"From a public safety perspective, our dams are in trouble," says Steven Mallory, director of the Maine Dam Safety Program. Two bipartisan bills just cleared committee in Augusta that could reshape how Maine manages its aging and potentially dangerous dams. One bill would inject $5 million into long-depleted municipal repair loans. The other would bolster the Dam Safety Program after decades of underfunding and staff shortages. With more than 970 dams across the state and a future of stronger storms, experts say the time to act is now. Read Emmett Gartner’s full report on what’s at stake, who’s pushing for reform, and what comes next in the legislature. 🔗 Read the full article: https://themainemonitor.org/dam-safety-legislation-advances/ (fb)

Read Rose Lundy’s latest: https://themainemonitor.org/higher-staffing-requirements-removed-assisted-living-bill/ (fb)