Maine Forest Products Council

What it reported doing in 2025

During 2025, the Maine Forest Products Council (MFPC) served as the unified voice of Maine's forest products community before the Legislature, executive agencies, and regulatory bodies. MFPC monitored more than 70 legislative proposals and numerous rulemaking proceedings affecting forestry, manufacturing, transportation, energy, environmental compliance, workforce development, and rural economic growth.MFPC's advocacy efforts focused particularly on five major legislative and regulatory priorities: Continued on Schedule O1. Spruce Budworm Response and Emergency FundingMFPC played a leading role in coordinating industry, landowner, academic, and government stakeholders to address the emerging spruce budworm threat. The organization advocated for state supplemental budget funding needed to leverage federal investments, supported establishment of the Maine Budworm Response Coalition, and worked with Maine's congressional delegation and state policymakers to secure resources for monitoring, environmental review, and treatment planning.2. Energy Policy, Biomass, and Electricity Cost ReformRecognizing that energy costs remain one of the largest operating expenses for forest products manufacturers, MFPC actively engaged on legislation affecting renewable energy procurement, hydropower, biomass utilization, net energy billing, and clean energy incentives. The Council supported measures promoting wood-based energy solutions and modern wood heating while advocating for policies that improve electric system affordability and reliability for Maine employers.3. Paid Family and Medical Leave Program ReformMFPC represented employer concerns regarding implementation of Maine's Paid Family and Medical Leave program. The organization participated in rulemaking discussions and legislative debates, supporting proposals to improve program administration, preserve self-insurance options, delay benefit implementation timelines where appropriate, protect program funds, and better balance employee benefits with the operational realities faced by Maine businesses.4. Land Use, Conservation, and Property Rights PolicyMFPC engaged extensively on issues affecting private forestland ownership and management, including carbon markets, the Open Space Tax Law, municipal regulation of timber harvesting, recreation access, Land Use Planning Commission matters, and legislation affecting conservation and development standards. The organization worked to ensure that public policy recognized the importance of working forests, maintained landowner flexibility, and supported long-term forest management investments.5. Environmental Regulation and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)MFPC represented member interests in significant regulatory proceedings involving packaging stewardship, PFAS regulations, water quality standards, hydropower licensing and certifications, and environmental permitting standards. The Council submitted formal comments and testimony on Maine Department of Environmental Protection and Board of Environmental Protection rulemakings, helping shape implementation of the state's Extended Producer Responsibility program and advocating for practical, science-based environmental regulations.In addition to these priority initiatives, MFPC provided testimony and advocacy on numerous issues including commercial wood hauling tax relief, mass timber manufacturing investment, forest products infrastructure funding, wildlife and recreation policy, small business tax incentives, and workforce challenges. Through regular legislative briefings, stakeholder meetings, educational events, and coalition engagement, MFPC worked throughout 2025 to promote a competitive business climate and support the long-term sustainability of Maine's $8.3 billion forest products industry.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: Limited
• Program expense ratio: Limited
• Fundraising efficiency: Limited

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 91.7%; rating input score 92; 15th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 2 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 33
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 78th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Limited
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 7 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 78
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Fail
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -8.4%; rating input score 15; 15th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.5; rating input score 56; 56th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.02; rating input score 51; 51st percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 45%; rating input score 3; 3rd percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: Limited
• Revenue growth: 3.5% per year; rating input score 100; 29th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: -0.1% per year; rating input score 0; 15th percentile among comparable filings