Maine's air, land, water, and wildlife.
To view past years' legislative bill information, see green footer below.
Read all past testimony by NRCM staff.
Banner photo: Maine State House on January 5, 2022, the first day of the 2022 legislative session. Photo by Beth Comeau
