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
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 0163
Committee Amendment CA_A_H811 (House)
Amends: 12 MRSA §10851-A

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT " j\ " to H,P. 104, L.D. 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"
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting the
followmg:
'See. 1. 12 MRSA §10851-A is enacted to read:
S10851-A. Annual renewal of lifetime licenses required
1. Annual renewal required; lifetime license purchased after December 31,2024,
Beeinnina January 1. 2026 and annually thereafter, a person with a lifetime license that
was purchased after December 31. 2024 under section 10851 who isA6^ears^ofage or
older shall notify the department of the license holder's intent to hunt. trap or fish in
accordance with that license by comoletine in that year a renewal process with the
department. The license holder is not required to notify the department during a year in
which the license holder does not intend to hunt. trap or fish.
2. No renewal fee. The department may not assess a fee for a renewalofa U^^
license completed under this section. An agent auoomted by the commissioner pursuant to
section 10801 may charge a fee for the annual lifetime license renewal
3. Rules. The department may adopt rules to implement this section. Rules adosted
pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules pursuant to Title 5. chapter 375,
subchapter 2-A,
Sec. 2. Outreach; online notification process. The Commissioner of Inland
Fisheries and Wildlife shall establish an online notification process to educate lifetime
license holders about the annual lifetime license renewal requu-ement pursuant to the Maine
Revised Statutes, Title 12, section. 10851-A, The commissioner may use additional
outreach initiatives to promote awareness and understanding of the annual renewal
4 requirement among the lifetime license holder community, including outreach to encourage
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
ROS COMMITTEE AMENDMENT " j^" to H.P. 104, L,D. 163
lifetime license holders who purchased a lifetime license on or before December 31, 2024
to voluntarily participate in the annual renewal process.
Sec. 3. Report. By February 1, 2027, the Department of Inland Fisheries and
Wildlife shall provide a report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having
jurisdiction over inland fisheries and wildlife matters that describes the online notification
process and any additional outreach initiatives used by the department under section 2 to
gauge user participation and obtain up-to-date user information. The department shall
include in its report information on the efficacy of enacting a reporting requirement for
lifetime license holders that does not carry a penalty and recommended changes, if any.
The committee may report out a bill based on the report to the 133rd Legislature in 2027,'
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section
number to read consecutively.
SUMMARY
This amendment replaces the bill. The amendment requires a person who purchases a
lifetime license to hunt, trap or fish after December 31,2024 and who is 16 years of age or
older to notify the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife in each year the license
holder intends to use the license by completing a renewal process with the department in
the same year that person intends to use the license. The amendment directs the
Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to encourage a lifetime license holder who
purchased a lifetime license to hunt, trap or fish on or prior to December 31, 2024 to
participate in the renewal process. It specifies that the department may not charge a fee for
the annual renewal of a lifetime license.
The amendment directs the department to submit, by February 1, 2027, a report to the
joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over inland fisheries and
wildlife matters that describes the online notification process and any additional outreach
initiatives used by the department to gauge user participation and obtain up-to-date user
information. The department must include in its report information on the efficacy of
enacting a reporting requirement for lifetime license holders that does not carry a penalty
and recommended changes, if any. The committee is authorized to report out a bill based
on the report to the 133rd Legislature in 2027.
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Approved: 02/07/24 ^y^^
LD 163 LR 102(02)
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
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment "^' (^ -^
Committee: Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
Minor cost increase - General Fund
Fiscal Detail and Notes
Any additional costs to the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to implement the provisions of this bill are
expected to be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources,
LRO 102(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1