An Act to Increase Storm Preparedness for Maine's Communities,
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 0001
Committee: Appropriations and Financial Affairs
Sponsors: DAUGHTRY, FECTEAU
Amends: 37-B MRSA §747, 24-A MRSA §606

Legislative Document
No. 1
S.P. 29
In Senate, January 8, 2025
An Act to Increase Storm Preparedness for Maine's Communities, 
Homes and Infrastructure
(EMERGENCY)
Reference to the Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by President DAUGHTRY of Cumberland.  (GOVERNOR'S BILL)
Cosponsored by Speaker FECTEAU of Biddeford and
Senator: STEWART of Aroostook, Representative: FAULKINGHAM of Winter Harbor.
Emergency preamble.  Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, the winter storms of December 18, 2023, January 9, 2024 and January 13, 
2024 caused an estimated $90,000,000 of damage to public infrastructure and significant 
additional damage to private property, including homes, wharves and businesses; and
Whereas, the damage demonstrates an urgent need for increased preparedness for 
improved resiliency from future weather-related events; and
Whereas, the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management, Maine 
Emergency Management Agency has obligated the existing balance of the Disaster 
Recovery Fund to fund the state match for funding for previously declared disasters and 
requires additional funding to fully fund the state cost share for funding for current open 
disasters; and
Whereas, the Maine Emergency Management Agency currently lacks the capacity to 
apply for competitive hazard mitigation grant funds, improve much-needed statewide 
emergency systems and provide matching funds needed for United States Department of 
Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster and hazard 
mitigation loan funds; and
Whereas, in its November report to the Governor, the State of Maine Infrastructure 
Rebuilding and Resilience Commission recommended a set of immediate actions to 
improve emergency communication, increase community resilience, prepare for future 
weather-related events and increase public safety; and
Whereas, municipal leaders, regional planners, emergency managers and state 
agencies lack up-to-date hydrological and sea level rise modeling data and are operating 
with outdated Federal Emergency Management Agency maps; and 
Whereas, only 1.3% of all homes and buildings in the State are covered under the 
National Flood Insurance Program, a number that has declined while people in the State 
who do have flood insurance are filing more claims; 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,
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
PART A
Sec. A-1.  24-A MRSA c. 101 is enacted to read:
CHAPTER 101
HOME RESILIENCY PROGRAM
§7701. Definitions
As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms 
have the following meanings.
1. Administrator. "Administrator" means the bureau or an entity with which the 
bureau contracts for the administration of the program.
2. Fund. "Fund" means the Home Resiliency Fund established in section 7702.
3. Grant. "Grant" means the award of funds for an approved project.
4. Home resiliency project; project. "Home resiliency project" or "project" means a 
project designed to make a home more resistant to damage from severe weather events.
5. Program. "Program" means the Home Resiliency Program established in section 
7702.
§7702. Home Resiliency Program
1.  Program established.  The Home Resiliency Program is established within and 
under the direction of the bureau to provide grants to homeowners for the purpose of 
performing home resiliency projects.
2. Home Resiliency Fund. The Home Resiliency Fund is established as a nonlapsing 
Other Special Revenue Funds account administered by the bureau for the purposes of 
funding the program.  The bureau may transfer available balances from other bureau 
accounts to the fund, and the fund may receive money from any gift, grant, contribution, 
legislative appropriation, allocation or transfer or bond proceeds. The money in the fund 
may be used only for the purpose of awarding grants under the program and paying the 
costs of the administration of the program.
3. Program administration.  The bureau may contract with other entities for the 
administration of the program and other services, including, but not limited to:
A. Promotion of the program, including the creation and maintenance of a publicly 
accessible website containing information about the program;
B. Development of an application form;
C. Verification of applicant eligibility;
D. Determination and distribution of grants;
E. Establishment of standards for project completion, including contractor approval;
F. Verification of project completion;
G. Development of a mechanism for the return of unused grant money;
H. Development of a list of home resiliency projects that would be eligible for a grant; 
and
I. Development of standards to be used to determine whether a home resiliency project 
has been completed satisfactorily.
