An Act to Grant the Rockland Port District an Increase in Its
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1182
Committee: Transportation
Sponsors: GEIGER, BEEBE-CENTER

Legislative Document
No. 1182
H.P. 787
House of Representatives, March 20, 2025
An Act to Grant the Rockland Port District an Increase in Its 
Borrowing Capacity and Include Sustainable Aquaculture and 
Marine Industries in Its Charter
Reference to the Committee on Transportation suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative GEIGER of Rockland.
Cosponsored by Senator BEEBE-CENTER of Knox.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. P&SL 1951, c. 108, §1, as amended by P&SL 1957, c. 78, §1, is further 
amended to read: 
Sec. 1.  Rockland Port District, incorporated.  The inhabitants of and the 
territory within the city of Rockland, in the county of Knox, are hereby created a body 
politic and corporate under the name of "Rockland Port District" for the purpose of 
purchasing, maintaining and operating within said district wharves, landing places and all 
other appurtenances necessary for the operation of an adequate passenger and freight 
transportation service by water and of sustainable aquaculture and marine industries.
Sec. 2. P&SL 1951, c. 108, §4, as amended by P&SL 2003, c. 7, §1, is further 
amended to read: 
Sec. 4.  How financed.  To procure funds for the purposes of this act, and for such 
other expenses as may be necessary to carry out said purposes, the said district, by its 
trustees, is hereby authorized from time to time to borrow money and to issue its bonds or 
notes therefor, but shall may not incur a total indebtedness at any one time outstanding 
exceeding the sum of $600,000 $6,000,000.  Said bonds may be issued to mature serially 
or for such periods as the trustees may determine.  If the former, provisions shall must be 
made for the retirement of not less than 7 1/2% of the total issue annually after the first 2 
years.  If the latter, a sinking fund equal to at least 7 1/2% of the total issue shall must be 
set up annually after the first 2 years.  Each bond and note shall must have inscribed upon 
its face the words "Rockland Port District," shall must bear interest at such rates as the 
trustees shall may determine, payable semiannually, and shall be is subject to such other 
provisions as the trustees shall may determine.  Bonds and notes issued by said district may 
be made callable with or without premium on any interest date.  All notes or bonds issued 
by said district shall must be signed by the treasurer and countersigned by the president of 
said district and if coupon bonds be issued, each coupon shall must be attested by the 
facsimile signature of the treasurer printed thereon.  Said bonds and notes shall be are legal 
obligations of said district, which is hereby declared to be a quasi-municipal corporation 
within the meaning of section 136 of chapter 53 of the Revised Statutes of 1954, and all 
the provisions of said section shall be are applicable thereto.  The said bonds and notes 
shall be are legal investments for trust companies and savings banks.
Sec. 3. P&SL 1951, c. 108, §5, as repealed and replaced by P&SL 1957, c. 78, §3, 
is amended to read: 
Sec. 5. Powers.  The district, through its trustees, is hereby authorized and 
empowered to acquire by purchase, lease or take by the exercise of the right of eminent 
domain, as hereinafter provided, or otherwise, and hold any land or real estate or easement 
therein or wharf or dock and to do all that is necessary or desirable to establish, maintain 
and operate in the district adequate commercial docking and wharf facilities in the district 
and any facilities considered necessary to support sustainable aquaculture and marine 
industries.  All of such property, wherever located, shall be is exempt from taxation; 
provided, however, that nothing herein contained shall may be construed as authorizing 
said district to take by right of eminent domain any of the property or facilities of the city 
of Rockland or of any other public service corporation or district used or acquired for 
further use by the owner thereof in performance of a public duty unless expressly 
authorized thereto by subsequent act of the Legislature.
Sec. 4. P&SL 1951, c. 108, §6-A, as enacted by P&SL 1957, c. 78, §5, is amended 
to read:
Sec. 6-A. Authority to receive property from the city of Rockland. The city 
of Rockland is hereby authorized to sell and convey to said district any property, real, 
personal or mixed, now or hereafter owned or held by said city of Rockland for commercial 
docking and wharf facilities used in connection with passenger and freight transportation 
service by water or for facilities capable of supporting sustainable aquaculture or marine 
industries and any sum or sums of money which that the city of Rockland may raise either 
by taxation or otherwise to be used for such purposes by said district.
SUMMARY
This bill raises the debt limit of the Rockland Port District from $600,000 to $6,000,000 
and allows the district to purchase, maintain and operate facilities supporting sustainable 
aquaculture and marine industries.