MaineMaine's environmental department must assess greenhouse gas costs
Maine's environmental department must assess greenhouse gas costs to the state and report findings to legislative committees by January 1, 2028.
What it does
Maine's environmental department must assess greenhouse gas costs to the state, including effects on people and the environment and costs of responding. After reviewing the report, an environment committee may propose a related bill.
The law lists a one-time $600,000 allocation for contracted help with the assessment, and allows the department to accept public or private funds for that work.
Argument forA categorized assessment could help lawmakers see how emissions affect Maine and what the state has spent or may spend in response.
Argument againstLawmakers may have to weigh projected costs alongside costs already incurred, since estimates of future effects may be uncertain.
More detail
The Department of Environmental Protection must assess the costs to the state from greenhouse gas emissions. The assessment covers costs to Maine from emissions between January 1, 1995, and December 31, 2024, including effects on health, nature, farming, the economy, and flood safety. The department may hire a consultant to conduct the assessment. The department must send its report to the relevant legislative committees by January 1, 2028. The assessment covers January 1, 1995, through December 31, 2024.
The department may accept public and private funds to support contracted assessment services. The allocation supports development of the department's assessment of greenhouse gas costs to the state. The law lists a one-time allocation of $600,000 for contracted support services related to the assessment. The listed allocation is for 2026–27.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
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 MillsBecame Law
- Apr 14FINALLY PASSED, in concurrence.Major
- Apr 14Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
- Apr 14FINALLY PASSED.Passed 2nd Chamber
- Apr 14Ordered sent down forthwith.
- Apr 14On motion by Senator PIERCE of Cumberland the Senate RECEDED and CONCURRED to PASSAGE TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED BY Committee Amendment "A" (S-570) as Amended by House Amendment "A" (H-1066) 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" (S-570) as Amended by House Amendment "A" (H-1066) thereto.Minor
- Apr 13Committee Amendment "A" (S-570) as Amended by House Amendment "A" (H-1066) thereto was ADOPTED.Minor
- Apr 13On motion of Representative GATTINE of Westbrook, House Amendment "A" (H-1066) to Committee Amendment "A" (S-570) 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" (S-570) in concurrence.Minor
- Apr 13On motion by Senator ROTUNDO of Androscoggin taken from the Special Appropriations Table.
- Apr 6On motion by Senator ROTUNDO of Androscoggin PLACED ON THE SPECIAL APPROPRIATIONS TABLE pending FINAL PASSAGE in concurrence.
- Apr 2Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
- Apr 2FINALLY PASSED.Passed 1st Chamber
- Mar 31In concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
- Vote recorded ACC MAJ OTP AS AMENDED REP. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 31The Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (S-570).Minor
- Mar 31Under suspension of the rules, the Bill was given its SECOND READING without REFERENCE to the Committee on Bills in the Second Reading.
- Mar 31Committee Amendment "A" (S-570) was READ and ADOPTED.Minor
- Mar 31The Bill was READ ONCE.Minor
- Mar 31(Yeas 75 - Nays 72 - Absent 3 - Excused 0 - Vacant 1)
- Mar 31ROLL CALL NO. 708
- Mar 31On motion of Representative DOUDERA of Camden, the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report was ACCEPTED.
- Mar 31Reports READ.
- Mar 30Sent down for concurrence.
- Vote recorded ACCEPT MAJORITY OUGHT TO PASS AS AMENDED REPORT. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 30Under suspension of the Rules, READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED by Committee Amendment "A" (S-570)Minor
- Mar 30Committee Amendment "A" (S-570) READ and ADOPTED.Minor
- Mar 30READ ONCE.Minor
- Mar 30Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 828 Yeas 19 - Nays 13 - Excused 3 - Absent 0
- Mar 30ACCEPTANCE of The Majority Ought to Pass As Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (S-570) Report PREVAILED.
- Mar 30Taken from the table by the President
- Mar 24On motion by Same Senator Tabled until Later in Today's Session, pending ACCEPTANCE The Majority Ought to Pass As Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (S-570) Report.
- Mar 24Senator TEPLER of Sagadahoc moved to ACCEPT The Majority Ought to Pass As Amended Report.
- Mar 24Reports READ.
- Mar 20Reported Out - OTP-AM/ONTP
- Mar 3Voted - Divided Report
- Mar 3Work Session Reconsidered
- Jan 28Voted - Divided Report
- Jan 28Work Session Held
- Jan 14Work Session Held - TABLED
- 2025
- Jun 25CARRIED OVER, in the same posture, to any special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature, pursuant to Joint Order SP 800.
- May 19Carry Over Approved
- May 16Carry Over Requested
- May 14Work Session Held - TABLED
- May 13Work Session Held - TABLED
- May 1Received by the Secretary of the Senate on May 1, 2025 and REFERRED to the Committee on ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2Introduced
Environment & EnergyTaxes & Budget