APPROVED CHAPTER
APRIL 22, 2025 33
BY GOVERNOR PUBLIC LAW
STATE OF MAINE
_____
IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD
TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FIVE
_____
S.P. 29 - L.D. 1
An Act to Increase Storm Preparedness for Maine's Communities, Homes
and Infrastructure
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, the winter storms of December 18, 2023, January 9, 2024 and January 13,
2024 caused an estimated $90,000,000 of damage to public infrastructure and significant
additional damage to private property, including homes, wharves and businesses; and
Whereas, the damage demonstrates an urgent need for increased preparedness for
improved resiliency from future extreme weather events; and
Whereas, the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management, Maine
Emergency Management Agency has obligated the existing balance of the Disaster
Recovery Fund to fund the state match for funding for previously declared disasters and
requires additional funding to fully fund the state cost share for funding for current open
disasters; and
Whereas, the Maine Emergency Management Agency currently lacks the capacity to
apply for competitive hazard mitigation grant funds, improve much-needed statewide
emergency systems and provide matching funds needed for United States Department of
Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster and hazard
mitigation loan funds; and
Whereas, in its November report to the Governor, the State of Maine Infrastructure
Rebuilding and Resilience Commission recommended a set of immediate actions to
improve emergency communication, increase community resilience, prepare for future
extreme weather events and increase public safety; and
Whereas, county, municipal and tribal leaders, regional planners, state agencies and
emergency managers at the state, county and local level lack up-to-date hydrological and
sea level rise modeling data and are operating with outdated Federal Emergency
Management Agency maps; and
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 Whereas, only 1.3% of all homes and buildings in the State are covered under the
National Flood Insurance Program, a number that has declined while people in the State
who do have flood insurance are filing more claims; and
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now,
therefore,
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
PART A
Sec. A-1. 24-A MRSA c. 101 is enacted to read:
CHAPTER 101
HOME RESILIENCY PROGRAM
§7701. Definitions
As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms
have the following meanings.
1. Administrator. "Administrator" means the bureau or an entity with which the
bureau contracts for the administration of the program.
2. Fund. "Fund" means the Home Resiliency Fund established in section 7702.
3. Grant. "Grant" means the award of funds for an approved project.
4. Home resiliency project; project. "Home resiliency project" or "project" means a
project designed to make a home more resistant to damage from extreme weather events.
5. Program. "Program" means the Home Resiliency Program established in section
7702.
§7702. Home Resiliency Program
1. Program established. The Home Resiliency Program is established within and
under the direction of the bureau to provide grants to homeowners for the purpose of
performing home resiliency projects.
2. Home Resiliency Fund. The Home Resiliency Fund is established as a nonlapsing
Other Special Revenue Funds account administered by the bureau for the purposes of
funding the program. The bureau may transfer available balances from other bureau
accounts to the fund, and the fund may receive money from any gift, grant, contribution,
legislative appropriation, allocation or transfer or bond proceeds. The money in the fund
may be used only for the purpose of awarding grants under the program and paying the
costs of the administration of the program.
3. Program administration. The bureau may contract with other entities for the
administration of the program and other services, including, but not limited to:
A. Promotion of the program, including the creation and maintenance of a publicly
accessible website containing information about the program;
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 B. Development of an application form;
C. Verification of applicant eligibility;
D. Determination and distribution of grants;
E. Establishment of standards for project completion, including contractor approval;
F. Verification of project completion;
G. Development of a mechanism for the return of unused grant money;
H. Development of a list of home resiliency projects that would be eligible for a grant;
and
I. Development of standards to be used to determine whether a home resiliency project
has been completed satisfactorily.
4. Program eligibility. An individual is eligible for a grant if the individual:
A. Has not previously received a grant under the program;
B. Submits an application on a form approved by the administrator;
C. In the application submitted under paragraph B, designates a home resiliency project
from the list approved pursuant to subsection 5 to be performed on a home:
(1) Owned by the applicant;
(2) In which the applicant resides as the applicant's permanent residence; and
(3) That was not the subject of a previous home resiliency project; and
D. Submits all information regarding the individual, the individual's home and the
proposed home resiliency project as required by the bureau and the administrator.
