132nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 383		LR 604(02)
	An Act to Facilitate the Consolidation of the Department of Environmental Protection and the Maine Land Use Planning Commission into a Single Combined Entity
	Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment " "
	Committee: Environment and Natural Resources
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
Potential future biennium cost increase - General Fund Potential future biennium cost increase - Other Special Revenue Funds
			FY 2025-26	FY 2026-27	Projections  FY 2027-28	Projections  FY 2028-29
Net Cost (Savings)
	General Fund		$481,779	$248,487	$0	$0
Appropriations/Allocations
	General Fund		$481,779	$248,487	$0	$0
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	This bill transfers statutory references for the Maine Land Use Planning Commission (LUPC) from the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Because the bill maintains all existing positions, funding, and operations, this reorganization has no net fiscal impact.
	The bill also directs the DEP to submit a report by January 1, 2026, with recommendations for the potential future consolidation of LUPC and DEP into a new entity, the Maine Environmental and Land Use Commission. While implementation costs cannot be estimated until the report is complete, the scope of the proposed consolidation and associated structural changes suggest that those costs are likely to be significant.
	The bill includes one-time General Fund appropriations of $250,000 to the DEP in fiscal year 2025-26 for contracted legal services, one-time General Fund appropriations of $231,779 in fiscal year 20250-26 and $248,487 in fiscal year 2026-27 for two limited-period positions to coordinate the agency transition and prepare the required report.