DownloadStatus: <p>Bill passed and signed by the Governor</p>
LD 1534 set up a study committee that seemed biased toward abolishing the Land Use Regulation Commission (LURC), the state agency charged with protecting Maine’s vast North Woods. Policymakers had the option to support the committee’s Minority Report – a balanced legislative study to identify ways to improve LURC. Instead Continue...
Status: Bill passed and signed by the Governor without anti-environment amendment
With strong bipartisan support, the Senate rejected an amendment from Sen. Ron Collins (R-York) that would have reduced the current, scientifically-supported 250 foot vernal pool consultation zone down to 75 feet. Significant vernal pools are seasonal wetlands that provide critical habitat for a variety of wildlife, including wood frogs, spotted Continue...
Status: Bill passed and signed by the Governor
The Legislature voted to weaken Maine’s Uniform Building and Energy Code (MUBEC) by exempting all towns with a population of less than 4,000 (400 of Maine’s 526 towns). MUBEC provides minimum quality, safety and energy-efficiency building standards. The exemption means that Mainers living in small towns will not be protected Continue...
Status: Bill passed and signed by the Governor
LD 228 repealed Maine’s pesticide notification registry, a common sense and effective system requiring that neighbors and landowners be notified in advance of aerial and air-blaster pesticide spraying near their homes. Over 1,800 people had signed up for the registry in the program’s first year. Pesticides can cause serious health Continue...
Status: <p>Bill passed without the Governor's signature</p>
The legislature overwhelmingly voted to ban the toxic chemical bisphenol A (BPA) in reusable food and beverage containers. BPA is widely used in baby bottles, sippy cups, water bottles, food storage containers and in the lining of metal food cans, including some infant formula cans. BPA is linked to a Continue...