A state lawmaker wants to empower towns and cities to fight against violations on Maine’s waterfronts.

Senator Tim Nangle (D-Windham) presented a bill that would create a fund to help communities pay for legal fees when they take on waterfront property owners who break laws and ordinances.

CBS 13 reports that if the town or city does win in court, they would have to pay back the fund with their court-awarded legal fees.

Senator Nangle says that his bill will give resources that municipalities need to take on wealthy violators.

The legislature will take up the bill next session; he says he’ll work with the DEP on the language of this legislation.