An Act Regarding Scheduling of Agricultural Fairs and Pulling
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 2096
Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
Sponsors: MITCHELL, PIERCE
Amends: 7 MRSA §81, 7 MRSA §84, 7 MRSA §86, 7 MRSA §97

Legislative Document
No. 2096
H.P. 1411
House of Representatives, January 7, 2026
An Act Regarding Scheduling of Agricultural Fairs and Pulling 
Events
(EMERGENCY)
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
203.
Reference to the Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry suggested and 
ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative MITCHELL of Cumberland.
Cosponsored by Senator PIERCE of Cumberland and
Representatives: COOPER of Windham, FROST of Belgrade, GUERRETTE of Caribou, 
JACKSON of Oxford, TERRY of Gorham, Senator: TIMBERLAKE of Androscoggin.
Emergency preamble.  Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, agricultural fairs and the harness racing season will begin soon and this 
legislation needs to take effect before the expiration of the 90-day period to allow the 
change in the conditions of an agricultural fair license to occur as soon as possible; and
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore,
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  7 MRSA §81, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 563, §3, is amended to 
read:
1.  Agricultural fair.  "Agricultural fair" or "fair" means an exhibition that is designed 
to promote education and encourage improvement in agriculture and that includes, but is 
not limited to, the following:
A.  The awarding of premiums for livestock competitions;
B.  The display of and awarding of premiums for horticultural products; and
C.  The display and presentation of agricultural activities and projects undertaken by 
youth organizations.
D.  Offers displays and competitions for premiums on:
(1)  Three or more species of livestock or poultry;
(2)  Three or more stipend-eligible nonlivestock competitions; or
(3)  Three or more youth agriculture events;
E.  Operates under the authority of a license issued under section 83; and
F.  Offers stipend-eligible competitions and events for patrons to view for a minimum 
of 3 consecutive licensed agricultural fair days.
Sec. 2.  7 MRSA §84, sub-§4 is enacted to read:
4.  Prohibition.  Except as provided under subsection 5, a licensee may not:
A.  Operate an agricultural fair outside of the fair dates assigned by the commissioner 
under this section; or
B. Advertise or market an agricultural fair as taking place outside of the fair dates 
assigned by the commissioner under this section.
For purposes of this subsection, holding an event within one week of a fair's assigned fair 
dates that in the commissioner's determination offers activities largely similar to those 
offered during the fair's assigned fair dates, including but not limited to food, entertainment, 
amusements or other activities, is considered operating a fair outside of the fair dates 
assigned by the commissioner.  
Sec. 3.  7 MRSA §84, sub-§5 is enacted to read:
5.  Exception.  A licensee may host an exhibition up to 24 hours prior to the assigned 
fair dates for the purposes of displaying and awarding premiums on nonlivestock 
competitions.
Sec. 4.  7 MRSA §84, sub-§6 is enacted to read:
6.  License suspension or revocation.  The commissioner may suspend or revoke the 
license of a licensee that violates this section.
Sec. 5.  7 MRSA §86, sub-§6, ¶D, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 563, §3, is amended 
to read:
D.  The fair is conducted in accordance with performance standards established in rules 
adopted pursuant to section 82, subsection 5; and
Sec. 6.  7 MRSA §86, sub-§6, ¶E, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 563, §3, is amended 
to read:
E.  The minimum premiums established in subsection 7 are paid.; and
Sec. 7.  7 MRSA §86, sub-§6, ¶F is enacted to read:
F.  Pulling events scheduled at the fair are conducted in accordance with section 97, 
subsection 4, paragraph S.
Sec. 8.  7 MRSA §97, sub-§4, ¶S is enacted to read:
S.  If a public or private pulling event is scheduled at an agricultural fair, the pulling 
event must take place during the dates for which the applicable agricultural fair license 
is effective pursuant to section 84.
Sec. 9.  Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry and State 
Harness Racing Commission to review rules.  The Commissioner of Agriculture, 
Conservation and Forestry, in consultation with the State Harness Racing Commission, 
shall review rules adopted pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 7, section 82, 
subsection 5 to determine if changes are necessary regarding standards for setting harness 
racing dates and shall initiate rulemaking as necessary to ensure consistency with Title 7, 
chapter 4.  Upon completion of the review, the commissioner shall report to the joint 
standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over agricultural matters with the 
commissioner's findings no later than January 15, 2027.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation 
takes effect when approved.
SUMMARY
This bill changes the definition of "agricultural fair" and prohibits an agricultural fair 
licensee from operating an agricultural fair outside of the assigned fair dates set by the 
Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry and from advertising or 
marketing an agricultural fair as taking place outside of the assigned fair dates.  The bill 
provides that a fair licensee may host an exhibition up to 24 hours prior to the assigned fair 
dates for the purposes of displaying and awarding prizes on nonlivestock competitions.  
The bill also provides that the commissioner may suspend or revoke the license of a 
licensee that violates these provisions.
The bill also provides that if a public or private pulling event is scheduled at an 
agricultural fair, the pulling event must take place during the dates for which the applicable 
agricultural fair license is effective and specifies that a pulling event that is not conducted 
in accordance with this provision is not entitled to a stipend.
Finally, the bill directs the commissioner, in consultation with the State Harness Racing 
Commission, to review rules regarding standards for setting harness racing dates to 
determine if rule changes are necessary and to report the commissioner's findings to the 
joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over agricultural matters.