AUGUSTA - The Maine House of Representatives on Tuesday advanced legislation sponsored by Rep. Grayson Lookner, D-Portland, that would require any vessel that meets the definition of megayacht to pay an impact fee of $10 per foot of length over 150 feet each day, up to 30 consecutive days, when docking in Maine. The funds generated will be invested into Maine's working waterfront and historic coastal communities.
"This bill is about making sure that those who are the wealthiest and heaviest users of our state's marine infrastructure give something back," said Lookner. "Megayachts have a disproportionate impact on our harbors and our environment. It only makes sense that megayacht owners pay their fair share to help support Maine's working waterfronts."
As amended, LD 1177 defines a megayacht as a vessel over 150 feet in length. This does not include vessels built before 1950, vessels made primarily of wood or military and academic vessels. Further, the bill would allow the Maine Department of Environmental Protection to adopt rules to implement the impact fee and require that 50% of funds be used to support harbor infrastructure, sea level rise mitigation efforts and other initiatives led by municipalities or harbor commissions. Additionally, 50% of funds must be used on public transit infrastructure, including ferries and land-based public transportation.
The bill faces additional votes in the House and Senate in the coming days.
Lookner, who represents a portion of Portland, is serving his second term in the Maine House of Representatives and is a member of the Legislature's Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee and the Joint Select Committee on Housing.
Contact:
Brian Lee [Lookner], 305-965-2744