An Act to Expand Appliance Energy and Water Standards
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1158
Committee: Environment and Natural Resources
Sponsors: BELL
Amends: 38 MRSA §1616

Legislative Document
No. 1158
H.P. 763
House of Representatives, March 20, 2025
An Act to Expand Appliance Energy and Water Standards
Reference to the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources suggested and ordered 
printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative BELL of Yarmouth.
Cosponsored by Representatives: BRIDGEO of Augusta, DOUDERA of Camden, OSHER of 
Orono, PLUECKER of Warren, Senator: TEPLER of Sagadahoc.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  38 MRSA §1616, sub-§1, ¶A-1 is enacted to read:
A-1.  Except as provided in subsection 2, beginning January 1, 2027, a person may not 
sell or offer for sale in the State any of the following appliances and products 
manufactured on or after January 1, 2027 that are prohibited from sale in rules adopted 
by the department in accordance with subsection 3:
(1)  Commercial battery chargers;
(2)  Commercial dishwashers; 
(3)  Commercial food steamers;
(4)  Commercial fryers;
(5)  Commercial ovens;
(6)  Computer server power supplies;
(7)  Gas fireplaces;
(8)  Residential ventilating fans; and
(9)  Water softeners.
Sec. 2.  38 MRSA §1616, sub-§1, ¶B, as enacted by PL 2021, c. 433, §1 and 
reallocated by RR 2021, c. 2, Pt. A, §135, is amended to read:
B.  In determining a person's compliance with paragraph paragraphs A and A-1, the 
department shall, to the greatest extent practicable and where consistent with the 
requirements of this subsection, use information available from other states that 
regulate the same appliances and products.
Sec. 3.  38 MRSA §1616, sub-§1, ¶C, as enacted by PL 2021, c. 433, §1 and 
reallocated by RR 2021, c. 2, Pt. A, §135, is amended to read:
C.  A person who violates paragraph A or A-1 commits a civil violation for which a 
fine of not more than $100 may be adjudged.
Sec. 4.  38 MRSA §1616, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 2021, c. 433, §1 and reallocated 
by RR 2021, c. 2, Pt. A, §135, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
2.  Exclusions; federal preemption.  This section does not apply to any appliances 
and products:
A.  Listed in subsection 1, paragraph A, subparagraphs (1) to (8) that are manufactured 
before January 1, 2023;
B.  Listed in subsection 1, paragraph A-1, subparagraphs (1) to (9) that are 
manufactured before January 1, 2027; or 
C.  Listed in subsection 1, paragraph A or A-1 that are sold or offered for sale in the 
State in used condition.  
An appliance or product listed in subsection 1, paragraph A or A-1 is exempt from the 
prohibitions in this section and the rules adopted pursuant to this section if state regulation 
of the appliance or product is preempted by federal statute or regulation, for as long as that 
federal preemption remains in effect.
Sec. 5.  38 MRSA §1616, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 2021, c. 433, §1 and reallocated 
by RR 2021, c. 2, Pt. A, §135, is amended to read:
3.  Rules.  The department may adopt rules to prohibit the sale or offering for sale in 
the State of appliances or products described in subsection 1, paragraph paragraphs A and 
A-1.  Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are major substantive rules as defined in 
Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2‑A.
SUMMARY
This bill adds to the list of new appliances and products in current law that a person 
may not sell or offer for sale in the State in accordance with rules adopted by the 
Department of Environmental Protection.  The bill adds the following appliances and 
products that are manufactured on or after January 1, 2027: commercial battery chargers; 
commercial dishwashers; commercial food steamers; commercial fryers; commercial 
ovens; computer server power supplies; gas fireplaces; residential ventilating fans; and 
water softeners.