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LD 1

An Act To Increase Storm Preparedness For Maine'S Communities, Homes And Infrastructure

132nd Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Mattie Daughtry and 2 co-sponsors

Funds homeowner resilience grants and a State Resilience Office to boost Maine storm preparedness via flood-map updates, alert systems, and disaster-recovery support.

Signed by Governor
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · LD 1

Summary — LD 1: An Act To Increase Storm Preparedness for Maine's Communities, Homes and Infrastructure

Status and timeline
- Introduced: January 8, 2025 (President Daughtry of Cumberland).
- Enacted as an emergency measure (two‑thirds vote required and obtained).
- Signed by the Governor: April 22, 2025. As an emergency enactment, provisions take effect upon signing.

Purpose and intent
- Strengthen Maine’s preparedness for storms and related disasters by funding home-level resilience projects, improving emergency communications and warning systems, supporting disaster recovery capacity, and building statewide resilience planning and flood-risk tools.

Key substantive provisions and changes
1. Home Resiliency Program (Bureau of Insurance)
- One‑time transfer of $15,000,000 (FY 2024‑25) to establish a grant program for homeowners to carry out home resiliency projects.
- Additional one‑time allocations of $7,500,000 in FY 2025‑26 and $7,500,000 in FY 2026‑27 (as enacted).

  1. State Resilience Office (Maine Office of Community Affairs)

    • One‑time funding total: $9,633,040 (FY 2024‑25 transfers) to establish the office.
    • Tasks: create an online community risk‑reduction data hub, update flood maps, reduce community flood risk, and increase participation in the National Flood Insurance Program through a regional certified floodplain manager program.
    • Staffing: two Public Service Coordinator II positions beginning FY 2025‑26.

  2. Emergency communications, loan fund administration, and disaster recovery

    • One‑time transfers totaling $12,027,313 (FY 2024‑25) to:
      • Fund one limited‑period Contract/Grant Specialist (through June 18, 2027) to administer the Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan Fund.
      • Fund one limited‑period Communications System Manager (through June 18, 2027) to coordinate integrated public alert and warning.
      • Invest in a 2‑year statewide upgrade to MEMA communications and warning tech ($800,000 in FY 2025‑26; minimal carryforward).
      • Provide $10,000,000 (one‑time) to the Disaster Recovery Fund to meet state funding requirements for emergency declarations.
      • Provide small allocations for state matching of a federal Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan Fund grant.

  3. Ongoing State Resilience Fund support

    • Beginning FY 2027‑28 the bill requires an annual transfer of $1,755,000 from the Bureau of Insurance Other Special Revenue Fund balances into the State Resilience Fund (ongoing).

Fiscal impacts (highlights)
- Initial transfers totaling $36,660,353 in FY 2024‑25 from Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, Bureau of Insurance — Other Special Revenue Fund balances.
- Appropriations (as enacted, FY snapshots):
- FY 2025‑26: Other Special Revenue Funds appropriation ~$26,960,687.
- FY 2026‑27: Other Special Revenue Funds appropriation ~$9,701,166.
- Ongoing annual transfer to State Resilience Fund: $1,755,000 beginning FY 2027‑28.
- No new state revenue sources created; funding comes from existing Bureau of Insurance special revenue balances.

Who is affected
- Homeowners (eligible for resiliency grants).
- Municipalities and communities (flood mapping, risk reduction resources, NFIP participation).
- MEMA and state emergency communications/warning systems.
- Maine Office of Community Affairs (new State Resilience Office staff and duties).
- Bureau of Insurance (source of transferred funds; administrator of Home Resiliency Program).
- Potential recipients of the Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan Fund and Disaster Recovery Fund applicants.

Procedural notes
- The bill was amended in committee (Committee Amendment “A” S‑9) and passed both chambers under suspension/consent calendar procedures before final enactment as an emergency law on April 22, 2025.

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

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