4. Program eligibility. An individual is eligible for a grant if the individual:
A. Has not previously received a grant under the program;
B. Submits an application on a form approved by the administrator;
C. In the application submitted under paragraph B, designates a home resiliency project 
from the list approved pursuant to subsection 5 to be performed on a home:
(1) Owned by the applicant;
(2) In which the applicant resides as the applicant's permanent residence; and
(3) That was not the subject of a previous home resiliency project; and
D. Submits all information regarding the individual, the individual's home and the 
proposed home resiliency project as required by the bureau and the administrator.
5. Home resiliency projects; list.  The bureau and the administrator of the project shall 
approve a list of prospective projects eligible for grants under the program.  The 
administrator shall publish the list of approved prospective home resiliency projects in the 
promotional materials for the program and on the publicly accessible website maintained 
to promote the program.
6. Grant determination.  The bureau shall set maximum grant amounts, and the 
administrator shall make grants under the program to eligible persons. The administrator 
shall review applications in the order in which they are received. An application is 
considered received when all required information has been submitted.  The administrator 
shall award grants under the program until funds in the fund are exhausted.
7. Post-grant verification.  The recipient of a grant under the program shall provide 
to the administrator information that is required by the administrator and that is sufficient 
to allow the administrator to verify that the home resiliency project has been completed 
within the standards developed under subsection 3 for home resiliency project completion 
within 2 years of the grant. The recipient of a grant shall return to the administrator any 
funds provided to the recipient but not used for the approved project.
8. No private right of action.  This chapter does not provide an express or implied 
private right of action.  
9. Rulemaking.  The superintendent shall adopt rules necessary to implement the 
program. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined 
in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2‑A.
§7703. Date of grants
The bureau and the administrator are not required to award a grant before May 1, 2026.
Sec. A-2.  Transfers from available fiscal year 2024-25 Department of 
Professional and Financial Regulation, Insurance - Bureau of, Other Special 
Revenue Funds balances to the Department of Professional and Financial 
Regulation, Home Resiliency Fund, Other Special Revenue Funds account.  
Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, on or before 90 days following the 
effective date of this Act, the State Controller shall transfer $15,000,000 from available 
balances in the Insurance - Bureau of, Other Special Revenue Funds account within the 
Department of Professional and Financial Regulation to the Department of Professional 
and Financial Regulation, Home Resiliency Fund, Other Special Revenue Funds account.
Sec. A-3.  Appropriations and allocations.  The following appropriations and 
allocations are made.
PROFESSIONAL AND FINANCIAL REGULATION, DEPARTMENT OF
Home Resiliency Fund N964
Initiative: Provides an allocation for the Home Resiliency Fund to provide grants to 
homeowners to reduce their risks and losses in future storm events, including roof damage 
prevention, basement flooding risk reduction and targeted interventions that have been 
proven to reduce risks from storm events.
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS
2025-26
2026-27
All Other
$15,000,000
$500
__________
__________
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL
$15,000,000
$500
PART B
Sec. B-1.  37-B MRSA §747 is enacted to read:
§747.  Safeguarding Tomorrow through Ongoing Risk Mitigation Revolving Loan 
Fund
1.  Fund established. The Safeguarding Tomorrow through Ongoing Risk Mitigation 
Revolving Loan Fund, referred to in this section as "the fund," is established as a dedicated, 
nonlapsing fund administered by the agency for the purpose of providing a state match for 
United States Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency 
disaster and hazard mitigation revolving low-interest loan funds to support municipal and 
tribal government infrastructure projects that reduce future storm and other hazard risks. 
2.  Sources of funding. The fund consists of any money received from the following 
sources: 
A.  Contributions from private sources; 
B.  Federal funds and grant awards; 
C.  The proceeds of any bonds issued for the purposes for which the fund is established; 
and
D.  Any other funds received in support of the purposes for which the fund is 
established.
3.  Disbursements from fund. The agency shall apply the money in the fund to provide 
for grants and loans to support municipal and tribal government infrastructure projects that 
reduce future storm and other hazard risks.
4.  Rulemaking.  The agency may adopt rules as necessary to accomplish the purpose 
of the fund and to meet state and federal requirements for the proper administration of this 
section. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in 
Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2‑A.
Sec. B-2.  Transfers from available fiscal year 2024-25 Department of 
Professional and Financial Regulation, Insurance - Bureau of, Other Special 
Revenue Funds balances to the Department of Defense, Veterans and 
Emergency Management, Administration - Maine Emergency Management 
Agency, Disaster Recovery Fund Other Special Revenue Funds account.  
Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, on or before 90 days following the 
effective date of this Act, the State Controller shall transfer $10,000,000 from available 
balances in the Insurance - Bureau of, Other Special Revenue Funds account within the 
Department of Professional and Financial Regulation to the Department of Defense, 
Veterans and Emergency Management, Administration - Maine Emergency Management 
Agency, Disaster Recovery Fund Other Special Revenue Funds account.
Sec. B-3.  Transfers from available fiscal year 2024-25 Department of 
Professional and Financial Regulation, Insurance - Bureau of, Other Special 
Revenue Funds balances to the Department of Defense, Veterans and 
Emergency Management, Administration - Maine Emergency Management 
Agency, Other Special Revenue Funds account.  Notwithstanding any provision of 
law to the contrary, on or before 90 days following the effective date of this Act, the State 
Controller shall transfer $477,313 from available balances in the Insurance - Bureau of, 
Other Special Revenue Funds account within the Department of Professional and Financial 
Regulation to the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management, 
Administration - Maine Emergency Management Agency, Other Special Revenue Funds 
account.
Sec. B-4.  Transfers from available fiscal year 2024-25 Department of 
Professional and Financial Regulation, Insurance - Bureau of, Other Special 
Revenue Funds balances to the Department of Defense, Veterans and 
Emergency Management, Administration - Maine Emergency Management 
Agency, Other Special Revenue Funds account.  Notwithstanding any provision of 
law to the contrary, on or before 90 days following the effective date of this Act, the State 
Controller shall transfer $800,000 from available balances in the Insurance - Bureau of, 
Other Special Revenue Funds account within the Department of Professional and Financial 
Regulation to the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management, 
Administration - Maine Emergency Management Agency, Other Special Revenue Funds 
account.
Sec. B-5.  Transfers from available fiscal year 2024-25 Department of 
Professional and Financial Regulation, Insurance - Bureau of, Other Special 
Revenue Funds balances to the Department of Defense, Veterans and 
Emergency Management, Safeguarding Tomorrow through Ongoing Risk 
Mitigation Revolving Loan Fund, Other Special Revenue Funds account.  
Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, on or before 90 days following the 
effective date of this Act, the State Controller shall transfer $750,000 from available 
balances in the Insurance - Bureau of, Other Special Revenue Funds account within the 
Department of Professional and Financial Regulation to the Department of Defense, 
Veterans and Emergency Management, Safeguarding Tomorrow through Ongoing Risk 
Mitigation Revolving Loan Fund, Other Special Revenue Funds account.
Sec. B-6.  Appropriations and allocations.  The following appropriations and 
allocations are made.
DEFENSE, VETERANS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT 
OF
Administration - Maine Emergency Management Agency 0214
Initiative: Establishes one limited-period Contract/Grant Specialist position through June 
18, 2027 and provides allocation for related All Other costs to function as the State's first 
Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan Fund administrator and to support communities 
in applying for and receiving other United States Department of Homeland Security, 
Federal Emergency Management Agency funding sources.
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS
2025-26
2026-27
Personal Services
$96,275
$103,555
All Other
$7,605
$7,711
__________
__________
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL
$103,880
$111,266
Administration - Maine Emergency Management Agency 0214
Initiative: Establishes one limited-period Communications System Manager position 
through June 18, 2027 and provides allocation for related All Other costs necessary to serve 
as the State's integrated public alert and warning coordinator.
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS
2025-26
2026-27
Personal Services
$118,165
$127,560
All Other
$8,132
$8,310
__________
__________
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL
$126,297
$135,870
Administration - Maine Emergency Management Agency 0214
Initiative: Provides allocation to support a 2-year initiative to update the Maine Emergency 
Management Agency's communications technology and warning systems statewide and 
provide for technology purchases, universal language systems, training and education in 
all counties to improve communications before, during and after emergency and disaster 
events.
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS
2025-26
2026-27
All Other
$800,000
$500
__________
__________
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL
$800,000
$500
Administration - Maine Emergency Management Agency 0214
Initiative: Provides one-time funding for the Disaster Recovery Fund to meet state funding 
requirements for emergency declarations.