5. Home resiliency projects; list. The bureau and the administrator of the project shall
approve a list of prospective projects eligible for grants under the program. The
administrator shall publish the list of approved prospective home resiliency projects in the
promotional materials for the program and on the publicly accessible website maintained
to promote the program.
6. Grant determination. The bureau may establish 2 or more tiers of eligibility based
on factors that reflect the income or financial means of the applicant. The bureau shall set
maximum grant amounts and, if income or financial means tiers are established, shall set
the maximum grant amounts for each tier. The administrator shall make grants under the
program to eligible persons. The administrator shall review applications in the order in
which they are received. An application is considered received when all required
information has been submitted. The administrator shall award grants under the program
until funds in the fund are exhausted.
7. Post-grant verification. The recipient of a grant under the program shall provide
to the administrator information that is required by the administrator and that is sufficient
to allow the administrator to verify that the home resiliency project has been completed
within the standards developed under subsection 3 for home resiliency project completion
within 2 years of the grant. The recipient of a grant shall return to the administrator any
funds provided to the recipient but not used for the approved project.
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 8. No private right of action. This chapter does not provide an express or implied
private right of action.
9. Rulemaking. The superintendent may adopt rules necessary to implement the
program. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined
in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2‑A.
§7703. Date of grants
The bureau and the administrator are not required to award a grant before May 1, 2026.
Sec. A-2. Transfers from available fiscal year 2024-25 Department of
Professional and Financial Regulation, Insurance - Bureau of, Other Special
Revenue Funds balances to the Department of Professional and Financial
Regulation, Home Resiliency Fund, Other Special Revenue Funds account.
Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, on or before 90 days following the
effective date of this Act, the State Controller shall transfer $15,000,000 from available
balances in the Insurance - Bureau of, Other Special Revenue Funds account within the
Department of Professional and Financial Regulation to the Department of Professional
and Financial Regulation, Home Resiliency Fund, Other Special Revenue Funds account.
Sec. A-3. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and
allocations are made.
PROFESSIONAL AND FINANCIAL REGULATION, DEPARTMENT OF
Home Resiliency Fund N964
Initiative: Provides an allocation for the Home Resiliency Fund to provide grants to
homeowners to reduce their risks and losses in future storm events, including roof damage
prevention, basement flooding risk reduction and targeted interventions that have been
proven to reduce risks from extreme weather events.
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 2025-26 2026-27
All Other $7,500,000 $7,500,000
__________ __________
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL $7,500,000 $7,500,000
PART B
Sec. B-1. 37-B MRSA §747 is enacted to read:
§747. Safeguarding Tomorrow through Ongoing Risk Mitigation Revolving Loan
Fund
1. Fund established. The Safeguarding Tomorrow through Ongoing Risk Mitigation
Revolving Loan Fund, referred to in this section as "the fund," is established as a dedicated,
nonlapsing fund administered by the agency for the purpose of providing a state match for
United States Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency
disaster and hazard mitigation revolving low-interest loan funds to support county,
municipal and tribal government infrastructure projects that reduce risks from extreme
weather events and other natural hazards such as flooding and damaging winds to the extent
allowed by federal laws and regulations.
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 2. Sources of funding. The fund consists of any money received from the following
sources:
A. Contributions from private sources;
B. Federal funds and grant awards;
C. The proceeds of any bonds issued for the purposes for which the fund is established;
and
D. Any other funds received in support of the purposes for which the fund is
established.
3. Disbursements from fund. The agency shall apply the money in the fund to provide
for grants and loans to support municipal and tribal government infrastructure projects that
reduce risks from extreme weather events and other natural hazards such as flooding and
damaging winds to the extent allowed by federal laws and regulations.
4. Rulemaking. The agency may adopt rules as necessary to accomplish the purpose
of the fund and to meet state and federal requirements for the proper administration of this
section. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in
Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2‑A.
