An Act to Increase Funding for the Prevention and Control of Invasive Aquatic Species
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 1342
Committee: Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
Sponsors: RISEMAN, CHIPMAN, CROCKETT, HEPLER, MALON, MONTELL, SUPICA
Amends: 12 MRSA §10206, 12 MRSA §13056, 12 MRSA §13058

Legislative Document
No. 1342
H.P. 856
House of Representatives, March 28, 2023
An Act to Increase Funding for the Prevention and Control of 
Invasive Aquatic Species
Reference to the Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife suggested and ordered 
printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative RISEMAN of Harrison.
Cosponsored by Senator CHIPMAN of Cumberland and
Representatives: CROCKETT of Portland, HEPLER of Woolwich, MALON of Biddeford, 
MONTELL of Gardiner, SUPICA of Bangor.
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.  Beginning January 1, 2026 and 
each January 1st biennially thereafter, the fees outlined in section 13056, subsection 8, 
paragraphs A and B for watercraft operating on inland waters of the State each increase 
by $2.  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.  
Beginning January 1, 2026 and each January 1st biennially thereafter, the fee under 
this subparagraph for operating on inland waters of the State increases by $2;
(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.  Beginning January 1, 2026 and each 
January 1st biennially thereafter, the fee under this subparagraph for operating on 
inland waters of the State increases by $2; 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.  Beginning January 1, 2026 and each 
January 1st biennially thereafter, the fee under this subparagraph for operating on 
inland waters of the State increases by $2.
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.  Beginning 
January 1, 2026 and each January 1st biennially thereafter, the fee under this paragraph 
for operating on inland waters of the State increases by $2.
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.  Beginning January 1, 2026 and each January 1st biennially thereafter, 
the fee for a sticker issued under this section increases by $2, with $1 of the total fee being 
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.
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 fee is increased by $10 and, beginning January 1, 2026 and each 
January 1st biennially thereafter, the fee is increased by $2.