Committee raises emergency food‑relief authority to $4 million for use during declared emergencies

The Maine Legislature’s Appropriations Committee approved language raising the governor’s authority to use the budget stabilization fund for emergency food assistance, increasing the amount from $400,000 to $4 million.

Representative Drew Gatine moved Part F1, which amends the supplemental language to permit the governor during a declared state of emergency to distribute up to $4 million to nonprofit entities including food banks, food pantries, and soup kitchens that provide or distribute food to low‑income, indigent, or unemployed individuals or households without charge. The motion was seconded and approved by the committee.

Representative Sharm clarified that the authority applies only when a declared state of emergency lasts more than 10 days, a limitation intended to target the expanded authority to sustained emergency conditions rather than short, transient events. The committee recorded the approval by unanimous voice vote.

The committee did not adopt additional eligibility criteria in the language during this session; staff and sponsors said program details and administrative implementation would follow in agency guidance or subsequent budget documents.

Quoted from the meeting: "changes the amount from $400,000 to $4 million that the governor during a declared state of emergency may distribute from the budget stabilization fund to nonprofit entities..." (Representative Drew Gatine).

Next steps: The language will be incorporated into the broader supplemental budget package and implemented by the administration if enacted into law.