Bill > LD161

This bill directs the Maine Office of Community Affairs to establish a working group to comprehensively review and modernize Maine's subdivision laws, which govern the division of land for residential, commercial, and industrial development. This working group will include representatives from the Office of Community Affairs, the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, and the Department of Environmental Protection, with commissioners assigning employees experienced in relevant areas. The group's tasks include developing recommendations to consolidate and clarify these laws, streamline application processes, and identify policy conflicts or opportunities to improve outcomes for housing, economic development, and conservation. To inform its work, the group is mandated to consult with a wide range of stakeholders, including land surveyors, engineers, municipal officials, developers, builders, and environmental organizations. The working group must create a work plan, solicit public comments, and submit it to legislative committees by November 4, 2026, and then a final report with findings and legislative recommendations by February 15, 2027, to the relevant legislative committees, which may then propose legislation based on the report.