An Act to Implement the Recommendations of the Interagency Task Force on Invasive Aquatic Plants and Nuisance Species
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 1534
Committee: Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
Sponsors: HASENFUS, HICKMAN, BRIDGEO, NEWMAN
Amends: 12 MRSA §10206, 12 MRSA §13056, 12 MRSA §13058

Legislative Document
No. 1534
H.P. 989
House of Representatives, April 5, 2023
An Act to Implement the Recommendations of the Interagency Task 
Force on Invasive Aquatic Plants and Nuisance Species
Reference to the Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife suggested and ordered 
printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative HASENFUS of Readfield.
Cosponsored by Senator HICKMAN of Kennebec and
Representatives: BRIDGEO of Augusta, NEWMAN of Belgrade.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  12 MRSA §10206, sub-§3, ¶C, as amended by PL 2019, c. 264, §1, is 
further amended by amending the first blocked paragraph to read:
Prior to January 1, 2020, the fees outlined in section 13056, subsection 8, paragraphs 
A and B for watercraft operating on inland waters of the State each include a $10 fee 
for invasive species prevention and control.  Beginning January 1, 2020, the fees 
outlined in section 13056, subsection 8, paragraphs A and B for watercraft operating 
on inland waters of the State each include a $15 fee for invasive species prevention and 
control.  Beginning January 1, 2024, the fees outlined in section 13056, subsection 8, 
paragraphs A and B for watercraft operating on inland waters of the State each include 
a $25 fee for invasive species prevention and control.  This fee is disposed of as 
follows:
(1)  Eighty percent must be credited to the Invasive Aquatic Plant and Nuisance 
Species Fund; and
(2)  Twenty percent must be credited to the Lake and River Protection Fund 
established within the department under section 10257.
Sec. 2.  12 MRSA §13056, sub-§8, ¶A, as amended by PL 2019, c. 264, §3, is 
further amended to read:
A.  For a watercraft requiring or whose owner requests a certificate of number and that 
is equipped with a motor having a manufacturer's horsepower rating of:
(1)  Ten horsepower or less, prior to January 1, 2020 the fee is $25 for operating 
on inland waters of the State and $15 for operating only on tidal waters of the State.  
Beginning January 1, 2020, the fee under this subparagraph is $30 for operating on 
inland waters of the State and $15 for operating only on tidal waters of the State.  
Beginning January 1, 2024, the fee under this subparagraph is $40 for operating on 
inland waters of the State and $15 for operating only on tidal waters of the State;
(2)  Greater than 10 horsepower but not more than 50 horsepower, prior to January 
1, 2020 the fee is $30 for operating on inland waters of the State and $20 for 
operating only on tidal waters of the State.  Beginning January 1, 2020, the fee 
under this subparagraph is $35 for operating on inland waters of the State and $20 
for operating only on tidal waters of the State.  Beginning January 1, 2024, the fee 
under this subparagraph is $45 for operating on inland waters of the State and $20 
for operating only on tidal waters of the State; and
(3)  Greater than 50 horsepower but not more than 115 horsepower, prior to January 
1, 2020 the fee is $36 for operating on inland waters of the State and $26 for 
operating only on tidal waters of the State.  Beginning January 1, 2020, the fee 
under this subparagraph is $41 for operating on inland waters of the State and $26 
for operating only on tidal waters of the State.  Beginning January 1, 2024, the fee 
under this subparagraph is $51 for operating on inland waters of the State and $26 
for operating only on tidal waters of the State.
Sec. 3.  12 MRSA §13056, sub-§8, ¶B, as amended by PL 2019, c. 264, §4, is 
further amended to read:
B.  Prior to January 1, 2020, for a personal watercraft requiring or whose owner 
requests a certificate of number and watercraft equipped with a motor having a 
manufacturer's horsepower rating of 115 horsepower or greater, the fee is $44 for 
operating on inland waters of the State and $34 for operating only on tidal waters of 
the State.  Beginning January 1, 2020, the fee under this paragraph is $49 for operating 
on inland waters of the State and $34 for operating only on tidal waters of the State.  
