An Act to Improve
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1751
Committee Amendment CA_A_H766 (House)
Amends: 30-A MRSA §4301, 30-A MRSA §4312

COMMITTEE AMEND1\1ENT" A, to H.P. 1169, L.D. 1751, "An Act to Improve 
the Growth Management Program Laws" 
Amend the bill by striking out all of section 1 and inserting the following: 
'Sec, 1. 30-A MRSA §4301, sub-§1, as corrected by RR 2017, c. 1, §22, is repealed 
and the following enacted in its place: 
1. Affordable housing. "Affordable housing" means a decent, safe and sanitary 
dwelling as follows: 
A. Rental housing that a household whose income does not exceed 80% of the median 
income for the area as defined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban 
Development under the United States Housing Act of 1937, Public Law 75-412, 50 
Stat. 888, Section 8, as amended, can afford without spending more than 30% of the 
household's monthly income on housing costs; and 
B. With respect to housing that is owned, housing that a household whose income does 
not exceed 120% of the median income for the area as defined by the United States 
Department of Housing and Urban Development under the United States Housing Act 
of 1937, Public Law 75-412, 50 Stat. 888, Section 8, as amended, can afford without 
spending more than 30% of the household's monthly income on housing costs.' 
Sec, 2. 30-A MRSA §4301, sub-§1-A, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 244, §1, is 
amended to read: 
1-A. Cluster development. "Cluster development" means a form of development that 
allows a subdivision design in which individual lot sizes and setbacks are reduced in 
exchange for the creation of common open space and recreation areas, the preservation of 
environmentally sensitive areas, agriculture and silviculture and the reduction in the size 
of road and utility systems.' 
Amend the bill by striking out all of section 11 and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 11. 30-A MRSA §4301, sub-§12-A is enacted to read: 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 1169, L.D. 1751 
12-A. Place type. "Place type" means a definable geographic settlement pattern 
identifiable by the type of activities that occur there and by a set of characteristics related 
to its location. including the proximity and relationship to natural resources and rural areas. 
the size of the developed area. the atTangement of buildings and their uses. the pattern and 
arrangement of streets. the type of infrastructure available and the presence of civic spaces 
and civic buildings. 
Sec. 12. 30-A MRSA §4301, sub-§14-B, as amended by PL 2021, c. 590, Pt. A, 
§5, is further amended to read: 
14-B. Rural area. 
"Rural area" means a geographic area that is identified and 
designated in a municipality's or multimunicipal region's comprehensive plan as an area 
that is deserving of some level of regulatory protection from unrestricted development for 
purposes that may include, but are not limited to, supporting farmland and agriculture, 
forest land and forestry, mineral resources and mining, open space, erosion mitigation, 
water retention, wildlife habitat, fisheries habitat. natural resources. open land and scenic 
lands, and away from which most development projected over 10 years is diverted.' 
Amend the bill by inserting after section 13 the following: 
'Sec. 14. 30-A MRSA §4312, sub-§3, 1A, as amended by PL 2001, c. 578, §9, is 
fu1ther amended to read: 
A. 
To encourage orderly growth and development in appropriate areas of each 
community and region while protecting the State's rural character, making efficient use 
of public services working lands. natural resources and natural resource-based 
industries and preventing development sprawl and sprawl-associated impacts on public 
health, safety and welfare;' 
Amend the bill in section 18 in paragraph G in the last 2 lines (page 2, lines 3 6 and 3 7 
in L.D.) by striking out the following: "commercial fishermen fisheries" and inse1ting the 
following: 'commercial fishe1men persons who fish commercially' 
Amend the bill in section 31 in §4326 in subsection 1 in the 4th line (page 4, line 31 in 
L.D.) by inserting after the following: "on" the following: 'environmental systems mapping 
and other' 
Amend the bill in section 31 in §4326 in subsection 1 in the 10th line (page 4, line 37 
in L.D.) by inserting after the following: "conditions." the following: 'The rules must allow 
flexibility in the timing and quantity of data collected so that communities may pursue a 
strategy of iterative rounds of public paiticipation, data collection and data generation and 
require that the comprehensive plan include a map of existing conditions that identifies 
areas in the municipality where development would be inconsistent with the plan and areas 
that may be considered suitable for development. The map of existing conditions must, at 
a minimum, include data related to the environment. the natural resource-based economy. 
local or regional water supplies and natural hazards. The map is required only if the 
depa1tment provides data and tools that allow municipalities to produce the map at a minor 
cost or less.' 
