An Act Addressing Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry in Maine
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 0384
Committee Amendment CA_A_H53 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "If" to H.P. 235, L.D. 384, "An Act Addressing 
Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry in Maine" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'An Act to Provide Emergency Aid to Dairy Farmers Affected by the Crisis in 
Production Costs' 
Amend the bill by inserting after the title and before the enacting clause the following: 
'Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, market instability, labor shortages, inflation, limits on milk production, 
supply chain delays and distribution disruptions are driving Maine dairy farmers out of 
business; and 
Whereas, Maine has lost approximately one-quarter of its dairy farms since 2020; and 
Whereas, dairy farms are integral to Maine's rural communities and agricultural 
economy; and 
Whereas, it is critically important that this legislation take effect before the expiration 
of the 90-day period; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore,' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting the 
following: 
'Sec. 1. Transfer from General Fund unappropriated surplus; pandemic 
relief for dairy farmers. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, on or 
before July 30, 2023, the State Controller shall transfer $5,329,667 from the unappropriated 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
ROS 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "11» to H.P. 235, L.D. 384 
surplus of the General Fund to the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, 
Milk Commission program, Other Special Revenue Funds account to provide one-time 
pandemic volatility payments to Maine milk producers who produced milk and reported 
production information to the Maine Milk Commission in calendar year 2022 and are 
currently participating in the Maine Dairy Stabilization "Tier" Program. The administrator 
of the Maine Milk Pool shall calculate and distribute payments to qualifying farmers at a 
rate of$1 per hundredweight of milk production. The administrator of the Maine Milk Pool 
may use existing distribution methods within the Maine Milk Pool program to expedite the 
distribution of payments. 
Sec. 2. 
Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and 
allocations are made. 
AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY, DEPARTMENT OF 
Milk Commission 0188 
Initiative: Provides a one-time allocation to allow distribution of pandemic volatility 
payments to Maine dairy farmers who meet specific milk production criteria. 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
All Other 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOT AL 
2023-24 
$5,329,667 
$5,329,667 
2024-25 
$0 
$0 
Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation 
takes effect when approved.' 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section 
number to read consecutively. 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the bill, which is a concept draft. The amendment provides 
one-time pandemic volatility payments to Maine milk producers who produced milk and 
reported production information to the Maine Milk Commission in calendar year 2022 and 
are currently participating in the Maine Dairy Stabilization Program, also known as the 
Tier Program. The amendment provides a one-time appropriation at a rate of $1 per 
hundredweight of milk production in fiscal year 2023-24 from the unappropriated surplus 
of General Fund to the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Milk 
Commission program to provide one-time payments to Maine milk producers. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
5 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 04/05/23 ~ae.. 
LD384 
LR 2157(02) 
An Act Addressing Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry in Maine 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ,/f {!-f--6 5') 
Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
FY 2023-24 
FY 2024-25 
Projections 
FY 2025-26 
Projections 
FY 2026-27 
Net Cost (Savings) 
General Fund 
f-\.ppropriations/ Allocations 
Other Special Revenue Funds 
Transfers 
General Fund 
Other Special Revenue Funds 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
$5,329,667 
$5,329,667 
($5,329,667) 
$5,329,667 
$0 
$0 
$0 
$0 
$0 
$0 
$0 
$0 
$0 
$0 
$0 
$0 
This bill provides one-time pandemic volatility payments at a rate of $1 per hundredweight of milk production to 
Maine milk producers who produced milk and reported production infonnation to the Maine Milk Commission 
(MMC) in the calendar year 2022 and are currently participating in the Maine Dairy Stabilization Program. The bill 
includes a one-time transfer of $5,329,667 on or before July 30, 2023 from the unappropriated surplus of the General 
Fund to the MMC within the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry and an accompanying allocation 
of the same amount to allow for the disbursement of the funds. 
LR2157(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of l