MaineMaine law requires landlords to test private well water for PFAS
Landlords of residential buildings supplied by private wells must test the water for these chemicals by January 1, 2027, using approved methods and a certified or accredited laboratory.
What it does
Maine’s well-water testing recommendation includes these chemicals. Testing providers and groups that share testing information must include the recommendation in related written materials.
Landlords of residential buildings supplied by private wells must test the water for these chemicals by January 1, 2027, using a certified or accredited laboratory.
When reporting water-test problems, a home seller says whether a test detected these chemicals.
The state provides $16,000 for brochures and $106,877 for a staff position and related work on landlord well-testing requirements in 2026–27.
Argument forTenants may learn whether their well water contains these chemicals through testing and, where applicable, notice of test results.
Argument againstLandlords may face added testing costs because they must test private well water for these chemicals by January 1, 2027.
More detail
The Department of Health and Human Services includes these chemicals in its recommendation for well-water testing. The recommendation covers periodic testing of residential private drinking-water wells. The department may omit a listed contaminant if earlier test results or credible scientific evidence show testing is not needed. Testing providers and groups that educate people or advertise well-water testing must include the recommendation in related written materials. The recommendation covers periodic testing; the text gives no start date.
Landlords test private well water for these chemicals. The duty applies to landlords of residential buildings whose water supply comes from a private drinking-water well. Testing must use a certified or accredited laboratory and the latest U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-approved methods that measure the highest amount of these chemicals detected by the test. The test must be completed no later than January 1, 2027.
A home seller reports whether a water test detected these chemicals. The disclosure concerns whether the seller experienced a water-test problem, including a test that detects these chemicals.
The state provides money for well-testing information and staff work on landlord testing requirements. The funding goes to the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention within the Department of Health and Human Services. The funding is one-time money for brochures and supports one Environmental Specialist III position, rulemaking, outreach, and education. The appropriations apply to fiscal year 2026–27.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 16Signed by Governor Janet MillsLatest
- Apr 14Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 956 Yeas 21 - Nays 13 - Excused 1 - Absent 0
- Vote recorded ENACTMENT. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 14PASSED TO BE ENACTED, in concurrence PREVAILEDMajor
- Apr 14Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
- Apr 14PASSED TO BE ENACTED.Passed 2nd Chamber
- Apr 13Ordered sent down forthwith.
- Apr 13On motion by Senator PIERCE of Cumberland the Senate RECEDED and CONCURRED to PASSAGE TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED by Committee Amendment "A" (H-300) as Amended by House Amendment "A" (H-1052) thereto.Minor
- Apr 13ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
- Apr 13In NON-CONCURRENCE and sent for concurrence.
- Apr 13The Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (H-300) as Amended by House Amendment "A" (H-1052) thereto.Minor
- Apr 13Committee Amendment "A" (H-300) as Amended by House Amendment "A" (H-1052) thereto was ADOPTED.Minor
- Apr 13On motion of Representative GATTINE of Westbrook, House Amendment "A" (H-1052) to Committee Amendment "A" (H-300) was READ and ADOPTED.
- Apr 13On motion of Speaker FECTEAU of Biddeford, the House RECEDED.
- Apr 13Sent down for concurrence.
- Apr 13On motion by Senator ROTUNDO of Androscoggin Bill and accompanying papers COMMITTED to the Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs In NON-CONCURRENCE.Minor
- Apr 13On motion by Senator STEWART of Aroostook OBJECTED.
- Apr 13Same Senator moved to SUSPEND THE RULES to RECONSIDER whereby the Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED by Committee Amendment "A" (H-300) in concurrence.Minor
- Apr 13On motion by Senator ROTUNDO of Androscoggin taken from the Special Appropriations Table.
- 2025
- Jun 25CARRIED OVER, in the same posture, to any special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature, pursuant to Joint Order SP 800.
- Jun 2On motion by Senator ROTUNDO of Androscoggin PLACED ON THE SPECIAL APPROPRIATIONS TABLE pending ENACTMENT in concurrence.
- Jun 2Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
- Jun 2PASSED TO BE ENACTED.Became Law
- May 29Under suspension of the Rules, READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED by Committee Amendment "A" (H-300) in concurrence.Minor
- Vote recorded ACCEPT MAJORITY OUGHT TO PASS AS AMENDED REPORT. Result: pass.Upper
- May 29Committee Amendment "A" (H-300) READ and ADOPTED.Minor
- May 29Bill READ ONCE.Minor
- May 29Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 256 Yeas 21 - Nays 14 - Excused 0 - Absent 0
- May 29On motion by Senator INGWERSEN of York the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report ACCEPTED. PREVAILED
- May 29Reports Read
- May 28Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
- Vote recorded ACC MAJ OTP AS AMENDED REP. Result: pass.Lower
- May 28The Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (H-300).Minor
- May 28Under suspension of the rules, the Bill was given its SECOND READING without REFERENCE to the Committee on Bills in the Second Reading.
- May 28Committee Amendment "A" (H-300) was READ and ADOPTED.Minor
- May 28The Bill was READ ONCE.Minor
- May 28(Yeas 78 - Nays 69 - Absent 4 - Excused 0)
- May 28ROLL CALL NO. 216
- May 28On motion of Representative MEYER of Eliot, the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report was ACCEPTED.
- May 28Reports READ.
- May 27Reported Out - OTP-AM/ONTP
- May 8Voted - Divided Report
- May 8Work Session Held
- Mar 21Carried over, in the same posture, to the next special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature, pursuant to Joint Order SP 519.
- Feb 6The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to Joint Rule 401.Minor
- Feb 6Received by the Clerk of the House on February 6, 2025.Introduced
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