An Act to Establish the Working Waterfront Advisory Council
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1845
Committee: Marine Resources
Sponsors: RIELLY, DUSON
Amends: 5 MRSA §12004-I, 12 MRSA §6043

Legislative Document
No. 1845
H.P. 1229
House of Representatives, April 30, 2025
An Act to Establish the Working Waterfront Advisory Council
Reference to the Committee on Marine Resources suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative RIELLY of Westbrook.
Cosponsored by Senator DUSON of Cumberland and
Representatives: GERE of Kennebunkport, GOLEK of Harpswell, MINGO of Calais, 
SIMMONS of Waldoboro, STROUT of Harrington, Senators: BAILEY of York, MOORE of 
Washington, RENY of Lincoln.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  5 MRSA §12004-I, sub-§68-D is enacted to read:
68-D.   
Working 
Waterfronts
Working Waterfront Advisory Council
Not Authorized
MRSA 
§6043 
Sec. 2.  12 MRSA §6043 is enacted to read:
§6043.  Working Waterfront Advisory Council
The Working Waterfront Advisory Council, established by Title 5, section 12004-I, 
subsection 68-D and referred to in this section as "the council," is established to address 
issues facing the State's working waterfronts. 
1.  Membership.  The Director of the Maine Office of Community Affairs, referred to 
in this section as "the director," shall appoint up to 15 members to the council who, to the 
extent possible, must represent federally recognized Indian nations, tribes or bands in the 
State, municipalities, nonprofit organizations, trade organizations, educational institutions, 
individuals and industries that represent or use working waterfronts in the State.  To the 
extent possible, the membership of the council must reflect a geographic distribution along 
the coast. 
In making appointments, the director shall consider and appoint residents of the State who 
have knowledge of problems facing working waterfronts in the State, who have experience 
in advocacy relating to working waterfront issues or who provide leadership in programs 
or activities that create and improve opportunities or spread awareness related to working 
waterfronts and persons that use them. 
2.  Term.  A member's term is for 3 years.  If a member is unable to complete the term, 
the director shall appoint a member pursuant to subsection 1 to serve out the unexpired 
portion of the term. 
3.  Officers; staff.  The officers of the council are the chair and the vice-chair.  The 
term of the officers is one year.  The council shall elect a member of the council for each 
officer position at the first regular meeting of each year.  The council is staffed by the 
program within the Department of Marine Resources for the conservation and development 
of the State's coastal resources for the public benefit. 
4.  Meetings.  The council shall meet at least 4 times a year.  It may meet at other times 
at the call of the chair or the director. 
5.  Council report.  By February 1, 2026 and annually thereafter, the council shall 
submit a report to the joint standing committees of the Legislature having jurisdiction over 
economic and community development matters and marine resources matters on the status 
of the condition of, the current and future challenges concerning and recommendations 
related to working waterfronts in the State, including, but not limited to: 
A. How to best use state agencies, municipal governments, working waterfront 
industries and citizen groups to protect and improve access to working waterfronts in 
the State; 
B. Matters of interest to working waterfront industries and communities in the State, 
including, but not limited to, geographic information systems mapping and inventory, 
climate and resilience, preservation and access, affordable workforce housing, climate-
driven relocation, water quality and ecosystems, workforce development, health care 
access, marine resources economy and economic development, including public-
private partnerships, decarbonization and electrification and developing new working 
waterfronts; and 
C. Information on relevant existing federal, state, municipal, educational organization 
and nonprofit organization data, plans, recommendations and studies that relate to 
working waterfronts in the State and updates on progress made in state plans that 
include references to working waterfronts. 
After reviewing the report, the joint standing committees may report out legislation to 
implement any recommendations contained in the report.
6.  Director report.  By February 1, 2026 and annually thereafter, the director shall 
submit a report to the joint standing committees of the Legislature having jurisdiction over 
initiatives proposed by the Maine Office of Community Affairs on the status of initiatives 
regarding working waterfronts, including information from coalitions, task forces and 
engagements with municipal and tribal governments.  After reviewing the report, the joint 
standing committees may report out legislation to implement any recommendations 
contained in the report.
Sec. 3.  Working Waterfront Advisory Council initial membership 
appointments.  Notwithstanding the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 12, section 6043, 
subsection 2, in making the initial membership appointments to the Working Waterfront 
Advisory Council established pursuant to Title 5, section 12004-I, subsection 68-D, the 
Director of the Maine Office of Community Affairs shall make the initial membership 
appointment terms staggered so that approximately 1/3 of the members are appointed for a 
term of 3 years, approximately 1/3 of the members are appointed for a term of 2 years and 
approximately 1/3 of the members are appointed for a term of one year.
SUMMARY
This bill creates the Working Waterfront Advisory Council to address issues affecting 
the State's working waterfronts and requires the council to submit a report by February 1, 
2026 and annually thereafter to the joint standing committees of the Legislature having 
jurisdiction over economic and community development matters and marine resources 
matters on the status of the condition of, the current and future challenges concerning and 
recommendations related to working waterfronts in the State.  The bill also requires the 
Director of the Maine Office of Community Affairs to submit a report by February 1, 2026 
and annually thereafter to the joint standing committees of the Legislature having 
jurisdiction over initiatives proposed by the Maine Office of Community Affairs regarding 
working waterfronts, including information from coalitions, task forces and engagements 
with municipal and tribal governments.