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LD 1023

Resolve, To Reestablish And Continue The Work Of The Blue Economy Task Force

132nd Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Rick Bennett and 8 co-sponsors

Reestablishes and continues the Blue Economy Task Force to coordinate policy, research, and funding, driving Maine's blue economy growth with public/private support.

Signed by Governor
#blueeconomy #economicdevelopment #planning
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Bill Summary · LD 1023

Summary — LD 1023: Resolve to Reestablish and Continue the Work of the Blue Economy Task Force

Status: Signed by the Governor (July 1, 2025)
Introduced: March 12, 2025
Subject areas: Blue economy, economic development, planning

Purpose / Intent

LD 1023 reauthorizes (reestablishes and continues) the Blue Economy Task Force to support Maine’s development as a center for “blue economy” innovation and opportunity — i.e., economic activity tied to marine and coastal resources (fisheries, aquaculture, marine technology, ocean energy, marine biotechnology, ports/harbors, related workforce training and research). The Resolve directs continued study and coordination of policy, research, workforce and economic-development actions to grow Maine’s blue economy.

Key provisions

  • Reestablishes and continues the Blue Economy Task Force (statutory/administrative structure and duties are carried forward or renewed by the Resolve; specific membership and reporting duties are in the bill text).
  • Authorizes the Task Force to receive and expend money from public and private sources for its work.
  • Provides authority for matching funds to support blue-economy research, economic development, and education/training through the state’s relevant funds (Maine Technology Capacity Fund and Task Force accounts), subject to appropriations and amendments described below.
  • Removes an emergency preamble/clause in later amendments (the final enacted version is not an emergency measure).

Fiscal impact

  • Early fiscal notes (as introduced and in an initial committee version) estimated a one-time General Fund appropriation of $100,000 in FY 2025‑26 plus an ongoing Other Special Revenue Funds (OSRF) base allocation of $500 per year beginning FY2025‑26.
  • A revised fiscal note associated with later amendments reports that the amendments (which reallocate/deappropriated the $100,000 between the Maine Technology Capacity Fund and the Task Force and swap the $500 OSRF base allocation between the two accounts) result in no net fiscal impact to the General Fund or OSRFs. The final legislative fiscal note states: “As amended, this bill has no fiscal impact.”
  • Legislative-study operating costs were projected at roughly $2,100 in FY2025‑26; the Legislature’s existing study budget may cover those costs depending on the number of studies authorized.
  • Any additional costs to affected state agencies are expected to be minor and manageable within current budgets.

Who is affected

  • The Blue Economy Task Force (continuing members and staff support)
  • Department of Economic and Community Development (administrative support and fund management)
  • Maine Technology Capacity Fund (administrative/financial interactions)
  • Blue-economy stakeholders: researchers, higher-education programs, workforce training providers, industry (fisheries, aquaculture, marine tech, ocean energy, ports), and public/private funders

Procedural / timeline notes

  • Referred to the Committee on Housing and Economic Development (Mar 12, 2025). Work session held May 1; committee amendment adopted in early June.
  • The bill underwent Senate and House amendments and reconsiderations in late June 2025; emergency clause removed.
  • Finally passed both chambers (House roll call 6/25/25: Yeas 74 – Nays 64) and signed by the Governor on July 1, 2025.
  • Implementation details (timing for meetings, reports, and fund disbursements) will follow the Resolve’s language and any administrative rules or guidance from the Department of Economic and Community Development.

If you want, I can extract and summarize the Task Force membership, reporting deadlines, and specific duties from the bill text itself.

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

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