An Act to Enhance
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 0171
Committee Amendment CA_A_H79 (House)
Amends: 38 MRSA §1862, 38 MRSA §1864

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 104, L.D. 171, "An Act to Enhance 
Protections Regarding Invasive Aquatic Plant Infestations in Inland Waters of the State" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'An Act to Enhance Protections Regarding Invasive Aquatic Plant and Animal 
Infestations in Inland Waters of the State' 
Amend the bill by inserting after section 2 the following: 
'Sec. 3. 38 MRSA §1862, sub-§5 is enacted to read: 
5. Report. The commissioner and the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife 
shall submit a report detailing program activities to the joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over inland fisheries and wildlife matters by January 15th 
annually. The committee may report out a bill based on the report to any regular or special 
session of the Legislature. 
Sec. 4. 38 MRSA §1864, as amended by PL 2003, c. 551, §20 and c. 627, §8, is 
further amended to read: 
§1864. Emergency authority to regulate surface use 
The commissioner and the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife may jointly 
issue an emergency order to restrict access to or restrict or prohibit the use of any watercraft 
on all or a portion of a water body that has a confumed infestation of an invasive aquatic 
plant or animal. The order must be for a specific period of time and may be issued only 
when the use of watercraft on that water body threatens to worsen or spread the infestation. 
The order may require that watercraft 0fl using waters affected by the order be taken out of 
or launched on the water only at locations identified in the order. The order may require 
inspections and cleaning of watercraft, watercraft trailers and equipment upon removal at 
sites that have been identified in the order. Inspections must be conducted by designated 
-state state-trained boat inspectors. For purposes of this section, "designated state boat 
inspector" means a person employed trained by the State and identified by the department 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT•/+" to H.P. 104, L.D. 171 
or the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife as a person who is qualified to properly 
conduct inspection activities.' 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section 
number to read consecutively. 
SUMMARY 
This amendment authorizes the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and the 
Commissioner of Environmental Protection to issue an order on a water body with a 
confirmed infestation of an invasive aquatic animal; current law only allows the 
commissioners to issue an order on a water body with a confirmed infestation of an invasive 
aquatic plant. The order may also require that watercraft be launched only at locations 
identified in a surface use restriction order. The amendment also removes, in cases when 
a surface use restriction order requires inspections, the requirement that inspections be 
conducted by a state employee; instead inspections may be conducted by a state-trained 
inspector. These changes were recommended by the Interagency Task Force on Invasive 
Aquatic Plants and Nuisance Species in the task force's January 2025 report. 
The amendment also requires the Commissioner of Environmental Protection and the 
Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to report annually to the joint standing 
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over inland fisheries and wildlife matters 
on activities of the program to prevent infestation of and to control invasive aquatic plants. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 04/18/25 LRL 
LD171 
LR26(02) 
An Act to Enhance Protections Regarding Invasive Aquatic Plant Infestations in Inland Waters of the 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
State 
) 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment~' (H-7 q 
Committee: Inland Fisheries and Wildlife 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Minor cost increase - Other Special Revenue Funds 
Any additional costs to the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife or the Department of Environmental 
Protection from the provisions of this bill are expected to be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted 
resources. 
LR0026(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of I