Dear Friend of MCV,

The end is in sight! With your help, we’ve accomplished a lot for Maine’s environment this legislative session – but there is still so much more to do before lawmakers go home in just a few more weeks.

From testifying at public hearings that last late into the evening, to sending last minute emails to legislators calling on them to support our priorities, to presenting your petition signatures to lawmakers, we’ve all been working hard to ensure important bills move forward.

Here’s my update from Augusta along with opportunities for you to take action to help get these bills over the finish line.

Oppose Roll Backs to our Health, Safety, and Environment
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Until last year, a legal loophole had allowed for waste to be classified as “in-state” once it entered a solid waste processing facility in Maine — no matter where it originated. LD 718 would have rolled back a bipartisan law passed last year to stop out-of-state waste from being dumped in Maine, ignoring the efforts and impacts to the Penobscot Nation and local residents who worked to get this common-sense environmental measure passed.

Maine’s Environmental Priorities Coalition (EPC) acted quickly to make LD 718 a defensive priority. After hearing more than five hours of testimony, the Environment and Natural Resources Committee voted 12-1 on an amended version of the bill which would allow 25,000 tons of out-of-state bulky waste to be landfilled at the state-run Juniper Ridge Landfill for a few years, providing time to develop another way to deal with PFAS-contaminated sludge.

You can learn more about LD 718 here [[link removed]].

Oppose Prohibitions on Local Clean Energy Action
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The EPC acted quickly to make LD 894 a defensive priority, because t owns and cities should continue to have the right to set their own standards for energy, efficiency, and public health policies based on the needs of their own residents.

The State & Local Government Committee was about evenly divided on the bill, voting 7-6 despite Maine’s strong record of home rule, ambitious targets for beneficial electrification, and strong opposition testimony from EPC members, the Governor’s Energy Office, and Maine Municipal Association. The bill is now moving to the Senate, where it could pass. We need to make sure this bill does not pass the House, since both legislative bodies need to vote in favor in order for the bill to become law.

You can help by calling your legislator and urging them to vote “Ought Not To Pass” on LD 894. You can find contact information for your Senator here [[link removed]], your Representative here [[link removed]], and a script for your phone call here [[link removed]]. Please respond to this email if you need any help making the call!

Foster a Responsible Offshore Wind Industry for Maine
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Responsibly developed offshore wind will deliver clean energy, benefit communities, and launch an innovative new industry while coexisting with heritage fisheries and ocean ecosystems. If we act now, Maine can set high environmental, equity, and labor standards for responsible development of this emerging industry by passing LD 1895.

A public hearing on LD 1895 before the Energy, Utilities, and Technology Committee on May 18 lasted for nearly five hours. Voices in support of the bill were strong and included environmental advocates, labor advocates, and fisheries. MCV’s Kelt Wilska testified in support on behalf of the Environmental Priorities Coalition. [1] The committee is expected to vote on the bill next Wednesday, June 7. Then, the bill will move to the full legislature for passage.

To ensure the bill passes, we need as many Mainers as possible to rise up in support. Send a message to your legislators now urging them to support responsibly developed offshore wind [[link removed]]!

Actualize Tribal Self-Determination
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The Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act of 1980 excluded the Wabanaki Nations in Maine from federal laws benefiting 570 other federally-recognized tribes across the country, stripping the Wabanaki of their right to self-determination . A bipartisan task force recommended changes to restore the Nations’ inherent rights, including rights to regulate hunting, fishing, natural resources, and land use on tribal lands, as allowed by federal law.

The Wabanaki Alliance [2] and sovereignty advocates have worked to build broad support for tribal self-determination. Over 100 legislators co-sponsored this bill presented by Speaker of the House Rachel Talbot Ross, including Republican House Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham. The bill, LD 2007, was printed on Thursday. It will be carried over and heard next year.

We need to continue to build support for fairness and justice for the Wabanaki to ensure this bill passes. Join us to write letters to the editor on June 7 [[link removed]] to add your voice to the momentum of support, and tune in for our June 16 Lunch & Learn [[link removed]] to learn more about efforts at the state and federal levels to modernize the Maine Indian Land Claims Settlement Act and right decades of injustice.

Secure the Future of Maine's Forests
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A Forest Advisory Board would bring together a variety of viewpoints to share information, facilitate public input, look at the forest comprehensively, and advise the Maine Forest Service on policies to keep our forests healthy, intact, and productive.

The Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry Committee split along party lines over LD 993, the bill to create a Forest Advisory Board. The amended bill passed in the House (80-58) and Senate (23-10), and was enacted in the House on Thursday! However, it has attracted strong opposition from large forest owners including Irving, and could be vetoed by Governor Mills.

You can learn more about the bill to create a Forest Advisory Board here [[link removed]] .

Conserve Endangered & Threatened Species Habitat
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Exciting news – LD 1246 went to the full Legislature with the unanimous support of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee, and was enacted in the House on Thursday! It heads to the Senate for final enactment tomorrow.

This bill will expand the circumstances in which development projects are required to avoid and minimize potential impacts to endangered and threatened species – making this potentially the most significant proposal to protect the habitat of Maine’s most vulnerable species in decades.

Learn more about what the bill does here [[link removed]].

Advance Environmental Justice for All Maine People
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LD 1621 was reported out of committee on Friday and will be taken up in the House of Representatives tomorrow!

This bill will require the State of Maine to adopt environmental justice definitions and practices that reflect Maine’s unique situations and communities – ensuring that we equitably pursue and achieve our environmental and climate mandates, and that impacted communities are able to fairly participate in the process.

The biggest challenge will be ensuring adequate funding to support implementation. Similar legislation failed last session after receiving support but not funding.

You can learn more about LD 1621 here [[link removed]].

Invest in Maine Trails Statewide
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Maine trails are a key feature of the state and a critical resource. LD 1156 would create a $30 million Maine Trails Bond to provide grants to nonprofits, municipalities, and other divisions of government statewide to support non-motorized, motorized, and multi-use trails.

During the April 27 public hearing, the Appropriations Committee heard powerful testimony from members of the outdoor recreation economy, highlighting the importance of trails and the economic benefits to rural communities in particular. No action has been taken yet, as bonds are among the last items considered by the Legislature.

You can learn more about LD 1156 here [[link removed]].

The Pine Tree Amendment – Establish Environmental Rights for All, For Generations
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LD 928 , the Pine Tree Amendment, would require the government at all levels to protect the right to a clean and healthy environment, providing legal standing to those who believe their environmental rights have been violated.

Despite strong grassroots support, the Environment and Natural Resource Committee’s party-line vote (8-5) on LD 928 suggests that the bill is unlikely to receive the 2/3 majority vote in both chambers required to send a constitutional amendment to the voters.

The grassroots Pine Tree Amendment campaign is ongoing! You can learn more on their website [[link removed]].

We look forward to updating you on the final outcome of these bills in the coming weeks.

Until then, thanks to those of you who have signed petitions, attended our Lunch & Learns to stay informed, submitted testimony, contacted your legislators about these bills (and others!), shared our calls to action on social media, and supported our efforts. We can’t do this work without you – our members and supporters. Thank you!

Onward,

Beth Ahearn | she/her
Director of Government Affairs
Maine Conservation Voters
[email protected] [[email protected]]

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