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS
2025-26
2026-27
All Other
$10,000,000
$500
__________
__________
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL
$10,000,000
$500
Safeguarding Tomorrow through Ongoing Risk Mitigation Revolving Loan Fund 
N500
Initiative: Provides allocation to provide for the state match for a federal grant from the 
federal Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan Fund, which provides capital to states to 
establish revolving loan funds that provide hazard mitigation assistance to local 
governments to reduce risks from natural hazards and disasters. The loans are meant to 
complement grant assistance and help advance municipal and tribal projects through low-
interest loans.
FEDERAL EXPENDITURES FUND
2025-26
2026-27
All Other
$500
$500
__________
__________
FEDERAL EXPENDITURES FUND TOTAL
$500
$500
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS
2025-26
2026-27
All Other
$750,000
$500
__________
__________
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL
$750,000
$500
DEFENSE, VETERANS AND EMERGENCY 
MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF
DEPARTMENT TOTALS
2025-26
2026-27
FEDERAL EXPENDITURES FUND
$500
$500
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS
$11,780,177
$248,636
__________
__________
DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS
$11,780,677
$249,136
PART C
Sec. C-1.  5 MRSA c. 310-B, sub-c. 1 is enacted by adding before section 3201 the 
following to read:
SUBCHAPTER 1
MAINE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS
Sec. C-2.  5 MRSA c. 310-B, sub-c. 2 is enacted to read:
SUBCHAPTER 2
STATE RESILIENCE OFFICE
§3211. State Resilience Office
1.  Establishment; duties; administration.  The State Resilience Office is established 
within the office.  The State Resilience Office shall coordinate and assist implementation 
of the State's resilience policies and activities designed to improve resistance to weather-
related events; collaborate with state agencies, municipalities, tribal governments and 
regional councils and other stakeholders to harmonize policy objectives and 
implementation of resilience policies and activities designed to improve resistance to 
weather-related events across all levels of government; promote natural hazard risk 
management across all levels of government; assist communities and regional governments 
in this State to manage flooding, storm events and other natural hazards through planning, 
technical assistance and financial support; and prioritize and coordinate projects for federal 
funding. The office shall administer the State Resilience Office.
2.  Report.  Annually, beginning October 1, 2026, the State Resilience Office shall 
report to the Bureau of Insurance within the Department of Professional and Financial 
Regulation and the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over 
insurance matters on the uses, activities and outcomes supported by funds from the transfer 
made pursuant to Title 24-A, section 606.
3.  Rulemaking.  The State Resilience Office may adopt rules as necessary for the 
proper administration of this subchapter. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are 
routine technical rules as defined in chapter 375, subchapter 2‑A.
§3212.  State Resilience Fund 
1.  Fund established. The State Resilience Fund, referred to in this section as "the 
fund," is established as a dedicated, nonlapsing fund administered by the office for the 
purpose of providing funds for the mitigation of risk to communities, buildings and 
infrastructure from flooding, extreme storm events and other hazards. 
2.  Sources of funding. The fund consists of any money received from the following 
sources: 
A.  Contributions from private sources; 
B.  Federal funds and grant awards; 
C.  The proceeds of any bonds issued for the purposes for which the fund is established; 
and
D.  Any state or other funds received in support of the purposes for which the fund is 
established. 
3.  Disbursements from fund. The office shall apply funds in the fund to support data, 
planning tools, technical assistance and project funding designed to increase the resilience 
of communities, state and local infrastructure, businesses and other state entities to natural 
hazards, storm events and other disasters.
Sec. C-3.  24-A MRSA §606 is enacted to read:
§606.  Annual transfer
Annually, beginning with the 2027-28 fiscal year, within 90 days following the end of 
the immediately prior fiscal year, the State Controller shall transfer $1,755,000 from 
available balances in the bureau's Other Special Revenue Funds account to the State 
Resilience Fund established in Title 5, section 3212.
Sec. C-4.  Transfers from available fiscal year 2024-25 Department of 
Professional and Financial Regulation, Insurance - Bureau of, Other Special 
Revenue Funds balances to the Maine Office of Community Affairs, State 
Resilience Fund, Other Special Revenue Funds account.  Notwithstanding any 
provision of law to the contrary, on or before 90 days following the effective date of this 
Act, the State Controller shall transfer $9,633,040 from available balances in the Insurance 
- Bureau of, Other Special Revenue Funds account within the Department of Professional 
and Financial Regulation to the Maine Office of Community Affairs, State Resilience 
Fund, Other Special Revenue Funds account.
