WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

LD 1940

An Act To Revise The Growth Management Program Laws

132nd Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Chip Curry and 3 co-sponsors

LD 1940 would revise Maine's growth management laws and shift some duties from DACF to MOCA, potentially adding a Policy Development Specialist, but the bill died.

Placed in Legislative Files (DEAD)
#economicdevelopment #growthmanagementplans #planning
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · LD 1940

LD 1940 — An Act To Revise The Growth Management Program Laws

Status: Placed in Legislative Files (DEAD)
Introduced: May 7, 2025
Committee: Housing and Economic Development
Subjects: Economic development, growth management plans, planning

Purpose / Intent

The bill’s stated purpose (by title) is to revise Maine’s growth management program laws. The legislative record and fiscal notes indicate the bill would change statutory responsibilities and implementation steps related to growth management, and would involve coordination or transfers of duties between the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) and the Maine Office of Community Affairs (MOCA). The specific statutory text of the bill is not included in the provided materials.

Key provisions (based on available legislative and fiscal documentation)

  • Revisions to the growth management program law structure and implementation (specific statutory changes not provided).
  • Administrative changes that could shift certain duties from DACF to MOCA (the fiscal notes reference potential transfers of duties).
  • Staffing/positioning implications: the Department identified the possible need for a limited‑period Policy Development Specialist (or conversion/creation of positions) to carry out the bill’s requirements if related budget actions are not taken.
  • Committee Amendment B (H‑768) was filed and adopted by the Senate; that amendment was the version the Senate favored when it voted to pass as amended.

Note: Because the bill text is not in the provided documents, the above reflects provisions implied by the fiscal notes and agency comments rather than a line‑by‑line bill summary.

Fiscal impact

Two fiscal notes were prepared:
- Fiscal Note LR0289(03): Minor General Fund cost increase. Any additional costs to MOCA or DACF are expected to be minor and absorbable within existing resources.
- Fiscal Note LR0289(02): Indicates a potential current biennium General Fund revenue increase (details not specified). DACF stated that if the biennial budget includes transfer of duties to MOCA and makes two limit‑period positions permanent, the bill can be implemented within existing budgets. If those budget actions do not occur, DACF would need additional appropriations of:
- $135,672 in FY 2025‑26
- $146,311 in FY 2026‑27
— to fund one limited‑period Policy Development Specialist and associated costs.
- Any incremental costs to MOCA are expected to be minor and absorbable.

Who would be affected

  • State agencies: primary impacts noted for the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry and the Maine Office of Community Affairs.
  • Municipalities, regional planning organizations, developers, and other stakeholders involved in growth management planning could be affected by statutory and administrative changes, though specifics are not in the available record.
  • State budget/legislative planners if additional appropriations or position changes are required.

Legislative history / procedural timeline (highlights)

  • 2025‑05‑07: Bill reported out by committee (referred to Housing and Economic Development).
  • 2025‑05‑27: Work session; committee issued a divided report (OTP‑AM/ONTP/OTP‑AM).
  • 2025‑06‑17–06‑18: Multiple Senate and House actions on competing reports and Committee Amendment B (H‑768). The Senate adopted Report C (Ought to Pass as Amended by H‑768) but the House insisted on Report B (Ought Not to Pass); motions to recede/concur failed.
  • 2025‑06‑18: Committee Amendment B (H‑768) was adopted in the Senate; after disagreement between chambers, the bill was placed in the legislative files (DEAD).

Current status / next steps

LD 1940 was placed in the legislative files (dead) on June 18, 2025, after the Senate and House failed to reconcile differences. Because the bill did not pass, no statutory changes from LD 1940 will take effect. If its concepts are to be advanced, they would need to be reintroduced in a subsequent legislative session or incorporated into other legislation.

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

Sign in to ask a question.