Amend the bill in section 31 in §4326 in subsection 1 in the first blocked paragraph in 
the 2nd line (page 4, line 39 in L.D.) by striking out the following: "existing conditions or 
desired" 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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-• • .,,...,J 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A" to H.P. 1169, L.D, 1751 
Amend the bill in section 31 in §4326 in subsection 2 in the first line (page 5, line 33 
in L.D,) by striking out the following: 
11l¼liey Local goals and policy
and inserting the 
following: 'Policy' 
Amend the bill in section 31 in §4326 in subsection 2 in the 3rd line (page 5, line 35 in 
L.D.) by inserting after the following: 
11goals
the following: 'and to the local goals' 
Amend the bill in section 31 in §4326 in subsection 3 in the 8th line (page 6, line 9 in 
L.D.) by inserting after the following: 
11ordinances" the following: ', including a capital 
investment plan for the replacement and expansion of public facilities and services required 
to meet projected growth and development,' 
Amend the bill in section 31 in §4326 in subsection 3 in the last 3 lines (page 6, lines 
to 12 in L.D.) by striking out the following: 
including a capital investment plan for 
the replacement and expansion of public facilities and services required to meet projected 
growth and development
Amend the bill in section 31 in §4326 in subsection 3 by adding at the end the following 
new blocked paragraph: 
'The department shall develop and maintain a catalog of implementation strategies 
appropriate for various place types.' 
Amend the bill in section 31 in §4326 in subsection 3-B in paragraph A in the last line 
(page 9, line 3 in L.D.) by inserting after the following: 
11rural areas
the following: 'and 
may include one or more growth areas identified in a comprehensive plan adopted or to be 
adopted by one or more other municipalities or multimunicipal regions in accordance with 
an interlocal agreement adopted in accordance with chapter 115 with one or more 
municipalities or multimunicipal regions' 
Amend the bill in section 31 in §4326 in subsection 3-B in paragraph Bin the first line 
(page 9, line 4 in L.D.) by striking out the following: 
11municipality or multimunicipal 
region may also
and insetting the following: 'future land use plan may' 
Amend the bill in section 31 in §4326 in subsection 3-B by striking out all of paragraph 
C (page 9, lines 8 to 12 in L.D.) and insetting the following: 
'C. A future land use plan may identify and designate more place types to provide 
further guidance on the establishment or modification of a municipality's or 
multimunicipal region's rate of growth ordinance, zoning ordinance or impact fee 
ordinance.' 
Amend the bill in section 31 in §4326 in subsection 3-B in paragraph Din the first line 
(page 9, line 13 in L.D.) by striking out the following: 
11municipality or multimunicipal 
region
and insetting the following: 'future land use plan' 
Amend the bill in section 31 in §4326 in subsection 3-B in paragraph Din the 3rd line 
(page 9, line 15 in L.D.) by striking out the following: 
11it demonstrates,
and insetting the 
following: 'the municipality or multimunicipal region demonstrates, in its comprehensive 
plan and' 
Amend the bill in section 31 in §4326 in subsection 3-B in paragraph Din subparagraph 
(2) in the last line (page 9, line 24 in L.D.) by striking out the following: 
11and
and insetting 
the following: 'or' 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMJ.TTEEAMBND°MENT"!t'toH.P. 1169, L.D.1751 
Amend the bill in section 31 in §4326 in subsection 3-B in paragraph D by insetting 
after subparagraph (3) following blocked paragraph: 
'A municipality or multimunicipal region exercising the discretion afforded by this 
paragraph shall review the basis for its demonstration during the periodic revisions 
undertaken pursuant to section 4347-A.' 
Amend the bill in section 31 in §4326 in subsection 3-B by striking out all of 
paragraphs E and F (page 9, lines 27 to 34 in L.D.). 
Amend the bill in section 31 in §4326 in subsection 5 in the 2nd line (page 10, line 15 
in L.D.) by striking out the following: "strategies in" and insetting the following: 'strategies 
m' 
Amend the bill in section 31 in §4326 in subsection 5 in the 2nd line (page 10, line 15 
in L.D.) by inserting after the following: 
11~
the following: 'elements of 
Amend the bill in section 33 in subsection 5 in the 7th line (page 11, line 20 in L.D.) 
by striking out the following: 
11and
Amend the bill by striking out all of section 43 and insetting the following: 
'Sec. 43. State agency rules. Notwithstanding the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 
30-A, section 4312, subsection 4, rules initially adopted by the state agency responsible for 
the administration of the growth management program under Title 30-A, chapter 187, 
subchapter 2 are major substantive rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. 
As patt of the rule-making prncess under this section, the state agency responsible for the 
administration of the growth management program shall define the term 
11downtown.
Sec. 44. Stakeholder group. Prior to initiating rulemaking as required by this Act, 
the state agency responsible for the administration of the growth management program 
under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 30-A, chapter 187, subchapter 2 shall convene a 
stakeholder group for the purpose of soliciting input on the development of rules necessary 
to implement Title 30-A, chapter 187, subchapter 2, as amended by this Act, The Joint 
Standing Committee on Housing and Economic Development must be notified of and 
invited to all meetings of the stakeholder group. 
Sec, 45. 
