An Act to Support
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 0299
Committee Amendment CA_A_H918 (House)
Amends: 7 MRSA §320-A, 36 MRSA §4641-B

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A-" to H.P, 199, L.D. 299, "An Act to Support
Investment in Agriculture"
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following:
'An Act to Build a Viable Future for Maine Agriculture by Transferring a Portion of
Real Estate Transfer Tax Revenue to the Maine Agriculture, Food and Forest
Products Investment Fund'
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting the
followmg:
'See. 1. 7 MRSA §320-A, sub-§l, ^fA-1 is enacted to read:
A-l. "Aauacultural" means the practices, techmaues or oroducts associated with
aauaculture as defined in Title 12. section 600 1. subsection 1.
Sec. 2. 7 MRSA §320-A, sub-§l, ^C, as enacted by PL 2021, c. 483, Pt, KK, §2,
is amended to read:
C. "Producer" means a person in the State that grows, manufactures, harvests or
otherwise creates agricultural, aquacultural. food or forest products and value-added
products, including a person engaged in farming, sea farming. harvesting or other
agricultural, aquacultural and forestry manufacturing activities,
Sec. 3. 7 MRSA §320-A, sub-§l, ^C-l is enacted to read:
C-l. Sea farminR means the breeding^ Te&nn&^dhaQestmK, of aquatic plantsand
animals m aquatic environments.
Sec. 4. 36 MRSA §4641-B, sub-§4-B, ^E-2, as enacted by PL 2025, c. 388, Pt.
V, §6 and affected by § 10, is amended by amending subparagraph (2), division (d) to read:
(d) Deposit 20% in the General Fund. except that 50% of the amount deposited
must be transferred to the Department of Agriculture. Conseryation_and
Foresft-y. which shall deposit the funds in the Maine Aericulture. Food and
Forest Products Investment Fund^established_m_Title 7. section 320-B until the
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "^" to H.P. 199, L.D, 299
total amount paid for the fiscal year equals $5.000.000. The Maine
Aericulture. Food System and Forest Products Infrastructure Investment
Advisor/ Board established in Title 7. section_320-C shall, use the funds
deposited into the Maine Aericulture. Food and FQresLProducts Investment
Fund pursuant to this division to provide grants and low-interest revolvmg
loans to a producer as defined in Title _?, section 3 20-A, subsection 1,
oaraeranh C who has demonstrated cross business income of at least $ 10.000.
as evidenced by state or federal tax filiues or other documentation acceptable
to the board, in any one of the 4 taxable years immediately preceding the date
of the auplication for a grant or loan.
Sec. 5. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and
allocations are made.
AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY, DEPARTMENT OF
IVIaine Agriculture, Food and Forest Products Investment Fund Z384
Initiative: Provides allocations to allow for the disbursement of loans to applicants who
meet qualification criteria.
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 2025-26 2026-27
All Other $0 $5,000,000
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE RJNDS TOTAL $0 $5,000,000
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section
number to read consecutively.
SUMMARY
This amendment replaces the bill, which is a concept draft, and changes the title. The
amendment amends the definition of "producer" in the provisions of law relating to the
Maine Agriculture, Food and Forest Products Investment Fund to include a person who
grows, manufactures, harvests or otherwise creates aquacultural products, including a
person who is engaged in sea fanning.
The amendment requires the transfer of a portion of the revenue from the real estate
transfer tax up to $5,000,000 each fiscal year to the Department of Agriculture,
Conservation and Forestry. The department must deposit the funds in the Maine
Agriculture, Food and Forest Products Investment Fund to provide grants and low-interest
revolving loans to producers who have demonstrated gross business income of at least
$10,000, as evidenced by state or federal tax filings or other documentation acceptable to
6 the administering agency, in any one of the 4 taxable years immediately preceding the date
of the application for a grant or loan.
8 FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Approved; 03/23/26 t-Kt-
LD 299 LR 844(02)
An Act to Support Investment in Agriculture
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment '^' ( (4 - °\ [ ^
Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
Projections Projections
FY 2025-26 FY 2026-27 FY 2027-28 FY 2028-29
Net Cost (Savings)
General Fund $0 $5,000,000 $5,000,000 $5,000,000
Appropriations/Allocations
Other Special Revenue Funds $0 $5,000,000 $5,000,000 $5,000,000
Revenue
General Fund $0 ($5,000,000) ($5,000,000) ($5,000,000)
Other Special Revenue Funds $0 $5,000,000 $5,000,000 $5,000,000
Fiscal Detail and Notes
The bill redirects up to $5,000,000 of real estate transfer tax revenue from the General Fund to the Department of
Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Maine Agriculture, Food and Forest Products Investment Fund, starting in
fiscal year 2026-27, The bill includes corresponding allocations to authorize expenditures for a loan program for
applicants who meet the eligibility criteria established in the bill,
LR0844(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1