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LD 692

An Act To Increase Support For Statewide Emergency Broadcast Messaging

132nd Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Michael Brennan and 5 co-sponsors

Provides two $250,000 one-time grants to MPBC for statewide emergency messaging (FY2025–26 and FY2026–27), offset by AG Settlement transfers; no ongoing funding.

Signed by Governor
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Bill Summary · LD 692

Summary — LD 692: An Act To Increase Support for Statewide Emergency Broadcast Messaging

Status: Signed by Governor (July 1, 2025)
Introduced: February 20, 2025
Subject areas: Public broadcasting, cultural agencies, state funding

Purpose

LD 692 directs additional state support to ensure Maine’s statewide emergency broadcast messaging system meets statutory public-safety responsibilities. The intent is to provide funding to the Maine Public Broadcasting Corporation (MPBC) to support statewide emergency alerting infrastructure and operations.

Key provisions

  • Provides one-time General Fund appropriations of $250,000 in each of fiscal years 2025–26 and 2026–27 to the Maine Public Broadcasting Corporation for statewide emergency broadcast messaging.
  • Requires the State Controller to transfer $250,000 in FY 2025–26 and $250,000 in FY 2026–27 from the Office of the Attorney General Settlement Account (Private Trust Funds) to offset the General Fund cost in those years.
  • Eliminates earlier proposals for an ongoing annual appropriation (original bill versions proposed $350,000/year ongoing); the enacted version is limited to the two one-time payments described above.

Fiscal impact

  • Net General Fund appropriations: $250,000 (one-time) in FY 2025–26 and $250,000 (one-time) in FY 2026–27.
  • No ongoing General Fund cost projected for FY 2027–28 and beyond under the enacted amendments.
  • Offsetting transfers from the Attorney General Settlement Account reduce net budgetary impact as specified.

Who is affected

  • Primary recipient: Maine Public Broadcasting Corporation (MPBC), which will use funds for emergency broadcast messaging capacity.
  • State Controller: responsible for effecting required transfers.
  • Office of the Attorney General Settlement Account: source of offsetting transfers.
  • State budget/Governor’s office and taxpayers: limited short-term fiscal effect as described.

Legislative timeline / procedural notes

  • Referred to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs (Feb 20, 2025).
  • Committee and Senate amendments adopted (Committee Amendment S‑107; Senate Amendment S‑458).
  • Passed both chambers (House receded and concurred) and enrolled; signed by the Governor on July 1, 2025.

This enactment shifts the bill from an originally proposed ongoing subsidy to a targeted, two-year, one-time funding approach to support statewide emergency alert capabilities.

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

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