MAINE MONITOR • February 28, 2025
Maine lawmakers on Thursday heard overwhelming support for a bipartisan bill that would bolster the state’s disaster preparedness efforts and provide millions of dollars in grants to fortify Maine homes and local infrastructure against climate change-fueled storms. The bill, L.D. 1, was received warmly by members of both parties at a public hearing. The bill would create three new initiatives, largely in response to the recommendations of a state climate resilience commission, whose members urged the state to improve emergency communications, help small Maine communities navigate federal disaster assistance, and buttress homes and infrastructure before the next disaster strikes. The third initiative would establish a new state fund with $750,000 matching funds to leverage the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s loan fund.