Beginning January 1, 2024, the fee under this paragraph is $59 for operating on inland 
waters of the State and $34 for operating only on tidal waters of the State.
Sec. 4.  12 MRSA §13058, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2019, c. 264, §5, is further 
amended to read:
3.  Nonresident motorboat and personal watercraft lake and river protection 
sticker and resident and nonresident seaplane lake and river protection sticker; fee.  
No later than January 1st of each year, the commissioner shall provide the agents authorized 
to register watercraft or issue licenses with a sufficient quantity of lake and river protection 
stickers for motorboats and personal watercraft not registered in the State and for all 
seaplanes, whether or not registered in the State, for that boating season.  The sticker must 
be in 2 parts so that one part of the sticker can be affixed to each side of the bow of a 
motorboat or personal watercraft or to each outside edge of a seaplane's pontoons.  Prior to 
January 1, 2020, the fee for a sticker issued under this subsection is $20, $1 of which is 
retained by the agent who sold the sticker.  Beginning January 1, 2020, the fee for a sticker 
issued under this subsection is $35, $1 of which is retained by the agent who sold the 
sticker.  Beginning January 1, 2022, the fee for a sticker issued under this subsection is 
$45, $1 of which is retained by the agent who sold the sticker.  Beginning January 1, 2024, 
the fee for a sticker issued under this section is $55, $1 of which is retained by the agent 
who sold the sticker.
The remainder of the fee is disposed as follows:
A.  Eighty percent must be credited to the Invasive Aquatic Plant and Nuisance Species 
Fund; and
B.  Twenty percent must be credited to the Lake and River Protection Fund established 
within the department under section 10257.
A motorboat, personal watercraft or seaplane owned by the Federal Government, a state 
government or a municipality is exempt from the fee established in this subsection.
Sec. 5.  Review of 2006 Rapid Response Plan.  The Interagency Task Force on 
Invasive Aquatic Plants and Nuisance Species, established by the Maine Revised Statutes, 
Title 5, section 12004-D, subsection 6, shall review the Department of Environmental 
Protection 2006 Rapid Response Plan For Invasive Aquatic Plants, Fish, and Other Fauna 
to further expedite the process for controlling invasive aquatic plant infestations, which 
may include ways to improve the surface use restriction process, identifying situations in 
which requiring inspections of boats launched and removed are advisable and a 
requirement to submit to an inspection by a trained inspector when launching or taking a 
boat out of an infested or at-risk lake.  The task force shall, no later than December 6, 2023, 
submit a report regarding its review, including any suggested legislation, to the Joint 
Standing Committee on Environment and Natural Resources.  The joint standing 
committee may report out a bill to the Second Regular Session of the 131st Legislature.
SUMMARY
This bill increases the fees for original or renewal certificates of number with 2 
validation stickers that are required for all 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 seaplanes, operating on inland waters of the State.  Beginning 
January 1, 2024, the fees are increased by $10.
It also directs the Interagency Task Force on Invasive Aquatic Plants and Nuisance 
Species to review the Department of Environmental Protection 2006 Rapid Response Plan 
For Invasive Aquatic Plants, Fish, and Other Fauna to further expedite the process for 
controlling invasive aquatic plant infestations, which may include ways to improve the 
surface use restriction process, identifying situations in which requiring inspections of 
boats launched and removed are advisable and a requirement to submit to an inspection by 
a trained inspector when launching or taking a boat out of an infested or at-risk lake.  The 
task force is directed to submit, no later than December 6, 2023, a report regarding its 
review, including any suggested legislation, to the Joint Standing Committee on 
Environment and Natural Resources.  The joint standing committee is authorized to report 
out a bill to the Second Regular Session of the 131st Legislature.