An Act to Promote an Innovation-driven Economy by Increasing
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 0788
Sponsors: PIERCE, FECTEAU, DAUGHTRY
Amends: 10 MRSA §929-C

Legislative Document
No. 788
S.P. 348
In Senate, March 4, 2025
An Act to Promote an Innovation-driven Economy by Increasing 
Research and Development Spending
Received by the Secretary of the Senate on February 27, 2025.  Referred to the Committee 
on Housing and Economic Development pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator PIERCE of Cumberland.
Cosponsored by Speaker FECTEAU of Biddeford and
Senators: BENNETT of Oxford, President DAUGHTRY of Cumberland, LAWRENCE of 
York, STEWART of Aroostook, Representative: CLOUTIER of Lewiston.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  10 MRSA §929-C, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 420, §6, is amended to read:
§929-C.  Research and development budgetary recommendations
The Maine Economic Growth Council, established in section 929‑A, with input from 
the Office of Innovation, established pursuant to Title 5, section 13105, and the Maine 
Innovation Economy Advisory Board, under section 949, shall review the innovation 
economy action plan, as described in Title 10, chapter 107‑D, and develop specific annual 
budgetary recommendations to support the plan’s vision and goals.  These 
recommendations must include specific bonding and General Fund appropriations 
investment levels.  By June 1st of each year, the council shall submit its recommendations, 
along with an annual accountability update that summarizes the State’s commitment to 
research and development investments in the prior year, to the Governor, the Legislature 
and the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over business, 
research and economic development issues support and track progress toward the goal of 
increasing the State's research and development spending as a percentage of the State's 
gross domestic product to meet the national average by 2030 and maintaining that national 
average each year thereafter.  By December 1st of each year, the council shall submit an 
annual accountability update that summarizes the State's commitment to research and 
development investments in the prior year to the Governor and the joint standing committee 
of the Legislature having jurisdiction over research and economic development matters and 
the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over appropriations and 
financial affairs. In coordination with the Office of Innovation and the Maine Innovation 
Economy Advisory Board, the council may also submit specific budgetary 
recommendations to support this research and development spending goal.
SUMMARY
This bill adds supporting the goal of increasing research and development spending as 
a percentage of the State's economy to meet the national average by 2030 to the 
responsibilities of the Maine Economic Growth Council. It also directs the council to track 
the progress toward the research and development spending goal and submit a report 
annually to the joint standing committees of the Legislature having jurisdiction over 
research and economic development matters and appropriations and financial affairs. The 
council is also authorized to seek budgetary recommendations from the Office of 
Innovation and the Maine Innovation Economy Advisory Board regarding the research and 
development spending goal.