STATE OF MAINE
131
ST
LEGISLATURE
S
ECOND REGULAR SESSION
Disposition of bills and summaries of all laws enacted or finally passed
JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE ON INLAND
F
ISHERIES AND WILDLIFE
June 2024
MEMBERS:
SEN. DAVID LAFOUNTAIN, CHAIR
S
EN
.
G
LENN
“C
HIP
”
C
URRY
SEN. RUSSELL BLACK
REP. H. SCOTT LANDRY, JR. CHAIR
REP. JAMES F. DILL
REP. CHERYL A. GOLEK
STAFF:
REP. SALLY JEANE CLUCHEY
ANNE DAVISON, LEGISLATIVE ANALYST
REP. ALLISON HEPLER
OFFICE OF POLICY AND LEGAL ANALYSIS
REP. RICHARD G. MASON
13 STATE HOUSE STATION
REP. STEPHEN J. WOOD
AUGUSTA, ME 04333
REP. GARY A. DRINKWATER
(207) 287-1670
REP. DAVID WOODSOME
http://legislature.maine.gov/opla
REP. JAMES E. THORNE
Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
Page Number: 1 of 2
Joint Standing Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
SUBJECT INDEX
All-terrain Vehicles, Snowmobiles and Watercraft
Enacted
LD 2272
An Act Related to Airboats and Airboat Noise Limits
PUBLIC 583
LD 2276
An Act to Increase Funding for the Snowmobile Trail Fund and the
ATV Recreational Management Fund
PUBLIC 668
Not
Enacted
LD 977
Resolve, to Study the Gasoline Tax Allocations for Nonhighway
Recreational Vehicles and Make Recommendations for Changes
ONTP
Antlerless Deer Permits
Enacted
LD 614
An Act to Reduce Conflicts Between Landowners and Deer and Add
an Additional Youth Deer Hunting Day
PUBLIC 593
Boating
Enacted
LD 2284
An Act to Implement Recommendations in the Department of Inland
Fisheries and Wildlife’s Report on Wake Boats
PUBLIC 611
Firearms
Not
Enacted
LD 629
An Act to Improve, Protect and Defend the Individual Civil Right to
Bear Arms Through Exemption of Firearms and Ammunition from
Taxation
ONTP
Hunting
Enacted
LD 2216
An Act to Amend the Start Date of the September Upland Game Season
PUBLIC 530
Not
Enacted
LD 2194
An Act to Clarify When a Wounded Game Animal May Be Dispatched
by an Authorized Licensed Guide
ONTP
Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
Page Number: 2 of 2
Invasive Aquatic Species
Enacted
LD 1049
Resolve, Directing the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and
the Department of Marine Resources to Enter into a Memorandum of
Understanding to Address Aquatic Invasive Species
RESOLVE 148
LD 1342
An Act to Increase Funding for the Prevention and Control of Invasive
Aquatic Species
PUBLIC 612
Not
Enacted
LD 2141
An Act to Enhance Protections for and Better Address Invasive
Aquatic Plant Infestations in Inland Waters of the State
CARRIED OVER
Licenses and Permits
Not
Enacted
LD 163
An Act to Increase Communication Between the Department of Inland
Fisheries and Wildlife and Lifetime License Holders by Requiring Free
License Renewals Under Certain Circumstances
Minority (ONTP)
Report
Moose Hunting
Enacted
LD 2052
An Act to Provide Additional Moose Hunting Opportunities for Maine
Youth Experiencing Critical Illnesses
PUBLIC 526
Not
Enacted
LD 795
An Act to Clarify Requirements for Moose Hunting Permittees
ONTP
Wildlife Management
Not
Enacted
LD 1919
An Act to Designate a State Wildlife Sanctuary at Blue Hill Falls
Leave to Withdraw
Pursuant to Joint
Rule 310
DIGEST OF BILLS
131ST LEGISLATURE SECOND REGULAR SESSION - 2024
Joint Standing Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
Comm LD Title
Committee
Action
Date of last
Comm Action
Disposition
upon R2
Adjournment
Law Ch
Analyst
Note?
