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LD 36

An Act To Clarify Processes Of The Board Of Environmental Protection

132nd Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Denise Tepler

Clarifies the Board of Environmental Protection's procedures to make rulemaking, hearings, and decisions clearer and more administrable for DEP, regulated parties, and the public.

Signed by Governor
#environmentalprotectionboard #procedures #provisionsrevised
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Bill Summary · LD 36

Summary — LD 36: An Act To Clarify Processes of the Board of Environmental Protection

Status: Signed by Governor (May 9, 2025)
Introduced: January 8, 2025
Committee: Environment and Natural Resources
Final legislative action: Passed to be enacted (April 30, 2025); Governor signed May 9, 2025.
Fiscal note approved: February 7, 2025 and April 29, 2025 (see Fiscal Impact).

Purpose / Intent

LD 36 is framed to clarify the procedures and processes used by Maine’s Board of Environmental Protection (the Board). The bill’s title and legislative history indicate its goal is to make the Board’s operations clearer and more administrable — for Board members, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), regulated entities, and the public. The enacted version includes a committee amendment (Committee Amendment "A" (S-25)).

What is known about provisions

The provided materials do not include the bill’s full statutory text, so specific statutory changes cannot be quoted here. The official documents available for LD 36 show:

  • The bill was amended in committee (OTP‑AM) and enacted as amended.
  • The amendment was adopted on April 24, 2025; the bill was passed to be engrossed as amended on April 29, 2025; passed to be enacted April 30, 2025; and signed May 9, 2025.

Because the bill’s purpose is procedural clarification for the Board, typical areas such legislation addresses (but which should be confirmed in the full text) may include: rulemaking and petition processes, meeting notice and quorum requirements, recusal/conflict-of-interest procedures, timelines for hearings and decisions, and recordkeeping or public participation protocols.

Fiscal impact

  • Two fiscal notes (LR 162(02) and LR 162(03)) conclude the bill would produce a minor cost increase to the Department of Environmental Protection, charged to Other Special Revenue Funds.
  • The cost increase is expected to be minor and absorbable within existing DEP budgeted resources.

Who is affected

  • Board of Environmental Protection (primary)
  • Department of Environmental Protection (administration/implementation)
  • Regulated parties (businesses, municipalities, permit applicants) potentially affected by clarified procedures
  • Members of the public and stakeholders who participate in Board processes and hearings

Legislative timeline / procedural notes

  • Referred to committee Jan 8, 2025; work session held Jan 27, 2025.
  • Voted OTP‑AM (recommended ought to pass as amended) in committee.
  • Carried over to next session March 21, 2025, then later advanced and amended in April 2025.
  • Final enactment: Passed to be enacted April 30, 2025; Governor signed May 9, 2025.

Where to find the full text and effective date

To see the exact statutory changes, the committee amendment language, and the bill’s effective date, consult:
- The bill text and engrossed/engrossed-as-amended version on the Maine Legislature website or the Secretary of the Senate’s docket for LD 36.
- The Department of Environmental Protection for implementation guidance or administrative notices following enactment.

If you would like, I can retrieve and summarize the bill’s full text and list the precise statutory amendments and effective date.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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