An Act Regarding Public Higher Education Funding in the State
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 0681
Sponsors: GROHOSKI, FOSTER, DAUGHTRY
Amends: 20-A MRSA §10018

Legislative Document
No. 681
S.P. 296
In Senate, February 25, 2025
An Act Regarding Public Higher Education Funding in the State
Received by the Secretary of the Senate on February 20, 2025.  Referred to the Committee 
on Education and Cultural Affairs pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator GROHOSKI of Hancock.
Cosponsored by Representative FOSTER of Dexter and
Senators: President DAUGHTRY of Cumberland, LIBBY of Cumberland, RAFFERTY of 
York, RENY of Lincoln, Representatives: BISHOP of Bucksport, FAULKINGHAM of Winter 
Harbor, MILLIKEN of Blue Hill, STOVER of Boothbay.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  20-A MRSA §10018 is enacted to read:
§10018.  Mandated legislative appropriations for Maine Maritime Academy
Beginning in fiscal year 2025-26 and each fiscal year thereafter, the Legislature shall 
increase the percentage of the Maine Maritime Academy's total state appropriation as a 
share of its total operating costs by 5% until the percentage of the total state appropriation 
as a share of the Maine Maritime Academy's total operating costs equals at least the lesser 
of:
1.  University of Maine System appropriations.  The percentage of the University of 
Maine System's total state appropriation as a share of its total operating costs; and
2.  Maine Community College System appropriations.  The percentage of the Maine 
Community College System's total state appropriation as a share of its total operating costs.
Beginning in 2025, the University of Maine System, the Maine Community College 
System and the Maine Maritime Academy shall each submit to the Governor and to the 
Legislature a report by December 1st annually that contains its most recent total operating 
costs.
Sec. 2.  Commission established.  The Commission to Study the Funding of Public 
Institutions of Higher Education, referred to in this section as "the commission," is 
established.
1. Notwithstanding Joint Rule 353, the commission consists of 15 members, including:
A.  Two members of the Senate, appointed by the President of the Senate, who serve 
on the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs, including one 
member of the party holding the largest number of seats in the Legislature and one 
member of the party holding the 2nd largest number of seats in the Legislature;
B.  Three members of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the 
House, who serve on the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs, 
including 2 members of the party holding the largest number of seats in the Legislature 
and one member of the party holding the 2nd largest number of seats in the Legislature;
C.  One member with expertise in higher education policy issues representing a 
statewide education policy research institute, appointed by the President of the Senate;
D.  One member representing the certification and higher education committee of the 
State Board of Education, appointed by the President of the Senate;
E.  One member who is a representative of a union representing the faculty of the Maine 
Community College System, appointed by the President of the Senate;
F.  One member who is a representative of a union representing the faculty of the 
University of Maine System, appointed by the Speaker of the House;
G.  One member who is a representative of a union representing the faculty of the 
Maine Maritime Academy, appointed by the Speaker of the House;
H.  One member who is currently enrolled as a student at a public college or university 
in the State, appointed by the Speaker of the House;
I.  The Chancellor of the University of Maine System or the chancellor's designee;
J.  The President of the Maine Community College System or the president's designee;
K.  The President of the Maine Maritime Academy or the president's designee; and
L.  The Commissioner of Education or the commissioner's designee.
In appointing members of the commission, the appointing authorities shall give 
consideration to race, gender, socioeconomic diversity and geographic diversity.
2. The first-named Senate member is the Senate chair and the first-named House of 
Representatives member is the House chair of the commission.
3. All appointments must be made no later than 30 days following the effective date of 
this Act.  The appointing authorities shall notify the Executive Director of the Legislative 
Council once all appointments have been completed.  After appointment of all members, 
the chairs shall call and convene the first meeting of the commission.  If 30 days or more 
after the effective date of this Act a majority of but not all appointments have been made, 
the chairs may request authority and the Legislative Council may grant authority for the 
commission to meet and conduct its business.
4. The commission shall review all related laws and rules addressing the State’s public 
policy on higher education, including but not limited to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 
20-A, section 10902, and the methods and mechanisms by which public higher education 
institutions in the State are funded and make recommendations for potential legislative 
changes. 
In conducting its review, the commission shall analyze present and future goals, including 
but not limited to expanding access to affordable high-quality higher education to help 
students achieve postsecondary success in the 21st century.  The commission shall also 
analyze present and past funding methods and mechanisms used in the State to determine 
the State's portion of funding for the University of Maine System, the Maine Community 
College System and the Maine Maritime Academy, as well as funding mechanisms used 
by other states to fund public higher education.
To assist the commission in carrying out its review, the Department of Education, the 
University of Maine System, the Maine Community College System and the Maine 
Maritime Academy each shall provide to the commission any data and information the 
commission requests and considers relevant to its work.
At the discretion of the chairs, the commission may seek input from students, faculty and 
staff in the State's public institutions of higher education, groups that have an interest in the 
State's public institutions of higher education and other stakeholders.
5.  The Legislative Council shall provide necessary staffing services to the commission, 
except that Legislative Council staff support is not authorized when the Legislature is in 
regular or special session.
6. No later than December 3, 2025, the commission shall submit a report that includes 
its findings and recommendations, including suggested legislation, to the Joint Standing 
Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs. The joint standing committee may report 
out a bill related to the report to the Second Regular Session of the 132nd Legislature.
SUMMARY
This bill provides that, beginning in fiscal year 2025-26 and each fiscal year thereafter, 
the Legislature must increase the percentage of the Maine Maritime Academy's total state 
appropriation as a share of its total operating costs by 5% until the percentage of the Maine 
Maritime Academy's total state appropriation as a share of the academy's total operating 
costs equals at least the lesser of the percentages of the University of Maine System's and 
the Maine Community College System's total state appropriation as a share of each 
respective system's total operating costs.
The bill also establishes the Commission to Study the Funding of Public Institutions of 
Higher Education to review the State's laws and rules related to higher education, analyze 
past, present and alternative methods and mechanisms of funding public higher education 
and analyze present and future goals, including expanding access to affordable higher 
education.  The commission is required to submit a report based on its findings to the Joint 
Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs by December 3, 2025.