Sec. B-2. Transfers from available fiscal year 2024-25 Department of
Professional and Financial Regulation, Insurance - Bureau of, Other Special
Revenue Funds balances to the Department of Defense, Veterans and
Emergency Management, Administration - Maine Emergency Management
Agency, Disaster Recovery Fund Other Special Revenue Funds account.
Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, on or before 90 days following the
effective date of this Act, the State Controller shall transfer $10,000,000 from available
balances in the Insurance - Bureau of, Other Special Revenue Funds account within the
Department of Professional and Financial Regulation to the Department of Defense,
Veterans and Emergency Management, Administration - Maine Emergency Management
Agency, Disaster Recovery Fund Other Special Revenue Funds account.
Sec. B-3. Transfers from available fiscal year 2024-25 Department of
Professional and Financial Regulation, Insurance - Bureau of, Other Special
Revenue Funds balances to the Department of Defense, Veterans and
Emergency Management, Administration - Maine Emergency Management
Agency, Other Special Revenue Funds account. Notwithstanding any provision of
law to the contrary, on or before 90 days following the effective date of this Act, the State
Controller shall transfer $477,313 from available balances in the Insurance - Bureau of,
Other Special Revenue Funds account within the Department of Professional and Financial
Regulation to the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management,
Administration - Maine Emergency Management Agency, Other Special Revenue Funds
account.
Sec. B-4. Transfers from available fiscal year 2024-25 Department of
Professional and Financial Regulation, Insurance - Bureau of, Other Special
Revenue Funds balances to the Department of Defense, Veterans and
Emergency Management, Administration - Maine Emergency Management
Agency, Other Special Revenue Funds account. Notwithstanding any provision of
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law to the contrary, on or before 90 days following the effective date of this Act, the State
Controller shall transfer $800,000 from available balances in the Insurance - Bureau of,
Other Special Revenue Funds account within the Department of Professional and Financial
Regulation to the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management,
Administration - Maine Emergency Management Agency, Other Special Revenue Funds
account.
Sec. B-5. Transfers from available fiscal year 2024-25 Department of
Professional and Financial Regulation, Insurance - Bureau of, Other Special
Revenue Funds balances to the Department of Defense, Veterans and
Emergency Management, Safeguarding Tomorrow through Ongoing Risk
Mitigation Revolving Loan Fund, Other Special Revenue Funds account.
Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, on or before 90 days following the
effective date of this Act, the State Controller shall transfer $750,000 from available
balances in the Insurance - Bureau of, Other Special Revenue Funds account within the
Department of Professional and Financial Regulation to the Department of Defense,
Veterans and Emergency Management, Safeguarding Tomorrow through Ongoing Risk
Mitigation Revolving Loan Fund, Other Special Revenue Funds account.
Sec. B-6. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and
allocations are made.
DEFENSE, VETERANS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT
OF
Administration - Maine Emergency Management Agency 0214
Initiative: Establishes one limited-period Contract/Grant Specialist position through June
18, 2027 and provides allocation for related All Other costs to function as the State's first
Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan Fund administrator and to support county,
municipal and tribal governments in applying for and receiving other United States
Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency funding
sources.
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 2025-26 2026-27
Personal Services $96,275 $103,555
All Other $7,605 $7,711
__________ __________
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL $103,880 $111,266
Administration - Maine Emergency Management Agency 0214
Initiative: Establishes one limited-period Communications System Manager position
through June 18, 2027 and provides allocation for related All Other costs necessary to serve
as the State's integrated public alert and warning coordinator.
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 2025-26 2026-27
Personal Services $118,165 $127,560
All Other $8,132 $8,310
__________ __________
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL $126,297 $135,870
Administration - Maine Emergency Management Agency 0214
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Initiative: Provides allocation to support a 2-year initiative to update the Maine Emergency
Management Agency's communications technology and warning systems statewide and
provide for technology purchases, universal language systems, training and education in
all counties to improve communications before, during and after emergency and disaster
events.
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 2025-26 2026-27
All Other $800,000 $500
__________ __________
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL $800,000 $500
Administration - Maine Emergency Management Agency 0214
Initiative: Provides one-time funding for the Disaster Recovery Fund to meet state funding
requirements for emergency declarations.
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 2025-26 2026-27
All Other