An Act to Establish the
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1643
Committee Amendment CA_B_S558 (Senate)
Amends: 5 MRSA §15303

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT"^ "toS.P. 651,L,D. 1643, "An Act to Establish the
Maine Life Science Innovation CenteF
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following:
'An Act to Establish the Maine Life Sciences Innovation Center'
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, Maine's growing life sciences sector represents a vital component of
Maine's economy, with emerging opportunities across biomedical research, marine
biology, agriculture, forestry and data science; and
Whereas, the life sciences sector is one of the fastest-gi'owing sectors of Maine's
economy, employing nearly 10,000 people, contributing $2,3 billion annually to Maine's
gross domestic product and providing wages that are 1.7 times higher than the state
average; and
Whereas, innovation in life sciences contributes directly to the well-being of Maine
people through advancements in human and animal health, environmental resilience,
workforce development and economic growth; and
Whereas, the Legislature recognizes the need for a dedicated, coordinated and
strategic approach to support research, development, commercialization and investment in
the life sciences sector; and
Whereas, the Maine Technology Institute was established to support Maine's
innovation economy through sponsorships, investments and partnerships that promote
innovation and entrepreneurship, generate high-quality jobs, expand research and
development, accelerate revenues, attract additional investment and foster the
commercialization of new products and services in Maine's technology-intensive sectors;
and
Page I - t32LR2061(08)
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
COMMITmE AMENDMENT UQ " to S.P. 651, L.D. 1643
Whereas, the Maine Technology Institute's mission includes advancing innovation
across 7 core technology sectors, all of which are relevant to life sciences applications,
making the Maine Technology Institute a natural institutional home for this initiative; and
Whereas, the Legislature has demonstrated broad bipartisan support for growing
Maine's life sciences economy; and
Whereas, on September 18, 2025, the Governor issued Executive Order 2 FY 25/26:
An Order Establishing the Maine Life Sciences Innovation Center, which established the
Maine Life Sciences Innovation Center within the Maine Technology Institute; and
Whereas, this legislation permanently establishes in law the Maine Life Sciences
Innovation Center that was previously established by the Governor by executive order and
is not intended to establish a separate, duplicative entity; and
Whereas, this legislation must take effect immediately in order to ensure timely
continuation of the Maine Technology Institute and ongoing support of Maine's life
sciences sector; 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:
'See. 1. 5 MRSA §15303, sub"§6, ^D, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 401, Pt. AAA,
§3, is amended to read:
D. Shall coordinate its priorities with the applied research and development efforts of
the University of Maine System insofar as those efforts are in the targeted technologies
and encourage, when possible and appropriate, companies and research laboratories
receiving funds from the institute to establish joint ventures with the university system;
Sec.2. 5 MRSA §15303, sub"§6»^E, as amended by PL2017,c. 109, §3, is further
amended to read:
E. Shall cooperate with the Department of Economic and Community Development,
the Maine Manufacturing Extension Partnership, the University of Maine System and
others in their efforts to ensure that a complementary system of support services,
including, as needed and appropriate, incubators, business assistance, technology
transfer, market research, patent research and similar services, is in place and available
to companies and research laboratories receiving funds from the instituter; and
Sec. 3. 5 MRSA §15303, sub-§6, ^F is enacted to read:
p. Shall suoport the Maine Life Sciences Innovation Center pursuant to^section^15331.
See. 4. 5 MRSA c.407,sub-c. 4 is enacted to read:
SUBCHAPTER4
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
oe>
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT'"^" to S,P. 651, L.D. 1643
MAINE LIFE SCIENCES INNOVATION CENTER
S15331. Maine Life Sciences Imnovatlon Center
1. Establishment; ourpose. The Maine Life Sciences Innovation Center. referred to
in this subchaoter as "the center." is established within the institute to support life sciences
innovation, research, entrem'eneurshio and workforce development in the State. The center
is established to serve the followina purposes:
A, To leverage and expand the State's life sciences sector by supportine collaborative
research, workforce training and entrepreneurial ventures and seeking capital
investment;
B. To advance life sciences innovation and sector research across disciplines, includine
human and animal health, marine sciences, aericulture. forestr/ and data science:
C. To coordinate with public and private partners, educational and research institutions.
nonprofit oreanizations and business stakeholders to strenethen the State's innovation
efforts:
D. To investieate oDportunities for grants, loans and other resources to support life
sciences entities:
E. To develop strategies to attract federal, philanthropic and private investment;
F. To advise the Maine Technology Institute Director under section 15310 on matters
related to life sciences irmovation: and
G, To report regularly to the Legislature regarding the center's operations, activities
and recommendations.
