Resolve, to Establish
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1453
Committee Amendment CA_A_S243 (Senate)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT " A" " to S.P. 594, L.D. 1453, "Resolve, to Establish
the Innovative Factory-made Housing Working Group"
Amend the resolve by striking out the title and substituting the following;
'Resolve, to Establish the Housing Production Innovation Working Group'
Amend the resolve by inserting after the title and before section 1 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, this resolve establishes a working group to study and advise on the potential
for innovative housing construction technologies to reduce housing production costs and
accelerate housing production in the State; and
Whereas, the study must be initiated before the 90-day period expires so that the study
may be completed and a report submitted in time for consideration during the next
legislative session; and
Whereas, in tlie 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'
Amend the resolve in section 1 in the first 2 lines (page 1, lines 1 and 2 in L.D.) by
striking out the following; "Innovative Factory-made Housing" and inserting the following:
'Housing Production Innovation*
Amend the resolve by striking out all of sections 2 and 3 and inserting the following:
'See. 2. Working group membership. Resolved: That, notwithstanding Joint
Rule 353, the working group consists of 1 1 members appointed as follows:
1. Two members of the Senate, including one member from each of the 2 parties
holding the largest number of seats in the Legislature and who serve on tile Joint Standing
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^"toS.P.594.L.D.1453[5'i
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "
Committee on Housing and Economic Development, appointed by the President of the
Senate;
2. Two members oftlie House of Representatives, including one member from each of
the 2 parties holding the largest number of seats in the Legislature and who serve on the
Joint Standing Committee on Housing and Economic Development, appointed by the
Speaker of the House;
3, The Commissioner of Professional and Financial Regulation or the commissioner's
designee;
4. The Commissioner of Economic and Commuinty Development or the
commissioner's designee;
5. The Director of the Office of Policy Innovation and the Future or the director's
designee;
6. The Director of the Maine Office of Community Affairs or the director's designee;
and
7. Three members from the residential construction and building materials
manufacturing industries, one appointed by the President oftlie Senate, one appointed by
the Speaker of the House and one appointed by the Governor."
See. 3. Chairs. Resolved: That, nohvithstanding Joint Rule 353, at the first meeting
of the working group, the members shall elect, by majority vote of those present, 2 members
appointed under section 2, subsections 3 to 7 as chairs of the working group/
Amend the resolve in section 4 in the first line (page 2, line 32 in L,D.) by inserting
after the following; "That" the following;', notwithstanding Joint Rule 353,'
Amend the resolve in section 4 in the 4th line (page 2, line 35 in L.D.) by inserting
after the following: "Council" the following; 'and the Commissioner of Economic and
Community Development'
Amend the resolve in section 4 in the 5th line (page 2, line 36 in L.D.) by striking out
the following: "chairs" and inserting the following: 'Coimmssioner of Economic and
Community Development*
Amend tlie resolve in section 4 in the next to the last line (page 2, line 38 in L.D.) by
striking out the following; "chairs" and inserting the following; 'Commissioner of
Economic and Community Development'
Amend the resolve by striking out all of section 5 and inserting the following;
'See. 5. Duties. Resolved: That the working group shall study the potential for
innovative housing construction technologies to reduce housing production costs and
accelerate housing production in the State. Innovative housing construction technologies
may include modular housing, componentized housing, 3-dimensional printing or other
approaches to residential construction. The working group shall consider regulatory and
financial solutions to barriers to achieving this potential, including, at a minimum, the
following:
1. Demand-side barriers that inhibit adoption of factory-made housing technologies,
including:
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COMMHTEE AMENDMENT " A " to S.P. 594, L.D. 1453 / S' /^L
A, A lack of familiarity and expertise among homebuilding professionals, developers
and homeowners; and
B. Insufficient order volumes and consistency to achieve significant economies of
scale for new or expanded off-site production approaches, and
2, Production-side barriers that inhibit the availability and cost competitiveness of
factory-made housing technologies, including;
A. Varying building codes, inspection standards and approval processes;
B. [nconsistent licensing requirements for factory-made housing technologies;
C, A lack of workers in relevant fields trained in factory-made housing production and
construction; and
D. Challenges with transporting and exporting prefabricated housing products made
in the State.
In researching these topics and establishing recommendations, the working group shall
consult with individuals active in the housing industry, including those representing
manufacturers, builders, developers, trades, training providers, regulators and finance
organizations and those engaging in research at institutions of higher education in the State.
Sec. 6. Staff assistance. Resolved; That, notwithstanding Joint Rule 353, the
Department of Economic and Community Development shall provide necessary staffing
services to the working group,'
Amend the resolve by adding before the summary the following:
'Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation
takes effect when approved.'
Amend the resolve by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or
section number to read consecutively,
SUMMARY
This amendment changes the title of the resolve and the name of the working group
and;
1. Reduces the number of members of the Housing Production Innovation Working
Group from 36 to 11;
2. Redefines the duties of the working group;
3, Requires the working group to elect 2 chairs for the working group;
4, Requires the Department of Economic and Community Development to provide
staff support to the working group;and
5. Adds an emergency preamble and emergency clause.
5 FISCAL NOTE REQmRED
(See attached)
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Approved: 05/21/25
t^Ki.
LD 1453 LR 1518(02)
Resolve, to Establish the Innovative Factory-mnde Housing Working Group
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment "/|"f <^^M<
Committee: Housing and Economic Development
Fiscal Note Required; Yes
Fiscal Note
Legislative Cost/Study
Legislative Cost/Stndy
The general operating expenses of this shidy are projected to be $2,800 in fiscal year 2025-26, The Legislature's
proposed budget for the 2026-2027 biennium includes $22,196 in each of fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27 for t
costs of legislative studies, as well as $8,265 in projected balances from fiscal year 2024-25 and $33,073 of balances
carried over from prior years for this purpose. Whether these amounts are sufficient to fund all studies will depend on
the number of studies authorized by the Legislative Council and the Legislature.
Fiscal Detail and Notes
Additional costs to the Department of Economic and Community Development to staff the working group and the
Governor's Office of Policy Innovation and the Future and the Maine Office of Community Affairs to serve on the
working group established to conduct the required study and submit the required report can be absorbed within
existing budgeted resources.
LR1518(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1