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Bill > LD1252
ME LD1252
ME LD1252An Act to Amend the Laws Governing the Maine Agriculture, Food System and Forest Products Infrastructure Investment Advisory Board
summary
Introduced
03/25/2025
03/25/2025
In Committee
03/25/2025
03/25/2025
Crossed Over
05/22/2025
05/22/2025
Passed
05/22/2025
05/22/2025
Dead
Introduced Session
Potential new amendment
132nd Legislature
Bill Summary
This bill modifies provisions of the law governing the Maine Agriculture, Food System and Forest Products Infrastructure Investment Advisory Board and disbursements from the Maine Agriculture, Food and Forest Products Investment Fund, which the advisory board oversees. The bill requires that disbursements may be made only to a producer of agricultural, food or forest products that has or is seeking to establish a processing or manufacturing facility located in the State. A producer receiving a disbursement must use the disbursement to support the operations of a processing or manufacturing facility located in this State for the following purposes, including, but not limited to, obtaining equipment and investing in supply chain infrastructure to grow, harvest, process or manufacture agricultural, food or forest products used in commercial products. In carrying out these purposes, the producer must obtain, to the extent practicable, agricultural, food or forest products from a farm or a forest or waters in the State or from offshore waters to be collected in the State. The bill also prohibits a member of the advisory board from participating in any vote when that member has a conflict of interest. A conflict of interest exists when the board member or a member of the board member's immediate family has or would acquire a direct and substantial personal financial interest, distinct from that of the general public, in an enterprise that would be financially benefited by a proposed fund allocation.
AI Summary
This bill amends the laws governing the Maine Agriculture, Food System and Forest Products Infrastructure Investment Advisory Board by adding two key provisions. First, the bill limits disbursements from the board's funds to producers who have or are establishing a processing or manufacturing facility in Maine, specifying that these disbursements must be used to support facility operations, including purchasing equipment and investing in supply chain infrastructure for agricultural, food, or forest products. The bill emphasizes that producers should, to the extent practicable, source their materials from Maine farms, forests, waters, or offshore waters collected in the state. Second, the bill establishes conflict of interest guidelines for board members, prohibiting a member from voting on matters where they or their immediate family members (defined as spouse, domestic partner, or child) would gain a direct and substantial personal financial benefit from a proposed fund allocation. These provisions aim to ensure that board funds are used to support local agricultural and forest product infrastructure while maintaining the board's integrity and preventing potential conflicts of interest.
Committee Categories
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Sponsors (10)
Allison Hepler (D)*,
Stacy Brenner (D),
Stephan Bunker (D),
Mark Cooper (R),
Dean Cray (R),
Jim Dill (D),
Sharon Frost (I),
Timmy Guerrette (R),
Caldwell Jackson (R),
Bill Pluecker (I),
Last Action
CARRIED OVER, in the same posture, to any special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature, pursuant to Joint Order SP 800. (on 06/25/2025)
bill text
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=1252&snum=132 |
| House: C-A (H-249) | https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0827&item=2&snum=132 |
| Fiscal Note: C-A (H-249) | https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/bills_132nd/fiscalpdfs/FN125202.pdf |
| BillText | https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0827&item=1&snum=132 |
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