This week MEMA testified in support of LD 241, An Act To Support the Trades through a Tax Credit for Apprenticeship Programs (Sen. Curry, D-Waldo) and LD 677, An Act To Create Synergy between Maine Industry and Maine’s Energy Goals in the Use of Certain Funds by the Efficiency Maine Trust (Rep. Kessler, D-South Portland).
LD 241, An Act To Support the Trades through a Tax Credit for Apprenticeship Programs
This bill permits an employer that employs an apprentice participating in an approved apprenticeship program to receive an income tax credit of $2,500 and provides for a partial credit if the employer employs a participating apprentice for fewer than 2,000 hours during the taxable year.
LD 677, An Act To Create Synergy between Maine Industry and Maine’s Energy Goals in the Use of Certain Funds by the Efficiency Maine Trust
This bill amends the purposes of the Efficiency Maine Trust to encourage the development and adoption by the trust of environmentally sustainable energy-related and energy efficiency-related products and services derived from the State’s natural resources, industrial by-products, waste products and recycled materials. It also amends the goals of the Heating Fuels Efficiency and Weatherization Fund by clarifying the reduction of fossil heating fuel consumption as the fund’s primary goal and by encouraging through the use of the fund the replacement of such fuel in residential, commercial and industrial sectors with renewable heating fuel, including, but not limited to, second generation biofuel, biodiesel fuel derived from used vegetable oil and fuel derived using anerobic digestion or other technologies. The bill also authorizes the expenditure of funds from the fund for programs and program designs that encourage or incentivize measures relating to such environmentally sustainable energy-related and energy efficiency-related products and services.
Bills of Interest
MEMA reviews and monitors each bill and flags the ones that impact our membership each week. Released as of the last Legislative Update are the following bills. Please be sure to reach out with feedback on any bills that catch your attention.
LD 1094 An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue To Reduce Homeowner and Municipal Energy Bills through Increased Efficiency and Weatherization Projects
The funds provided by this bond issue, in the amount of $20,000,000, will be administered by the Efficiency Maine Trust and used to reduce energy costs for senior citizens, low-income residents, municipalities and schools through investments in weatherization and energy efficiency.
LD 1202 An Act To Establish a Wood-fired Combined Heat and Power Program
This bill establishes the combined heat and power program, administered by the Public Utilities Commission, to encourage the sustainable development of combined heat and power projects that use wood fuel in the State. Participation in the program is limited to 50 megawatts of net generating capacity across all projects, and each individual project may not be less than 3 megawatts or more than 10 megawatts of net generating capacity.
The bill authorizes the commission to direct investor-owned transmission and distribution utilities to enter into long-term contracts with program participants located within the service territory of each utility for energy, capacity resources or renewable energy credits. A long-term contract entered into under the combined heat and power program cannot be for a contract term greater than 20 years, and the contract price may not exceed the tariff rate established by the commission for commercial and institutional net energy billing projects in the year the contract price is established, plus annual cost escalators adopted by the commission. It allows consumer-owned transmission and distribution utilities, at their own option, to enter into such contracts. It also requires the commission to ensure that mechanisms are established to protect electricity ratepayers over the contract term.
It requires the commission to report biennially to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over utilities and energy matters regarding the implementation and effectiveness of the combined heat and power program and the overall development of combined heat and power program projects in the State.
Lastly, it authorizes, but does not require, the State to give preference to electricity generated by combined heat and power projects when purchasing electricity for the State and authorizes, but does not require, the commission to incorporate energy generated by combined heat and power projects into the supply of standard-offer service.
Upcoming Public Hearings and Work Sessions
Monday, March 22, 2021
Environment and Natural Resources at 10:00 a.m. (Public Hearing)
LD 640, An Act To Ban Single-serving, Disposable Plastic Water Bottles (Rep. Gramlich of Old Orchard Beach)
Labor and Housing at 10:00 a.m. (Public Hearing)
LD 607, An Act To Restore Overtime Protections for Maine Workers (Rep. Talbot Ross of Portland)
LD 648, An Act To Improve the Lives of Maine Workers by Supporting Apprenticeships That Lead to Good-paying Jobs (Sen. Rafferty of York)
Tuesday, March 23, 2021
Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business at 9:30 a.m. (Public Hearing)
LD 730, An Act To Protect Economic Competitiveness in Maine by Extending the End Date for Pine Tree Development Zone Benefits (Sen. Daughtry of Cumberland)