IFW 163
An Act to Increase Communication Between the Department of Inland
Fisheries and Wildlife and Lifetime License Holders by Requiring Free
License Renewals Under Certain Circumstances
OTP-AM/ONTP 3/7/2024
Accepted
Minority
(ONTP) Report
IFW 614
An Act to Reduce Conflicts Between Landowners and Deer and Add an
Additional Youth Deer Hunting Day
OTP-AM 3/22/2024 Enacted PL 593
IFW 629
An Act to Improve, Protect and Defend the Individual Civil Right to Bear
Arms Through Exemption of Firearms and Ammunition from Taxation
ONTP 2/28/2024
Ought Not to
Pass Pursuant
to Joint Rule
310
IFW 795 An Act to Clarify Requirements for Moose Hunting Permittees ONTP 2/1/2024
Ought Not to
Pass Pursuant
to Joint Rule
310
IFW 977
Resolve, to Study the Gasoline Tax Allocations for Nonhighway
Recreational Vehicles and Make Recommendations for Changes
ONTP 3/13/2024
Ought Not to
Pass Pursuant
to Joint Rule
310
IFW 1049
Resolve, Directing the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and
the Department of Marine Resources to Enter into a Memorandum of
Understanding to Address Aquatic Invasive Species
OTP-AM/ONTP 3/7/2024 Finally Passed RESLV 148
IFW 1342
An Act to Increase Funding for the Prevention and Control of Invasive
Aquatic Species
OTP-AM 3/22/2024 Enacted PL 612
IFW 1919 An Act to Designate a State Wildlife Sanctuary at Blue Hill Falls LTW 1/4/2024
Leave to
Withdraw
Pursuant to
Joint Rule 310
Page 1 of 2
DIGEST OF BILLS
131ST LEGISLATURE SECOND REGULAR SESSION - 2024
Comm LD Title
Committee
Action
Date of last
Comm Action
Disposition
upon R2
Adjournment
Law Ch
Analyst
Note?
IFW 2052
An Act to Provide Additional Moose Hunting Opportunities for Maine
Youth Experiencing Critical Illnesses
OTP 2/15/2024 Enacted PL 526
IFW 2141
An Act to Enhance Protections for and Better Address Invasive Aquatic
Plant Infestations in Inland Waters of the State
OTP-AM/ONTP 2/26/2024
IFW 2194
An Act to Clarify When a Wounded Game Animal May Be Dispatched by
an Authorized Licensed Guide
ONTP 2/29/2024
Ought Not to
Pass Pursuant
to Joint Rule
310
IFW 2216 An Act to Amend the Start Date of the September Upland Game Season OTP Enacted PL 530
IFW 2272 An Act Related to Airboats and Airboat Noise Limits OTP 3/20/2024
Emergency
Enacted
PL 583
IFW 2276
An Act to Increase Funding for the Snowmobile Trail Fund and the ATV
Recreational Management Fund
OTP Enacted PL 668
IFW 2284
An Act to Implement Recommendations in the Department of Inland
Fisheries and Wildlife's Report on Wake Boats
OTP Enacted PL 611
Page 2 of 2
JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE ON INLAND FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE
ENACTED LAW SUMMARIES
131
ST
SECOND REGULAR SESSION – 2024
Page 1 of 4
LD 614 An Act to Reduce Conflicts Between Landowners and Deer and Add an Additional
Youth Deer Hunting Day
ENACTED LAW SUMMARY
Public Law 2023, chapter 593 makes the following changes related to the laws administered by
the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.
1. It requires that funds from the Maine Deer Management Fund, within the Department of Inland
Fisheries and Wildlife, be used to help reduce conflicts between landowners and deer and
directs the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to add a checkoff option on the
department’s online licensing system that allows a person to donate money for landowner-deer
conflict prevention and management.
2. It removes the provision that $2 of each deer registration fee deposition in the Maine Deer
Management Fund be used for predator control and deer habitat purposes and instead provides
that this money may be used to assist landowners with the prevention or management of deer
conflicts.
3. It requires that revenue deposited in the Maine Deer Management Fund from antlerless deer
permit fees, minus administrative costs, must be used for predator control purposes or to
acquire or manage deer habitat.
4. It extends the youth deer hunting period from one day to two days and establishes that the
period takes place on the Friday and Saturday preceding the Saturday designated as an open
day for residents of the State.
5. It directs the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, by February 1, 2027, to provide a
report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over inland
fisheries and wildlife matters on the changes to youth deer hunting and gives the committee
the authority to report out a bill based on the report to the 133rd Legislature in 2027.
LD 1049 Resolve, Directing the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and the
Department of Marine Resources to Enter into a Memorandum of Understanding to Address
Aquatic Invasive Species
ENACTED LAW SUMMARY
Resolve 2023, chapter 148 directs the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and the
Department of Marine Resources to enter into a memorandum of understanding to establish a
process to plan for actions to control and prevent further spread of aquatic invasive species as fish
passages are improved and fish barriers are removed statewide. The resolve directs the
departments to include a requirement in the memorandum that the memorandum be updated at
least every five years and that the departments provide notice to the joint standing committee of
the Legislature having jurisdiction over inland fisheries and wildlife matters any time the
JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE ON INLAND FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE
ENACTED LAW SUMMARIES
131
ST
SECOND REGULAR SESSION – 2024
Page 2 of 4
memorandum is reviewed and updated. The resolve also directs the departments to include a
requirement in the memorandum that if changes are planned that reduce commitments outlined in
the memorandum to control and prevent the further spread of aquatic invasive species at the dam
on the Penobscot River in the Town of Medway or the dam on the Piscataquis River at Brown's
Mill in the Town of Dover-Foxcroft, the joint standing committee of the Legislature having
jurisdiction over inland fisheries and wildlife matters must be notified in writing prior to the
changes being implemented.
