Background

LD 226, “An Act to Protect the Cultural Resources and Historical Heritage of Sears Island in Searsport by Extending Conservation Easement Protections”, may be on the docket for an Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) Hearing in late February or March of 2025.

Supporting this important legislation will ensure the conservation and protection of Sears Island. This bill directs the Department of Transportation, in collaboration with a land conservation organization, to establish a conservation easement over all land on Sears Island except portions of the land currently subject to a permanent conservation easement or managed by the Town of Searsport or a private owner.

The Hearing is March 12 at 10a.m.

In Augusta, across from the State House, in the Cross Building, Room 216!

To submit online testimony in SUPPORT of LD 226 An Act to Protect the Cultural Resources and Historical Heritage of Sears Island in Searsport by Extending Conservation Easement Protections,

Or LD 735 An Act to Protect Sand Dunes on Sears Island and to Establish Criteria for Legislation Regarding Land Development

Go to this link: https://www.mainelegislature.org/testimony/

1. Select ‘Public Hearing’

2. Scroll down the page and click on “Choose a Committee”

Select ‘Environment and Natural Resources' on the drop down menu

3. You will then see “Choose date”

Select ‘March 12, 2025 10:00am’

4. You will then see “Choose a bill”

Select ‘LD 226 An Act to Protect the Cultural Resources and Historical Heritage of Sears Island in Searsport by Extending Conservation Easement Protections’, or LD 735. You may upload a PDF of your testimony or copy and paste it into the text box provided and submit it. *Save a copy of your testimony for yourself in case of a technical error. On occasion testimony can fail to go through and must be re-sent.

Additional ways to testify:

- If you want to testify over Zoom, check the box that says “I would like to testify electronically over Zoom.” If you type your email address in the contact information box below that, you should receive a Zoom link from the committee clerk where you can listen in and testify. What you submit in writing can be as long as you need, but remember to limit your spoken (Zoom or in-person) testimony to 3 minutes maximum. Copy and paste or attach a file of your written testimony in the text box that says “and/or enter testimony below:” fill out the contact information, click “I’m not a robot” and boom! You’ve done it.

- If you want to testify in person (this is most impactful), show up to the hearing and speak when the committee chair calls for testimony in support of the bill. They will not call on you individually, so be sure to step up when the opportunity comes. What you submit in writing can be as long as you need, but remember to limit your spoken (Zoom or in-person) testimony to 3 minutes maximum. If you are able, print out 20 copies of your written testimony beforehand to give to the committee clerk for the members and public record. There is a printer in the legislative library if you need to print them on-site. It may take a while as it is in another building, but it is an option should you need it.

You can start your testimony with this:

Greetings Senator Tepler, Representative Doudera, and ENR Committee Members,
My name is __________, I live in __________, ME and I am testifying in support of LD 226

See our Talking Points for Preparing Testimony