An Act to Support Farmland Conservation
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1528
Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
Sponsors: BENNETT
Amends: 7 MRSA §164

Legislative Document
No. 1528
S.P. 612
In Senate, April 8, 2025
An Act to Support Farmland Conservation
Reference to the Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry suggested and 
ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator BENNETT of Oxford.
Cosponsored by Senators: BRENNER of Cumberland, HICKMAN of Kennebec, 
Representatives: BLIER of Buxton, CRAY of Palmyra, DUCHARME of Madison, HALL of 
Wilton, PLUECKER of Warren.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  7 MRSA §164, sub-§5 is enacted to read:
5.  Funding.  A separate nonlapsing, interest-bearing account, administered by the 
department, is established in the department within the Bureau of Agriculture, Food and 
Rural Resources to support public-private partnerships to carry out the purposes of the 
program. The account consists of money appropriated or allocated to it by the Legislature 
or received from any private or public source.
Sec. 2.  Transfer.  Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, on or before 
June 30, 2026, the State Controller shall transfer $1,000,000 from the unappropriated 
surplus of the General Fund to the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, 
Bureau of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources, Maine Working Farmland Access and 
Protection Program established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 7, section 164 for 
funding to support farmland conservation efforts.
Sec. 3.  Appropriations and allocations.  The following appropriations and 
allocations are made.
AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY, DEPARTMENT OF
Bureau of Agriculture 0393
Initiative: Provides funding for farmland conservation efforts under the Maine Working 
Farmland Access and Protection Program established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 
7, section 164.
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS
2025-26
2026-27
All Other
$1,000,000
$0
__________
__________
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL
$1,000,000
$0
Bureau of Agriculture 0393
Initiative: Establishes one Resource Management Coordinator position and provides 
funding for associated All Other costs.
GENERAL FUND
2025-26
2026-27
POSITIONS - LEGISLATIVE COUNT
1.000
1.000
Personal Services
$114,286
$120,766
All Other
$3,500
$3,500
__________
__________
GENERAL FUND TOTAL
$117,786
$124,266
DACF Administration  0401
Initiative: Establishes one Resource Management Coordinator position and provides 
funding for associated All Other costs.
GENERAL FUND
2025-26
2026-27
All Other
$3,292
$3,292
__________
__________
GENERAL FUND TOTAL
$3,292
$3,292
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS
2025-26
2026-27
All Other
$647
$647
__________
__________
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL
$647
$647
AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION AND 
FORESTRY, DEPARTMENT OF
DEPARTMENT TOTALS
2025-26
2026-27
GENERAL FUND
$121,078
$127,558
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS
$1,000,647
$647
__________
__________
DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS
$1,121,725
$128,205
SUMMARY
This bill establishes a separate nonlapsing, interest-bearing account administered by 
the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to support public-private 
partnerships to carry out the purposes of the Maine Working Farmland Access and 
Protection Program.  The account consists of money appropriated or allocated to the 
program account by the Legislature or received from any private or public source.
The bill establishes and provides ongoing funding for one full-time, permanent position 
within the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Bureau of Agriculture, 
Food and Rural Resources.
The bill also transfers $1,000,000 from the unappropriated surplus of the General Fund 
to fund farmland conservation efforts under the Department of Agriculture, Conservation 
and Forestry, Bureau of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources, Maine Working Farmland 
Access and Protection Program.