Resolve, to Establish the Commission to Study the Future of
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1441
Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
Sponsors: BLACK

Legislative Document
No. 1441
S.P. 582
In Senate, April 3, 2025
Resolve, to Establish the Commission to Study the Future of 
Recreational Access in Maine
Reference to the Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry suggested and 
ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator BLACK of Franklin.
Cosponsored by Senators: BALDACCI of Penobscot, GUERIN of Penobscot, TIMBERLAKE 
of Androscoggin.
Sec. 1.  Commission established.  Resolved:  That the Commission to Study the 
Future of Recreational Access in Maine, referred to in this resolve as "the commission," is 
established.
Sec. 2.  Commission membership.  Resolved:  That, notwithstanding Joint Rule 
353, the commission consists of 10 members appointed as follows:
1.  One landowner who owns a parcel of land greater than 100,000 acres in size in the 
unorganized territory, appointed by the President of the Senate;
2.  One member representing an association that represents small woodlot owners, 
appointed by the Speaker of the House;
3.  The Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry or the commissioner's 
designee;
4.  The Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife or the commissioner's designee;
5.  The director of the Maine Office of Outdoor Recreation within the Department of 
Economic and Community Development, Office of Tourism or the director's designee;
6.  One member representing the Maine Professional Guides Association, appointed by 
the Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry;
7.  One member representing a business or business association with substantial 
operations associated with outdoor recreation in the unorganized territory, appointed by the 
Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry; 
8.  One member representing a snowmobile and all-terrain vehicle trail club, appointed 
by the Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry; 
9.  One member representing a conservation organization that manages land or 
conservation easements within the unorganized territory, appointed by the Commissioner 
of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry; and
10.  One member representing a statewide organization that represents hunters and 
anglers, appointed by the Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.
Sec. 3.  Chair.  Resolved:  That the Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation and 
Forestry is the chair of the commission.
Sec. 4.  Appointments; convening of commission.  Resolved:  That all 
appointments must be made no later than 30 days following the effective date of this 
resolve.  The appointing authorities shall notify the Executive Director of the Legislative 
Council once all appointments have been completed.  Notwithstanding Joint Rule 353, 
within 15 days after appointment of all members, the chair shall call and convene the first 
meeting of the commission.
Sec. 5.  Duties.  Resolved:  That the commission shall:
1.  Solicit and explore strategies that could provide private landowners with financial 
incentives to create, maintain and expand recreational access to important corridors and 
destinations;
2.  Solicit input from a broad range of individuals and businesses involved in outdoor 
and traditional recreational activities in the unorganized territory, landowners in the 
unorganized territory, outdoor recreation and public access policy experts and the general 
public to understand the history and value of and issues associated with the State's tradition 
of public access to public and private property in the unorganized territory;
3.  Develop an assessment of the current and future status of public access to public 
and private property, with particular attention to the unorganized territory and regions, trail 
corridors and natural resource destinations of high interest for current and future outdoor 
and traditional recreational activities; and
4.  Recommend actions and policies that may be implemented to better promote and 
protect public access to public and private property in both organized municipalities and 
the unorganized territory.
Sec. 6.  Staff assistance.  Resolved:  That, notwithstanding Joint Rule 353, the 
Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry shall provide staffing to the 
commission within existing resources and may seek staffing and financial support from 
other state agencies and private entities to accomplish the work of the commission.
Sec. 7.  Report.  Resolved:  That, no later than December 3, 2025, the commission 
shall submit a report that includes its findings and recommendations, including suggested 
legislation, for presentation to the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation 
and Forestry.  The Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry is 
authorized to report out legislation related to the report to the Second Regular Session of 
the 132nd Legislature.
Sec. 8.  Extension.  Resolved:  That, if the commission requires a limited extension 
of time to complete the study and make a report, it may apply to the Legislative Council, 
which may grant an extension.
SUMMARY
This resolve establishes the Commission to Study the Future of Recreational Access in 
Maine, which is directed to assess current and future public access to public and private 
lands in the unorganized territory as well as other areas of high interest in the State.  The 
commission is required to submit a report and suggested legislation by December 3, 2025 
to the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, which is 
authorized to report out legislation based on the report to the Second Regular Session of 
the 132nd Legislature.