Resolve, Establishing a 3-year Moratorium on the Installation or
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1177
Committee: Environment and Natural Resources
Sponsors: GRAMLICH, DAUGHTRY

Legislative Document
No. 1177
H.P. 782
House of Representatives, March 20, 2025
Resolve, Establishing a 3-year Moratorium on the Installation or 
Reinstallation of Synthetic Turf and Requiring a Study of the Public 
Health and Environmental Risks of Synthetic Turf
Reference to the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources suggested and ordered 
printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative GRAMLICH of Old Orchard Beach.
Cosponsored by President DAUGHTRY of Cumberland and
Representatives: ANKELES of Brunswick, DHALAC of South Portland, DOUDERA of 
Camden, KESSLER of South Portland, OSHER of Orono, RIELLY of Westbrook, Senators: 
BENNETT of Oxford, INGWERSEN of York.
Sec. 1.  Definitions.  Resolved:  That for the purposes of this resolve, unless the 
context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.
1.  "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Environmental Protection or the 
commissioner's designee.
2.  "Department" means the Department of Environmental Protection.
3.  "Plastic" means material made from or composed of organic polymers from plant 
extracts or fossil fuels, whether the material is processed, reprocessed, reused, recycled or 
recovered.
4.  "Synthetic fiber" means the fiber used to construct synthetic turf that is constructed 
from plastic components.
5.  "Synthetic turf" means ground cover resembling turf made of synthetic fiber, 
including any material or composition of materials used in place of grass, and used to 
surface parks, outdoor playing fields and athletic fields, indoor athletic facilities and similar 
venues. 
6.  "Turf" means the upper stratum of soil bound by grass and plant roots into a thick 
mat.
Sec. 2.  Moratorium.  Resolved:  That a person may not install or reinstall synthetic 
turf in any park, outdoor playing field or athletic field, indoor athletic facility or similar 
venue for a period of 3 years from the effective date of this resolve.
Sec. 3.  Study; public hearings.  Resolved:  That the department shall:
1.  Using current research, examine whether synthetic turf is a risk to public health, the 
surrounding environment and the climate emissions goals of the State under the Maine 
Revised Statutes, Title 38, chapter 3-A as compared to turf and, if it is a risk, the ways in 
which synthetic turf is a risk;
2.  Examine the use of turf and synthetic turf in parks, outdoor playing fields and 
athletic fields, indoor athletic facilities and similar venues and currently available 
techniques for grass field construction and organic maintenance as viable alternatives for 
the use of synthetic turf; and
3.  Develop recommendations for the appropriate and inappropriate use of synthetic 
turf; and
4.  Recommend whether the moratorium under section 2 should permanently remain 
in effect, should not remain in effect or should be extended.
The department may solicit the assistance of any other state agency as well as input 
from environmental and public health specialists and other stakeholders.
The department shall hold no fewer than 3 public hearings regarding its activities 
pursuant to this section.
Sec. 4.  Report; outreach.  Resolved:  That, no later than November 4, 2026, the 
department shall submit a report that includes its findings and recommendations under 
section 3, including suggested legislation, for presentation to the 133rd Legislature in 2027.  
The department shall conduct an outreach program to inform local governments, civic 
organizations, schools and the public regarding the findings of the report.
SUMMARY
This resolve puts a 3-year moratorium on the installation or reinstallation of synthetic 
turf in any park, outdoor playing field or athletic field, indoor athletic facility or similar 
venue.  It directs the Department of Environmental Protection to examine whether synthetic 
turf is a risk to public health, the surrounding environment and the climate emissions goals 
of the State as compared to turf and, if it is a risk, the ways in which synthetic turf is a risk.  
It directs the department to submit, no later than November 4, 2026, a report that includes 
its findings and recommendations, including suggested legislation, for presentation to the 
133rd Legislature in 2027.  The department is also directed to conduct an outreach program 
to inform local governments, civic organizations, schools and the public regarding the 
findings of the report.