LD 1342 An Act to Increase Funding for the Prevention and Control of Invasive Aquatic
Species
ENACTED LAW SUMMARY
Public Law 2023, chapter 612 increases the fees for new or renewal certificates of number for
resident motorboats and personal watercraft and the fees for lake and river protection stickers for
all motorboats and personal watercraft not registered in the State and for seaplanes operating on
inland waters of the State. Beginning January 1, 2025, the fees for certificates of number are
increased by $10 and the fees for lake and river protection stickers are increased by $15 and,
beginning January 1, 2028, the fees are increased by an additional $10 for certificates of number
and by an additional $15 for lake and river protection stickers.
Public Law 2023, chapter 612 also makes a change to how fees are allocated so that, beginning
January 1, 2025, 70% of fees are credited to the Invasive Aquatic Plant and Nuisance Species
Fund, rather than 80% as in current law, and 30% of fees, rather than 20% as in current law, are
credited to the Lake and River Protection Fund.
LD 2052 An Act to Provide Additional Moose Hunting Opportunities for Maine Youth
Experiencing Critical Illnesses
ENACTED LAW SUMMARY
Public Law 2023, chapter 526 increases from two to five the number of moose hunting permits
that may be issued to nonprofit organizations that provide hunting and fishing adventures to
children with life-threatening, critical or terminal illnesses and specifies that at least three of the
permits must be issued to an organization based in the State and given to children who are residents
of the State.
JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE ON INLAND FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE
ENACTED LAW SUMMARIES
131
ST
SECOND REGULAR SESSION – 2024
Page 3 of 4
LD 2216 An Act to Amend the Start Date of the September Upland Game Season
ENACTED LAW SUMMARY
Public Law 2023, chapter 530 provides that, beginning January 1, 2025, the open season on upland
game must include the last Saturday in September but need not start on the last Saturday in
September as in current law.
LD 2272 An Act Related to Airboats and Airboat Noise Limits
ENACTED LAW SUMMARY
Public Law 2023, chapter 583 defines “airboat” and enacts the following provisions establishing
requirements for the operation of airboats.
1. It prohibits a person from operating an airboat if the noise level of the airboat exceeds 90
decibels.
2. It prohibits a person from operating an airboat between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. if the noise level of
the airboat exceeds 75 decibels, except to the extent necessary to achieve headway speed when
leaving a boat launch or to move the airboat from a stationary position on a tidal flat.
3. It prohibits a person from operating an airboat between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. if the noise level of
the airboat exceeds 90 decibels, except to the extent necessary to achieve headway speed when
leaving a boat launch or to move the airboat from a stationary position on a tidal flat.
Public Law 2023, chapter 583 also outlines the penalties for violating these provisions and
provides exceptions for the operation of an airboat by certain law enforcement officers.
Public Law 2023, chapter 583 was enacted as an emergency measure effective March 28, 2024.
LD 2276 An Act to Increase Funding for the Snowmobile Trail Fund and the ATV
Recreational Management Fund
ENACTED LAW SUMMARY
Public Law 2023, chapter 668 makes several changes to the gasoline tax allocation to provide
additional funding to the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Bureau of Parks
and Lands’ Snowmobile Trail Fund and ATV Recreational Management Fund.
JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE ON INLAND FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE
ENACTED LAW SUMMARIES
131
ST
SECOND REGULAR SESSION – 2024
Page 4 of 4
LD 2284 An Act to Implement Recommendations in the Department of Inland Fisheries and
Wildlife’s Report on Wake Boats
ENACTED LAW SUMMARY
Public Law 2023, chapter 611 makes the following changes to implement recommendations in the
Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife’s report on wake boats.
1. It defines “wakesurfing activity.”
2. It requires that information related to boater safety and education courses be provided at the
time of purchase of a motorboat from a dealer in the State.
3. It prohibits a person from operating a motorboat in less than 15 feet of water or within 300 feet
of the shoreline when the motorboat is engaged in wakesurfing activity.
4. It directs the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to develop an outreach program to
provide boater safety and education to persons engaged in wakesurfing activities and to submit
a report focused on wake boats and wakesurfing activities in the State to the joint standing
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over inland fisheries and wildlife matters no
later than February 1, 2027. The committee is authorized to report out a bill based on this
report to the 133rd Legislature in 2027.
