Sen. Tepler to chair Environment and Natural Resources, Marine Resources Committees for the 132nd Maine State Legislature  

Posted: December 17, 2024 | Environment and Natural Resources, Marine Resources, Senator Tepler

AUGUSTA — Sen. Denise Tepler, D-Topsham, has been appointed by Senate President Mattie Daughtry, D-Brunswick, to serve as Senate chair of the Legislature’s Joint Standing Committee on Environment and Natural Resources as well as the Senate chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Marine Resources for the 132nd Maine State Legislature.  

The Environment and Natural Resources Committee covers a wide range of issues including air and water quality, natural resource protection, shoreland zoning, mining, and oversight of the Department of Environmental Protection. 

“I’m looking forward to serving my community as chair of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee,” said Sen. Tepler. “Protecting our environment is crucial for our state and our future. I know the people of my district want clean air and water and are keenly aware of the effects of climate change on their lives.” 
  
Sen. Tepler will also serve as Senate chair of the Marine Resources Committee, a committee that deals with the Department of Marine Resources, commercial marine fisheries, processing and sale of marine fish and shellfish and aquaculture.

“I’m honored to have been appointed to serve as chair of the Marine Resources Committee,” said Sen. Tepler. “Many men and women in my district work on the water in our fisheries, as ocean farmers, or in value-added industries. I’m excited to get to work preserving our marine resources for them and for generations to come.”  

Lawmakers are assigned to committees by the presiding officers based on their interests, experience and professional background. Joint standing committees are composed of three senators and ten representatives.  


Sen. Tepler is serving her first term in the Maine Senate. First elected to the MSAD 75 School Board in 1996, Sen. Tepler served the towns of Bowdoin, Bowdoinham, Harpswell, and Topsham for six years. From 2014 to 2022, she served her hometown of Topsham as a State Representative. While in Augusta, Sen. Tepler served as House chair of the Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Committee for four years.

Sen. Tepler represents Maine Senate District 24, which includes the Town of Dresden and all of Sagadahoc County — Arrowsic, Bath, Bowdoin, Bowdoinham, Georgetown, Phippsburg, Richmond, Topsham, West Bath and Woolwich. The Legislature is set to reconvene on Jan. 8, 2025.