An Act to Enhance Protections Regarding Invasive Aquatic Plant
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 0171
Committee: Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
Sponsors: HASENFUS, HICKMAN
Amends: 38 MRSA §1862

Legislative Document
No. 171
H.P. 104
House of Representatives, January 14, 2025
An Act to Enhance Protections Regarding Invasive Aquatic Plant 
Infestations in Inland Waters of the State
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
Representative: BRIDGEO of Augusta, Senator: BENNETT of Oxford.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  38 MRSA §1862, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 2001, c. 434, Pt. A, §7, is 
amended to read:
1.  Program.  The commissioner and the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and 
Wildlife jointly shall implement a program to inspect watercraft, watercraft trailers and 
outboard motors at or near the border of the State and at boat launching sites for the 
presence of invasive aquatic plants; to monitor inland waters of the State known to be 
infested with invasive aquatic plants; and to provide educational materials to the public and 
to watercraft owners regarding invasive aquatic plants and surface use restrictions on inland 
waters of the State pursuant to section 1864.
Sec. 2.  38 MRSA §1862, sub-§4, as enacted by PL 2001, c. 434, Pt. A, §7, is 
amended by amending the first blocked paragraph to read:
The program in 2002 and subsequent years must be at a level of effort determined by the 
commissioner and the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife in consultation with 
the Interagency Task Force on Invasive Aquatic Plant Plants and Nuisance Species, as 
established in section 1871. The program must include a review of watercraft inspection 
protocols and surface use restrictions on inland waters of the State known to be infested 
with invasive aquatic plants pursuant to section 1864.
Sec. 3.  Study of watercraft inspection protocols and surface use restrictions 
on inland waters of the State known to be infested with invasive aquatic plants; 
review of protocols and restrictions. The Commissioner of Environmental Protection 
and the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife jointly shall review watercraft 
inspection protocols and surface use restrictions on inland waters of the State known to be 
infested with invasive aquatic plants pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 38, 
section 1862, subsection 1 and make recommendations related to how these protocols and 
restrictions could be strengthened. The commissioners jointly shall also evaluate how 
information about restrictions is communicated to members of the public. By January 1, 
2026, the commissioners shall submit a report, including any suggested legislation, to the 
Joint Standing Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife on their findings and 
recommendations with respect to watercraft inspection protocols and surface use 
restrictions on inland waters of the State known to be infested with invasive aquatic plants 
and how information on restrictions is communicated to members of the public. The 
committee may report out legislation based on the report to the Second Regular Session of 
the 132nd Legislature.
SUMMARY
This bill requires the Commissioner of Environmental Protection and the 
Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to jointly review and recommend more 
stringent watercraft inspection protocols on inland waters of the State known to be infested 
with invasive aquatic plants and to review surface use restrictions and notification of those 
restrictions to members of the public.