An Act Requiring Climate Impact Notes on Proposed Transportation Legislation and Agency Rules
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 0932
Committee: State and Local Government
Sponsors: WARREN, CHIPMAN, ABDI, GRAMLICH, LOOKNER, RANA, RECKITT, WILLIAMS, CARNEY, TIPPING
Amends: 3 MRSA §163-A, 5 MRSA §8063-C

Legislative Document
No. 932
H.P. 579
House of Representatives, March 2, 2023
An Act Requiring Climate Impact Notes on Proposed 
Transportation Legislation and Agency Rules
Reference to the Committee on State and Local Government suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative WARREN of Scarborough.
Cosponsored by Senator CHIPMAN of Cumberland and
Representatives: ABDI of Lewiston, GRAMLICH of Old Orchard Beach, LOOKNER of 
Portland, RANA of Bangor, RECKITT of South Portland, WILLIAMS of Bar Harbor, 
Senators: CARNEY of Cumberland, TIPPING of Penobscot.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  3 MRSA §163-A, sub-§10-A is enacted to read:
10-A.  Statement of climate impact.  With the assistance of the Department of 
Environmental Protection, to collect and assemble factual information and to prepare a 
statement concerning the climate impact that may result from the implementation of a 
proposed law in legislation referred to the joint standing committee of the Legislature 
having jurisdiction over transportation matters, including the budget of the Department of 
Transportation. The statement must include an estimate in pounds of the amount of carbon 
dioxide, methane and any other pollutant that may be emitted and how the amount of any 
pollutant may change over time and an analysis of the anticipated effects of any significant 
environmental changes and any significant secondary or indirect effects, including effects 
on the State's economy or public health, that may result from the implementation of the 
proposed law. The statement of climate impact is made within the limits of information 
provided to the office designated by the Legislative Council as having responsibility for 
financial analysis in collaboration with any other state agency providing an impact 
statement of any kind regarding the proposed law. The statement must be furnished to the 
joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over transportation matters 
for the information of its members and for inclusion in bills that receive an ought to pass 
report when reported by the committee. A statement is not necessary for any bill that has 
no apparent climate impact;
Sec. 2.  5 MRSA §8063-C is enacted to read:
§8063-C.  Climate impact
Every rule proposed by an agency must contain a climate impact note at the end of the 
rule. The note must be placed on the rule prior to any public hearing and, in the case of 
rules adopted without a hearing, prior to the sending of notice under section 8053. The 
climate impact note must describe the estimated climate impact on municipalities, counties, 
the State and the United States and globally of implementing or complying with the 
proposed rule. If the proposed rule will not impose any climate impact under this section, 
the climate impact note must state that fact.
This section does not apply to emergency rules.
SUMMARY
This bill requires a climate impact note on every rule proposed by a state agency and 
on all legislation referred to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having 
jurisdiction over transportation matters that would have an apparent significant climate 
impact if implemented.