Bill
LD 1928
Prohibits lodging establishments in Maine from giving guests single-use plastic containers; enforcement via fines, potential court action. Bill died, not enacted.
LD 1928 — An Act To Prohibit Lodging Establishments From Providing Single-use Plastic Containers
Overview
- Purpose: To prohibit lodging establishments from providing single-use plastic containers to guests.
- Status: Dead. Placed in Legislative Files on June 13, 2025, after a series of votes and amendments. The bill did not become law.
- Introduced: May 6, 2025
- Committee: Environment and Natural Resources
What the bill would do
- Core provision: Lodging establishments (e.g., hotels, motels, inns) would be prohibited from providing single-use plastic containers for guest use.
- Enforcement and penalties: The Fiscal Note indicates that violations would generate fines, creating minor revenue for the General Fund or other dedicated funds. The note also anticipates some increase in court workload and minor enforcement actions, with penalties being a potential revenue source.
- Implementation details: The materials provided do not include the exact operational requirements (e.g., what constitutes a single-use container, acceptable alternatives such as bulk dispensers, timelines for transition, or any exemptions). The fiscal note suggests enforcement through the court system but does not specify enforcement mechanisms beyond fines.
Fiscal impact (as described in the Fiscal Note)
- General Fund: Minor cost increases for the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and minor revenue from fines.
- Other funds: Minor revenue increases for other Special Revenue Funds.
- Corrections/Judicial: Minor impact due to additional but limited court workload and fines.
- Administrative: Costs to implement could be absorbed within existing budgets; no significant new funding expected.
Who would be affected
- Primary: Lodging establishments in Maine.
- Secondary: State agencies responsible for environmental compliance and enforcement (e.g., DEP). Potentially impacted guests via changes to toiletries packaging options and availability.
Procedural/timeline highlights
- 2025-05-06: Referred to the Environment and Natural Resources Committee.
- 2025-06-04 to 2025-06-05: Passed various readings and was amended by Committee Amendment "A" (H-422); moved through House and Senate with mixed votes.
- 2025-06-10 to 2025-06-13: Legislature engaged in further actions (including suspension, engrossment, and non-concurrence considerations).
- 2025-06-13: Insisted/non-concurrence actions led to the bill being placed in Legislative Files (DEAD).
Notes
- The summary reflects the bill as amended by Committee Amendment "A" (H-422) and the stated fiscal note. No final enactment occurred, and the measure did not become law.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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