Governor Mills signs Sen. Nangle bill to bolster protections for Maine’s natural resources

AUGUSTA — On Wednesday, April 15, Gov. Janet Mills signed a bill sponsored by Sen. Tim Nangle, D-Windham, that will aid local municipalities in protecting Maine’s natural resources by enforcing shoreland zoning laws when wealthy builders attempt to violate them.

“This new law bolsters municipal enforcement authority because we recognize how important protecting our lakes and rivers is to Maine’s economy and future,” said Sen. Nangle. “We’re empowering our towns to use the tools at their disposal in a fiscally responsible manner. Defending access to clean water without passing massive legal bills on to property taxpayers is a win in my book, and I’m glad to see this become law.”

LD 1904, “An Act to Establish the Municipal Shoreline Protection Legal Fund,” establishes a dedicated revolving fund to provide financial assistance to municipalities facing substantial legal expenses when enforcing shoreland zoning violations, ensuring communities can act without placing the burden on local property taxpayers. The fund will live within the Department of Environmental Protection. The department will administer the fund as a revolving loan program, set clear standards through rulemaking and establish flexible repayment terms that reflect the realities municipalities face when bringing enforcement actions.

To ensure the fund remains viable over time and reduce the need for future appropriations from the Legislature, the committee also amended the bill to direct a portion of penalties collected under the Natural Resources Protection Act to support the fund. This approach allows enforcement-related penalties to be reinvested directly into protecting Maine’s lakes, rivers and shorelines.

The bill was introduced in response to a high-profile case in the town of Raymond, where a property owner replaced 400 feet of shoreline vegetation along Sebago Lake — one of the cleanest sources of drinking water in the country. The town spent more than half a million dollars over three years to enforce its shoreland zoning ordinance. Although the case was ultimately settled in 2024 with restoration beginning later that summer, the experience highlighted the financial barriers many municipalities face when holding violators accountable.

LD 1904 builds on the success of LD 2101 from the 131st Legislature, sponsored by Sen. Nangle and signed into law in 2024, which strengthened municipal enforcement authority for shoreland zoning violations. LD 1904 ensures those tools can be used effectively, regardless of a town’s size or budget.

LD 1904 will go into effect 90 days after the Legislature adjourns sine die.

Sen. Nangle is serving his second term in the Maine Senate, representing Casco, Frye Island, Raymond, Windham and part of Westbrook. He serves as Senate chair of the Transportation Committee and sits on the Health and Human Services Committee.

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