LD 870

Maine’s Unorganized Territory (UT) encompasses regions of the state with no local, incorporated municipal government, and, at 10.4 million acres, it makes up more than one-half of the state’s land mass. Most towns and cities have planning departments or zoning boards that guide land development and usage, but the unique rurality of these areas leaves planning decisions for this vast swath of economically and ecologically significant land to the planning and zoning authority, known as the Land Use Planning Commission (LUPC). LD 870 updates the LUPC in a few key ways: it expands the commission from nine to eleven members to add an at-large commissioner, with explicit natural resource-based expertise, and a representative of the Wabanaki Nations, 80% of whose land is in the UT. It also updates qualifications to ensure appointees have experience in forestry, land use planning, conservation, fisheries, wildlife, outdoor recreation, or natural resources-based businesses.

Behind the Roll Call

Sponsored by lifelong sportsman with Aroostook County roots, Rep. William Bridgeo led an effort to modernize the LUPC to help position the Commission to tackle mounting issues and pressures. These include changing ownership patterns, economic and development pressures, climate change impacts, and threats to biodiversity. Despite support from lawmakers across the political spectrum, proposals to change the Land Use Planning Commission’s oversight board have been historically contentious. LD 870 was not immune.

The original bill called for setting term limits for commissioners, increasing the number of gubernatorial appointees, formalizing qualifications required for membership, and allowing experts in relevant fields to serve on the board without a requirement for residence in the UT. This proposal encountered pushback from UT-represented counties, large landowners, and businesses, who shared concerns that adding more members would dilute local representation.  Conservation organizations argued these changes were reasonable and timely, given the UT includes natural resources of local, state, national, and even global significance. It would also more closely match the balance in state and local control called for in the 2011 Land Use Planning Reform Commission report, which helped shape the current makeup of the LUPC.

The majority of the Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (ACF) Committee ultimately agreed to a smaller set of reforms, enhancing qualifications of board members and expanding the board by two members. Notably, Sen. Rachel Talbot Ross and Rep. James Dill advocated for the addition of a tribal representative. With a 7-5 vote in committee, the bill advanced to the chambers, where it passed largely along party lines at the end of the first session. Underscoring the divisive nature of LUPC negotiations, Gov. Mills chose to “hold” this bill for further review until the second session, letting it go into law unsigned on January 11, 2026.