2. Membership. The center is composed of 10 members, The members include:
A. The Commissioner of Economic and Community Development, or the
commissioner's desienee. who serves as an ex officio. nonvotine member; and
B. Nine votinR members appointed by the Governor, upon the recommetidation of the
Finance Authority of Maine and the instihite. with expertise spanninE the life sciences
sector and its allied disciplines, includina representatives of industry, life sciences
entreDreneurs, research institutions, academia^^^ nonprofit orRanizations.
investors and counties, includine mral counties. Each member under this paraeraph is
entitled to one vote.
The GovemorshaU designate a chair from amona the center's members to preside at. set
the aeenda for and schedule center meetings,
Center members shall disclose any direct or indirect pecuniary interest m any matter before
the center and recuse themseh'es from any Darticioation m the consideration of such a
matter.
3. Operations. The following nrovisions govern the operations of the center,
A. The center shall meet as often as it considers necessary for the center to perform its
work.
B, To the extent practicable. the center shall conduct its work in a manner that is onen
and accessible to the public.
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
0s
COMMin'EE AMENDMENT " Y) " to S.P. 651, L.D. 1643
C. The center may conduct its work through subcommittees.
4. Staff and administratiYe_su&nort._The institute shall provide staff as mav be
necessary to fulfill the center's mission and may seek assistance from other state aBenoies
and private entities to accomplish the goals and work of the center.
5. Annual report. The center shall submit annually to the Governor, the Executive
Director of the Leeislative Council and the joint standing committee of the Lerislature
having jurisdiction over economic development matters > no later than 120 days after the
close of the center's fiscal year. a comBletereQQrton the activities of the center. The renort
must be made available to the public and must include the followmg for that fiscal 'year:
A, A^escrinUgtLof the center's operations;
B. An accountine of the center's receipts and expenditures, assets and liabilities at the
end of its fiscal year;
C. A listine of all investtnents, grants, loans and incentivesBrQvided bv the center
durine the fiscal year:
D. A statement of the center's proposed and projected activities for the ensuing fiscal
year; and
E. Recommendations reeardine further actions that may be suitable forachievine the
purposes of this subchaoter.
After reviewine the report under this subsection, the joint standine committee may report
out leeislation relating to the reDort.
See. 5. Maine Life Sciences Innovation Center; interim report. The Maine
Life Sciences Innovation Center established pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title
5, section 15331 shall submit an mterim report to the joint standing committee of the
Legislature having jurisdiction over economic development matters no later than 180 days
after all members of the center have been appointed pursuant to Title 5, section 15331,
subsection 2. The interim report must include, but is not limited to, the following:
I. A description of the center's operations;
2, Proposed and projected activities for the ensuing fiscal year; and
3, Recommendations for future actions necessary to achieve the center's goals,
including a recommendation regarding whether the center should be changed to a quasi-
independent state entity,
After reviewing the report under this section, the joint standing committee may report
out legislation relating to the report,
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 and changes the title. It adds an emergency preamble
and clause and establishes the Maine Life Sciences Innovation Center within the Maine
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" W to S.P. 651. L.D. 1643 ( y
Technology Institute to support life sciences innovation, research, entrepreneurship and
workforce development in the State. The amendment directs the center to submit an interim
report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over economic
development matters no later than 180 days after all members of the center have been
appointed,
The amendment permanently establishes in law the Maine Life Sciences Innovation
Center that was previously established by the Governor by executive order and is not
intended to establish a separate, duplicative entity.
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)
Pnge 5 - 132LR2061(08)
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Approved: 03/10/26 I^KI-
LD 1643 LR 2061(08)
An Act to Establish the Maine Life Science Innovation Center
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment "d* / c,-^
Committee: Housing and Economic Development
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
Minor cost increase - General Fund
Fiscal Detail and Notes
Additional costs to the Department of Economic and Community Development for the Commissioner or a designee to
serve as an ex officio member of the Maine Life Science Innovation Center are assumed to be minor and can be
absorbed within existing budgeted resources.
LR2061(08) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1