An Act to Promote Firewood Banks in Maine
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1525
Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
Sponsors: RAY, FARRIN
Amends: 38 MRSA §342

Legislative Document
No. 1525
H.P. 1010
House of Representatives, April 8, 2025
An Act to Promote Firewood Banks in Maine
Reference to the Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry suggested and 
ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative RAY of Lincolnville.
Cosponsored by Senator FARRIN of Somerset and
Representatives: BOYER of Poland, FAULKINGHAM of Winter Harbor, HASENFUS of 
Readfield, HEPLER of Woolwich, PLUECKER of Warren, SACHS of Freeport, SINCLAIR 
of Bath, STOVER of Boothbay.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  12 MRSA c. 810 is enacted to read:
CHAPTER 810
FIREWOOD BANKS
§9731. Firewood banks
The bureau shall promote the development and public awareness of firewood banks in 
this State in accordance with this section.
1. Definition. A "firewood bank" is an organization that accepts donations of firewood 
and makes firewood available free of charge to individuals and families in need of heating 
assistance.
2. Public promotion; maintain list of operating firewood banks. The bureau shall:
A. Provide information to the public for the purpose of increasing awareness of the 
resources available at firewood banks and the charitable efforts needed to maintain 
firewood banks in this State; and
B. Develop and maintain, on the bureau's publicly accessible website, a list of all 
firewood banks operating in the State.
In fulfilling its obligations under this subsection, the bureau may consult with the 
University of Maine Cooperative Extension Service.
3. Informational resources for firewood banks. The bureau shall develop and 
dispense informational resources to promote the successful operation of firewood banks in 
this State. In fulfilling its obligations under this subsection, the bureau may collaborate 
with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Service.
4. Forest harvesting of state-owned land; offer to donate firewood required. When 
timber or forest harvesting operations are conducted on state-owned land and any part of 
that land is located within 50 miles from a firewood bank that is listed on the statewide list 
of firewood banks maintained pursuant to subsection 2, paragraph B, the State shall offer 
as a donation to that firewood bank at least 8 but not more than 13 cords of hardwood. The 
bureau shall determine how many cords of hardwood the State is required to offer with 
respect to a particular timber or forest harvesting operation.
5. Liability. A firewood bank and the municipality or county in which a firewood bank 
is operating is not liable for any damages caused by the taking or use of firewood from the 
firewood bank.
Sec. 2.  38 MRSA §342, sub-§18 is enacted to read:
18.  Guidance to firewood banks.  The commissioner shall provide guidance to 
municipalities or counties in this State operating firewood banks concerning management 
of environmental impacts and solid-waste disposal associated with the operation of a 
firewood bank. For the purposes of this subsection, "firewood bank" has the same meaning 
as in Title 12, section 9731, subsection 1.
SUMMARY
This bill establishes provisions to promote the development and operation of 
organizations that accept donations of firewood and provide access to firewood free of 
charge to individuals and families who are in need of heating assistance. These 
organizations are called firewood banks.
The bill requires the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Bureau of 
Forestry to provide information to the public to increase awareness of firewood banks and 
to maintain a list on the bureau's publicly accessible website that lists all of the operating 
firewood banks in this State. The bureau must also develop informational resources to 
promote the successful operation of firewood banks in this State. In fulfilling these 
obligations, the bureau may consult with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension 
Service. 
The bill requires that any time there are timber or forest harvesting operations on state-
owned land located within 50 miles of a firewood bank, the State is required to offer a 
donation of 8 to 13 cords of hardwood to that firewood bank. 
The bill clarifies that a firewood bank and the municipality or county in which a 
firewood bank is located is not liable for any damages caused by the taking or use of 
firewood obtained from a firewood bank. The bill also requires the Commissioner of 
Environmental Protection to provide guidance to municipalities and counties concerning 
management of environmental impacts and solid-waste disposal associated with the 
operation of a firewood bank.