This bill amends the duties of the Water Resources Planning Committee within the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to include developing measures for the consolidation and centralization of collected state water resources information within a single state agency, ensuring public access to that information, identifying opportunities and resources to enhance or supplement the collection of state water resources information and enhancing or supplementing the State's monitoring of and data collection regarding water use and water resources. It also requires the committee, beginning January 15, 2024, to annually submit a report to the department and to the joint standing committees of the Legislature having jurisdiction over agriculture, conservation and forestry matters; environment and natural resources matters; energy and utilities matters; and health and human services matters. The report must include a summary of the committee's activities during the prior calendar year and any findings and recommendations, including any suggested legislation, and each joint standing committee may report out legislation to implement any of the recommendations included in the report. The bill also amends the duties of the Maine Agricultural Water Management Board within the department to include developing recommendations for measures to enhance drought preparedness and drought resilience by agricultural producers. It also requires the board, beginning January 15, 2024, to annually submit a report to the joint standing committees of the Legislature having jurisdiction over agriculture, conservation and forestry matters and environment and natural resources matters. The report must include a summary of the board's activities during the prior calendar year and any findings and recommendations, including any suggested legislation, and each joint standing committee may report out legislation to implement any of the recommendations included in the report.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text LD 1441, HP 937: 5.6401, 7.352