Develop guidance for public participation. The state agency 
responsible for the administration of the growth management prngram under the Maine 
Revised Statutes, Title 3 0-A, chapter 187, subchapter 2 shall develop guidance materials 
describing strategies for soliciting, encouraging and incorporating public input into the 
development of a comprehensive plan. At a minimum, the guidance materials must include: 
1. Strategies to solicit input from all demographic groups of residents, including 
historically undet1·epresented people, through a series of public events and activities, 
including hands-on workshops, work sessions or focused roundtable meetings; 
2. Effective methods to advettise events and activities through a combination of print 
and digital platfo1ms in advance of the events and activities; 
3. Multiple methods to provide opp01tunities for the public to contribute ideas, discuss 
key issues facing the community, set priorities and develop policies and strategies to 
address local challenges, including, but not limited to, seeking input through digital and 
paper surveys, questionnaires, visual preference surveys and other means; 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT"A" to H.P. 1169, L.D. 1751 
4. Methods to analyze the public input and use the input to prepare a draft of the 
comprehensive plan and meet the requirements for a comprehensive plan under Title 30-A, 
section 4326; and 
5. Ways to make a draft comprehensive plan easily accessible to the public to solicit 
feedback from the public on the draft comprehensive plan. 
Sec. 46. 
Comprehensive plan guide. The state agency responsible for the 
administration of the growth management program under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 
30-A, chapter 187, subchapter 2 shall prepare a guide to assist municipalities in choosing 
among various approaches to comprehensive planning. A place type approach must be 
included as one of the options. 
Sec. 47. Technical assistance materials. The state agency responsible for the 
administration of the growth management program under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 
0-A, chapter 187, subchapter 2 shall prepare technical assistance materials regarding how 
to use place types or similar planning tools in comprehensive planning. Persons with 
experience in using place types and similar planning tools in comprehensive planning must 
be consulted by the state agency during the process of preparing the technical assistance 
materials. 
Sec. 48. 
Planning tools partnering. 
The state agency responsible for the 
administration of the growth management program under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 
30-A, chapter 187, subchapter 2 shall partner with at least 3 communities that use place 
types or similar planning tools to acquire information on how these tools can be used in 
communities of varying sizes, geographies and resources. 
Sec. 49. Progress report. By January 15, 2026, the state agency responsible for the 
administration of the growth management program under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 
30-A, chapter 187, subchapter 2 shall provide an interim report on progress implementing 
this Act to the Joint Standing Committee on Housing and Economic Development. The 
committee is authorized to introduce legislation based on the report to the Second Regular 
Session of the 132nd Legislature.' 
Amend the bill in section 44 in the 2nd and 3rd lines (page 14, lines 4 and 5 in L.D.) 
by striking out the following: "Depat1ment of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry" and 
inse11ing the following: 'state agency responsible for the administration of the growth 
management program under Title 3 0-A, chapter 187, subchapter 2' 
Amend the bill in section 44 in the 6th line (page 14, line 8 in L.D.) by striking out the 
following: "department" and inse11ing the following: 'state agency' 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section 
number to read consecutively. 
SUMMARY 
This amendment, which is the minority repo11 of the committee, makes the following 
changes to the bill. 
1. It amends the definitions of "affordable housing," "cluster development," "place 
type" and "rural area" in the laws goveming planning and land use regulation. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 1169, L.D. 1751 
2. It requires that rules adopted on the inventory, analysis and needs assessment 
components of developing a comprehensive plan allow for flexibility in the timing and 
quantity of data collected and include a map of existing conditions that identifies areas in 
the municipality where development would be inconsistent with the plan and areas that 
may be considered suitable for development and includes data related to the environment, 
the natural resource-based economy, local or regional water supplies and natural hazards. 
3. 
It requires the state agency responsible for the administration of the growth 
management program under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 30-A, chapter 187, 
subchapter 2 to define the term "downtown" in rule and to convene a stakeholder group to 
solicit input on the rules to be adopted to implement this legislation. 
4. 
It requires the state agency responsible for the administration of the growth 
management program under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 30-A, chapter 187, 
subchapter 2 to develop guidance materials on public pa1ticipation in the comprehensive 
planning process, to prepare a guide to help municipalities choose among the various 
approaches to comprehensive planning, to prepare technical assistance materials on place 
types and to partner with at least 3 communities to acquire information on how place types 
and similar planning tools are used. The state agency is also required to submit an interim 
progress repo1t on the implementation of this legislation to the Joint Standing Committee 
on Housing and Economic Development, which is authorized to report out legislation based 
on the report to the Second Regular Session of the 132nd Legislature. 
5. It adjusts terminology and makes technical changes. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Approved: 06/04/25 LRL 
LD 1751 
LR 1666(02) 
An Act to Improve the Growth Management Program Laws 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment•~• ( H-1'( 6 b) 
Committee: Housing and Economic Development 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Any additional costs to the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry from the provisions of this bill are 
expected to be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. 
LR1666(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1