Tax at 9:00 a.m. (Work Session)
LD 495 An Act To Improve Income Tax Progressivity by Establishing New Top Individual Income Tax Rates (Rep. Osher of Orono)
Wednesday, March 24, 2021
Labor and Housing at 10:00 a.m. (Public Hearing)
LD 553, An Act To End At-will Employment (Rep. Sylvester of Portland)
Environment and Natural Resources at 10:00 a.m. (Work Session)
LD 226 An Act To Limit the Use of Hydrofluorocarbons To Fight Climate Change (Rep. Tucker of Brunswick)
Thursday, March 25, 2021
Tax at 9:00 a.m. (Work Session)
LD 241 An Act To Support the Trades through a Tax Credit for Apprenticeship Programs (Sen. Curry of Waldo)
LD 532 An Act To Lower Income Taxes for Middle-income Families in Maine (Sen. Baldacci of Penobscot)
LD 570 An Act To Provide for Fairness in the Taxation of Extraordinary and Unearned Income by Establishing a 3 Percent Surcharge on Net Capital Gains and Dividends Income over $250,000 for Taxpayers Filing Single or Married Separate Returns and over $500,000 for Taxpayers Filing Joint Returns (Rep. Berry of Bowdoinham)
Environment and Natural Resources at 10:00 a.m. (Work Session)
LD 602 An Act To Prevent Pollution from Single-use Plastic Straws, Splash Sticks and Beverage Lid Plugs (Sen. Miramant of Knox)
In addition to the supplemental budget, the complete list of bills signed by Governor Mills is as follows:
- LD 2, An Act To Require the Inclusion of Racial Impact Statements in the Legislative Process
- LD 5, An Act Concerning the Reporting of Health Care Information or Records to the Emergency Medical Services’ Board (EMERGENCY)
- LD 6, An Act To Revise Certain Financial Regulatory Provisions of the Maine Insurance Code (EMERGENCY)
- LD 16, An Act To Change the Renewal Application Deadline from 6 Months to 60 Days before the Expiration of a License Issued by the Gambling Control Board
- LD 19, An Act To Amend the Maine Education Savings Program (EMERGENCY)
- LD 20, An Act To Provide for the 2021 and 2022 Allocations of the State Ceiling on Private Activity Bonds (EMERGENCY)
- LD 22, An Act To Authorize Early Payment of Anticipated Funds to the Loring Job Increment Financing Fund (EMERGENCY)
- LD 27, An Act To Provide an Immediate Opportunity To Appeal for a Juvenile Bound Over into Criminal Court
- LD 37, An Act To Amend the Laws Concerning the Retired County and Municipal Law Enforcement Officers and Municipal Firefighters Health Insurance Program (EMERGENCY)
- LD 40, Resolve, Regarding Legislative Review of Portions of Chapter 305: Rules and Regulations Pertaining to Traffic Movement Permits, a Major Substantive Rule of the Department of Transportation (EMERGENCY)
- LD 51, An Act To Enact the Maine Insurance Data Security Act
- LD 55, An Act To Protect Minority Religious Groups by Eliminating the Prior Approval Requirement for a School Absence for a Recognized Religious Holiday
- LD 60, An Act To Clarify the Minimum Amount of Emergency Refills of Insulin (EMERGENCY)
- LD 73, An Act To Authorize Municipalities To Allow Harbor Masters and Deputy Harbor Masters To Use Red and White Auxiliary Lights and Sirens When Responding to Emergencies
- LD 77, An Act To Authorize the Department of Marine Resources To Charge an Application Fee for Entering a Lottery for a Scallop License
- LD 91, An Act To Update the Maine Uniform Accounting and Auditing Practices Act for Community Agencies
- LD 102, An Act To Extend the Time Frame for Processing Absentee Ballots
- LD 104, An Act To Protect the Health of Student Athletes by Requiring the Establishment of Procedures To Report Concussions
- LD 138, An Act To Increase Student Reading Proficiency
- LD 145, An Act To Amend the Maine Uniform Probate Code (EMERGENCY)
- LD 154, Resolve, To Name Bridge 2267 in the Town of Embden and the Town of Solon the Jotham and Emma Stevens Bridge
- LD 162, An Act To Make Supplemental Allocations from the Highway Fund and Other Funds for the Expenditures of State Government and To Change Certain Provisions of the Law Necessary to the Proper Operations of State Government for the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2021
- LD 192, An Act To Define the Responsibilities of Residential Property Owners for the Maintenance and Repair of Private Roads
- LD 205, An Act To Extend the Ability of Restaurants and Bars To Serve Alcohol To Go (EMERGENCY)
- LD 209, An Act Concerning Name Changes for Minors
- LD 220, An Act To Make Supplemental Appropriations and Allocations for the Expenditures of State Government and To Change Certain Provisions of the Law Necessary to the Proper Operations of State Government for the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2021 (GOVERNOR’S BILL)
- LD 224, An Act To Modify Requirements for Multiple-party Accounts, Limited Purpose Financial Institutions and Mergers (EMERGENCY)
- LD 246, Resolve, To Direct Funds to the Tourism Marketing Promotion Fund (EMERGENCY)
- LD 275, An Act To Amend the Retirement Laws Pertaining to Certain Educational Technicians (EMERGENCY)
- LD 306, An Act To Temporarily Waive Certain Requirements for Relicensing for Restaurants That Serve Liquor (EMERGENCY)
- LD 307, An Act To Expand the Market for Maine Liquor Manufacturers (EMERGENCY)
- LD 377, An Act To Allow Public Members of the Maine-Canadian Legislative Advisory Commission To Receive Reimbursement for Travel Expenses (EMERGENCY)
- LD 571, Resolve, To Name a Bridge in the Town of Veazie the Hayward Carl Spencer Memorial Bridge
