An Act to Establish a Permanent Ferry Oversight Committee to
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1680
Committee: Transportation
Sponsors: EATON, GROHOSKI
Amends: 5 MRSA §12004-J, 23 MRSA §4408

Legislative Document
No. 1680
H.P. 1115
House of Representatives, April 17, 2025
An Act to Establish a Permanent Ferry Oversight Committee to 
Ensure Sustainable and Equitable Ferry Operations
Reference to the Committee on Transportation suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative EATON of Deer Isle.
Cosponsored by Senator GROHOSKI of Hancock and
Representatives: ANKELES of Brunswick, BISHOP of Bucksport, CROCKETT of Portland, 
FRIEDMANN of Bar Harbor, GEIGER of Rockland, MATLACK of St. George, RAY of 
Lincolnville, Senator: TEPLER of Sagadahoc.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  5 MRSA §12004-J, sub-§22 is enacted to read:
22.   
Transportation Ferry Oversight Committee 
Legislative Per 
Diem and 
Expenses 
MRSA 
§4408 
Sec. 2.  23 MRSA §4408 is enacted to read:
§4408.  Ferry Oversight Committee
The Ferry Oversight Committee, established in Title 5, section 12004-J, subsection 22 
and referred to in this section as "the committee," is an independent committee and shall 
provide continuous oversight of ferry operations and serve as a legislative mechanism for 
ensuring accountability and transparency around key decisions that affect unbridged island 
communities.
1.  Membership.  The committee consists of 10 members appointed as follows:
A.  One member of the Senate who serves on the joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over transportation matters, appointed by the President 
of the Senate;
B.  One member of the House of Representatives who serves on the joint standing 
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over transportation matters, appointed 
by the Speaker of the House;
C.  Two members of the Maine State Ferry Advisory Board under chapter 411, each of 
whom represents an island municipality or plantation served by the Maine State Ferry 
Service, appointed by the chair of the Maine State Ferry Advisory Board;
D.  Two members who are not members of the Maine State Ferry Advisory Board 
under chapter 411, each of whom represents an island municipality or plantation served 
by the Maine State Ferry Service, appointed by the Governor; and
E.  Four members with expertise in relevant infrastructure, emergency services, 
economic development and education, appointed by the Governor.
2.  Terms of appointment; vacancies.  Members of the committee are appointed for 
2-year terms.  A member may serve multiple terms.  Members of the committee may serve 
after the expiration of their terms until their successors have taken office.  A member 
appointed to fill a vacancy prior to the expiration of the term for which the member's 
predecessor was appointed serves only for the remainder of that term and must be appointed 
by the same appointing authority. Legislative members serve terms commensurate with 
their terms of office.
3.  Chair.  Annually, the committee shall elect a chair from among its members.
4.  Meetings; quorum.  The committee may meet as often as necessary but must meet 
at least quarterly.  A majority of the members constitutes a quorum.
5.  Duties.  The committee shall:
A.  Review proposals submitted by the Department of Transportation related to ferry 
operations, including berthing changes.  The committee shall submit a report of a 
review under this paragraph to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having 
jurisdiction over transportation matters; and
B.  Examine the effects of changes in ferry services on student access to education, 
emergency service response, service reliability and the economic vitality of island 
communities and submit a report by December 31st of each year to the joint standing 
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over transportation matters with 
findings and recommendations.
Sec. 3.  Staggered terms.  Notwithstanding the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 23, 
section 4408, subsection 2, of the initial non-Legislator appointments to the Ferry 
Oversight Committee, 4 members must be appointed to one-year terms and 4 members to 
2-year terms.
SUMMARY
This bill establishes the Ferry Oversight Committee, which is an independent 
committee providing continuous oversight of ferry operations and serving as a legislative 
mechanism for ensuring accountability and transparency around key decisions that affect 
unbridged island communities.