Sec. C-5.  Appropriations and allocations.  The following appropriations and 
allocations are made.
MAINE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS
State Resilience Fund N965
Initiative: Establishes one Public Service Coordinator II position in the State Resilience 
Office to be the geospatial data science manager and provides allocation for related All 
Other costs, including data storage costs.
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS
2025-26
2026-27
POSITIONS - LEGISLATIVE COUNT
1.000
1.000
Personal Services
$140,255
$151,265
All Other
$50,000
$50,000
__________
__________
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL
$190,255
$201,265
State Resilience Fund N965
Initiative: Provides one-time Other Special Revenue Funds allocation to the State 
Resilience Office to develop, as part of a so-called Flood-Ready Maine project, an inland, 
coastal and riverine hydrologic model, a new online community risk data hub of flood risk 
and other hazard information for public use and to update flood maps.
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS
2025-26
2026-27
All Other
$5,750,000
$0
__________
__________
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL
$5,750,000
$0
State Resilience Fund N965
Initiative: Establishes one Public Service Coordinator II position in the State Resilience 
Office to be the coordinator of the certified floodplain regional program and provides 
allocation for related All Other costs and for the State Resilience Office, in partnership with 
the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management, Maine Emergency 
Management Agency and the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, Bureau 
of Insurance, to expand state and regional capacity to assist communities through grants to 
regional service providers to employ regional certified floodplain managers and to provide 
technical assistance, public engagement and municipal training to support flood risk 
reduction, reduced insurance rates and increased participation in the National Flood 
Insurance Program.
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS
2025-26
2026-27
POSITIONS - LEGISLATIVE COUNT
1.000
1.000
Personal Services
$140,255
$151,265
All Other
$1,600,000
$1,600,000
__________
__________
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL
$1,740,255
$1,751,265
MAINE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS
DEPARTMENT TOTALS
2025-26
2026-27
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS
$7,680,510
$1,952,530
__________
__________
DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS
$7,680,510
$1,952,530
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation 
takes effect when approved.
SUMMARY
Part A of this bill creates the Home Resiliency Program within the Department of 
Professional and Financial Regulation, Bureau of Insurance to provide grants to 
homeowners for the purpose of performing home resiliency projects designed to make a 
home more resistant to damage from severe weather events. The program is funded by a 
one-time transfer of $15,000,000 from the Department of Professional and Financial 
Regulation, Insurance - Bureau of, Other Special Revenue Funds account.
Part B of the bill establishes in the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency 
Management, Maine Emergency Management Agency the Safeguarding Tomorrow 
through Ongoing Risk Mitigation Revolving Loan Fund to improve statewide and regional 
disaster communications systems, provide additional hazard mitigation capacity and 
provide matching funds from the State for 2 federal disaster programs. Funded by a transfer 
from the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, Insurance - Bureau of 
program, initiatives in this Part: 
1.  Support improved statewide emergency communications systems, communications 
system training and education to improve communication regarding disaster events;
2.  Provide state matching funds for United States Department of Homeland Security, 
Federal Emergency Management Agency grants to the State's Disaster Recovery Fund;
3.  Establish and seed a new account to provide state matching funds to leverage 
competitive grants from the federal Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan Fund 
program; and
4.  Establish a limited-period position to implement the new Safeguarding Tomorrow 
through Ongoing Risk Mitigation Revolving Loan Fund and a limited-period emergency 
communications system manager.
Part C of this bill establishes the State Resilience Office within the Maine Office of 
Community Affairs and provides funding through a $9,633,040 transfer from the 
Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, Insurance - Bureau of, Other Special 
Revenue Funds account to create an online community risk reduction data hub, update 
flood maps, reduce community flood risk and increase participation in the National Flood 
Insurance Program through a regional certified floodplain manager program.
This Part also requires an annual transfer from the available balances of the Department 
of Professional and Financial Regulation, Bureau of Insurance's Other Special Revenue 
Funds account to the State Resilience Fund and requires the State Resilience Office to make 
an annual report to the Bureau of Insurance and the joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over insurance matters on the uses, activities and outcomes 
supported by funds from that annual transfer of funds.