129th MAINE LEGISLATURE
LD 1749 LR 380(02)
An Act To Amend the State's Hemp Laws
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment " "
Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
             
Fiscal Note
FY 2019-20 FY 2020-21 Projections  FY 2021-22 Projections  FY 2022-23
Appropriations/Allocations
Other Special Revenue Funds $84,296 $108,233 $112,670 $117,328
Revenue
Other Special Revenue Funds $93,750 $125,000 $125,000 $125,000
Fiscal Detail and Notes
This bill directs the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to establish a pilot program for the indoor cultivation of hemp.  The ACF estimates that establishing an indoor cultivation program would require additional staff and resources.  This bill includes allocations of $84,296 in fiscal year 2019-20 and $108,233 in fiscal year 2020-21 for one Professional Licensing Supervisor position, for changing one half-time Certified Seed Specialist position to a seasonal position, for associated position costs and for contracted services for laboratory testing of product samples.  Indoor growing will increase the number of licenses and the square footage subject to monitoring, sampling and testing fees, resulting in a revenue increase of $93,750 in fiscal year 2019-20 and $125,000 in fiscal year 2020-21.  This estimate assumes that 100 growers would pay a $500 license fee and that each licensee would have an average of 3,000 square feet subject to a 25¢ per square foot monitoring, sampling and testing fee.