An Act To Release a Restriction on 2 Parcels of Former State Land in Greenbush Currently Owned by Anita P. Haskell
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 1247
Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
Sponsors: DUCHESNE, SAVIELLO, DUNPHY, HICKMAN, LOCKMAN, TURNER, DILL

Legislative Document 
No. 1247 
H.P. 847 
House of Representatives, April 7, 2015 
An Act To Release a Restriction on 2 Parcels of Former State Land 
in Greenbush Currently Owned by Anita P. Haskell 
Reference to the Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry suggested and 
ordered printed. 
ROBERT B. HUNT 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative DUCHESNE of Hudson. 
Cosponsored by Senator SAVIELLO of Franklin and 
Representatives: DUNPHY of Old Town, HICKMAN of Winthrop, LOCKMAN of Amherst, 
TURNER of Burlington, Senator: DILL of Penobscot. 
Preamble.  The Constitution of Maine, Article IX, Section 23 requires that real 
estate held by the State for conservation or recreation purposes may not be reduced or its 
uses substantially altered except on the vote of 2/3 of all members elected to each House. 
Whereas, certain real estate authorized for conveyance by this Act is under the 
designations described in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 12, section 598-A; now, 
therefore, 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to release 
a restriction on former state land in Greenbush currently owned by Anita P. 
Haskell.  The provision restricting the use to only agricultural or forestry purposes on 
the land in Greenbush currently owned by Anita P. Haskell, as required by Public Law 
1993, chapter 335 and stated in a deed from the State of Maine to Anita P. Haskell and 
Leon L. Haskell dated February 11, 1994 and recorded in the Penobscot County Registry 
of Deeds, Book 5564, Page 244, must be released as provided in this section. The 
Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry shall issue a deed to Anita P. 
Haskell releasing the restriction of only agricultural or forestry purposes on the land 
owned by Anita P. Haskell that is subject to the restriction stated in the deed from the 
recorded in the Penobscot County Registry of Deeds, Book 5564, Page 244. The 
restriction of use of the property only for agricultural or forestry purposes on the land 
owned by Anita P. Haskell may be released only after Anita P. Haskell and the 
Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry have agreed that the State of 
Maine must be held harmless regarding any and all claims related to the property and the 
ownership of the property by the State of Maine and any predecessors in title. The release 
of the deed restriction and the hold harmless clause must be included in a single 
document constituting the deed to Anita P. Haskell and bind all successors in title. All 
legal costs related to the release of the deed restriction and the agreement regarding the 
hold harmless clause are the responsibility of Anita P. Haskell. 
Sec. 2.  Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to release 
a restriction on former state land in Greenbush currently owned by Anita P. 
Haskell. The provision restricting the use to only agricultural or forestry purposes on the 
land in Greenbush currently owned by Anita P. Haskell, as required by Public Law 1993, 
chapter 335 and stated in a deed from the State of Maine to Anita P. Haskell and Leon L. 
Haskell dated February 11, 1994 and recorded in the Penobscot County Registry of 
Deeds, Book 5564, Page 245, must be released as provided in this section. The 
Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry shall issue a deed to Anita P. 
Haskell releasing the restriction of only agricultural or forestry purposes on the land 
owned by Anita P. Haskell that is subject to the restriction stated in the deed from the 
recorded in the Penobscot County Registry of Deeds, Book 5564, Page 245. The 
restriction of use of the property only for agricultural or forestry purposes on the land 
owned by Anita P. Haskell may be released only after Anita P. Haskell and the 
Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry have agreed that the State of 
Maine must be held harmless regarding any and all claims related to the property and the 
ownership of the property by the State of Maine and any predecessors in title. The release 
of the deed restriction and the hold harmless clause must be included in a single 
document constituting the deed to Anita P. Haskell and bind all successors in title. All 
legal costs related to the release of the deed restriction and the agreement regarding the 
hold harmless clause are the responsibility of Anita P. Haskell. 
SUMMARY 
This bill rescinds the statutory restriction of only agricultural or forestry purposes on 
parcels of former state land in Greenbush currently owned by Anita P. Haskell and 
directs the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to issue a deed to each 
parcel to Anita P. Haskell releasing the restriction on those parcels.  Anita P. Haskell and 
the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry are required to agree that the 
State must be held harmless regarding any and all claims related to the property and the 
ownership of the property by the State and any previous owners. It also requires that the 
release of the deed restriction and hold harmless clause become part of the deed and bind 
all successors in title. The bill also requires that Anita P. Haskell pay all legal costs 
associated with the release of the deed restriction and the hold harmless agreement.  The 
bill also requires, pursuant to the Constitution of Maine, an affirmative vote of 2/3 of the 
members of the Legislature.