An Act to Requ1re the State to Hold a Pubhc Heanng m a Mumc1pality Before the State Constructs a Solar Project m That Mumc1pality
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 0735
Committee Amendment CA_A_S123 (Senate)
Amends: 5 MRSA §1742-B, 23 MRSA §73

COl\11\.1ITTEE AMENDMENT" f) "to SP 293, L D 735, "An Act to Requ1re the 
State to Hold a Pubhc Heanng m a Mumc1pality Before the State Constructs a Solar Project 
m That Mumc1pality" 
Amend the bill by stnkmg out everythmg after the enactmg clause and msertmg the 
followmg 
'Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §1742-B, as amended by PL 2021, c 275, §2, 1s further amended 
by enactmg after the 3rd paragraph a new paragraph to read 
If a proposed public nnprovement 1s for or mcludes mstallat10n of a solar energy pro1ect 
that will mvolve the disturbance of more than 1,000 square feet of land area, the state 
agency responsible for the mstallat10n of the solar energy pr01ect shall hold a public hearmg 
on the pr01ect m the mumc1pahty where the pr01ect 1s located The public hearmg under 
this paragraph must be provided as soon as development of the schematic design for the 
solar energy pr01ect 1s complete 
Sec. 2. 23 MRSA §73, sub-§3, ~' as corrected by RR 1991, c 2, §88, 1s amended 
to read 
F Be consistent with the purposes, goals and pohc1es of the Comprehenswe Plannmg 
aB:d Land Use R-egalat10n A:ct Title 30-A, chapter 187, subchapter 2, aBEi 
Sec. 3. 23 MRSA §73, sub-§3, 1G, as corrected by RR 1991, c 2, §88, 1s amended 
to read 
G Incorporate a public part1c1pat1on process m which local governmental bodies and 
the public have timely notice and opportumty to identify and comment on concerns 
related to transportation plannmg dec1s10ns, capital mvestment dec1s1ons and project 
dec1S1ons 
The department Department of Transportat10n and the Mame Turnpike 
Authonty shall take the comments and concerns of local c1t1zens mto account and must 
be responsive to them-, and 
Sec. 4. 23 MRSA §73, sub-§3, ~ 
1s enacted to read 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
o'b 
~ 
COM1v1ITTEEAMENDMENT "fl "to SP 293, L D 735(.5-/l'j J 
H Ensure opportumty for pubhc mput whenever the Department of Transportation or 
the Mame Turnpike Authority plans to mstall a solar energy pro1ect that will mvolve 
the disturbance of more than 1,000 square feet of land area The department or the 
authority shall hold a pubhc hearmg m the mumcipahty where the solar energy pro1ect 
is to be located ' 
Amend the bill by relettermg or renumbermg any nonconsecutive Part letter or section 
mnnber to read consecutively 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the bill It reqmres the Department of Transportation, the 
Mame Turnpike Authority and any state agency mstallmg a solar energy project that 
disturbs more than 1,000 square feet of land area to hold a pubhc hearmg m the 
mumcipahty where the project is to be located 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved 04/22/23 feae. 
LD735 
LR469(02) 
An Act to Require the State to Hold a Pubbc Hearing in a Mumcipality Before the State Constructs a 
Solar ProJect m That Municipahty 
1;scal Detall and Notes 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ''.A' CS-/L :>J 
Committee: State and Local Government 
Fiscal Note Reqmred: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Mmor cost mcrease - General Fund 
Mmor cost mcrease - Highway Fund 
Mmor cost mcrease - Mame Turnpike Authonty 
Additional costs to the Department of Admm1stratlve and Fmancial Services, the Department of Transportat10n and 
the Mame Turnpike Authority associated W1th holdmg pubhc hearings can be absorbed w1thm ex1stmg budgeted 
resources 
LR0469(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1