An Act to Ame.nd'the Laws Governing Fees for Operating W_atercr~f't
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 0173
Committee Amendment CA_A_H402 (House)
Amends: 12 MRSA §10206, 12 MRSA §13056

132ND LEGISLATURE·.· 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A " 
to H.P. 106, L.D. 173, "A11 A~t to _Exe1~pt 
Ce1tai11 Watercraft from Registration Requirements" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: • • 
'An Act to Ame.nd'the Laws Governing Fees for Operating W_atercr~f't' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting·clause and insetting the 
following: 
i •• 
'Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §10206, sub-§3, ~C, as amended by PL 2023, c. 612, §1, is 
fu1ther amended by amending the first blocked paragraph to read:·_ 
T 
Prior to January 1, 2020, the fees outlined in section 13056, subsection ·g, paragraphs 
A and B for watercraft operating on inJand waters of the State each include a $10 fee 
for invasive species prevention and control. Beginning January i, 2020, the fees 
outlined in section 13056, subsection 8, paragraphs A and B for watercraft operating 
on inland waters of the State each include a $15 fee for invasive species prevention and 
control. Beginning January 1, 2025, the fees outlined in section 13056, subsection 8, 
paragraphs A and B for watercraft operating on inland waters of the State each include 
a $25 fee for invasive species prevention and control. Beginning January 1, 2026, the 
fees outlined in section 13056, subsection 8, paragraph' A, subparagraph (1-A) for 
watercraft operating on inland waters of the State each include a $10 fee for invasive 
species prevention and control. Beginning Janua1y 1, 2028, except as provided in 
section 13056, subsection 8, paragraph A, subparagraph 0-A), the fees outlined in 
section 13056, subsection 8, paragraphs A and B for watercraft operating on inland 
waters of the State each include a $35 fee for invasive species prevention and control. 
This fee is disposed of as follows: 
(1) Prior to Janua1y I, 2025, 80% t)rnst be credited to the Invasive Aquatic Plant 
and Nuisance Species Fund. Beginning January I, 2025, 70% must be credited to 
the Invasive Aquatic Plant and Nuisance Species Fund; and 
Page I - 132LR0502(02) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 106, L.D. 173 
(2) Prior to January 1, 2025, 20% must be ci·edited to the Lake and River Protection 
Fund established within the departme1i.t under section 10257. Beginning Ja:H.uary' 
1, 2025, 30% must be credited to the Lake ·and River" Protection Fund.:· . · 
• 
Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §13056, sub-§8, 1A, as amended by PL 2023, c. 612, §~, is 
further amended by amending subparagraph (1) toread: 
• 
• 
' • • 
(1) Ten horsepower or less, prior to January 1, 2020 the fee is $25 for operating 
on inland waters of the State and $15 for operating only on tidal waters of the State, 
Beginning January 1, 2020, the fee under this subparagraph is $30 for opei'ating 011 
inland waters of the State and $15 for ope fating only on tidal· waters of the State; 
Beginning Januaiy 1, 2025 and until December 31, 2025, the fee under this 
subparagraph is $40 for operating on inland waters of the State and $15 for 
lZ 
operating only on tidal waters of the State. Beginning January I, 2028, th.e fee 
under t~is subparagraph is $50 for operating on inland waters of the State and $15 
for operating only on tidal waters of the State; 
Sec, 3. 12 MRSA §13056, sub-§8, 1A, as amended by PL 2023, c. 612, §2, is 
further amended by enacting a new subparagraph (1-A) to read: 
(1-A) Five horsepower or less, beginning January 1, 2026, the fee is $20 for 
operating on inland waters of the State and $10 for operating.only on tidal waters 
oftheState: 
• -
:· 
Sec. 4. 12 MRSA §13056, sub-§8, 1A, as amended by PL 2023, c. 612, §2, is 
further amended by enacting a hew subparagraph (1--B) to read: • 
·' 
• 
(1-B) Greater than 5 horsepower but not more than 10 horsepower, beginning 
Januaiy 1, 2026, the fee is $40 for operating on inland waters of the State and $15 
for operating only on tidal waters of the State. Beginning Janua1y 1, 2028. the fee 
under this subparagraph is $50 for operating on inland waters· of the State and $15 
for operating only on tidal waters of the State; 
Sec. 5. 
Appropriations and allocations. The following • ap.propriations· and 
allocations are made. 
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, DEPARTMENT OF 
Water Quality 0248 
Initiative: Reduces allocation due to revenue reduction .. 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
All Other 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL 
ENVffiONMENTAL PROTECTION, 
DEPARTMENT OF • 
DEPARTMENT TOTALS 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
2025-26 • 
($166,780) 
($166,780) 
2025-26 
($166,780) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
2026-27 
($166,780) 
($166,780) 
2026-27 
($166,780) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 106, L.D. 173 
DEPARTMENT TOTAL-ALL FUNDS 
($166,780) 
($166,780) 
INLAND FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE, DEPARTMENT OF 
Enforcement Operations - Inland Fisheries and Wildlife 0537 
Initiative: Reduces allocations as a result of revenue reduction. 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
All Other 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL 
INLAND FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE, 
DEPARTMENT OF 
DEPARTMENT TOTALS 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
DEPARTMENT TOTAL-ALL FUNDS 
SECTION TOTALS 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
SECTION TOTAL - ALL FUNDS 
2025-26 
($71,477) 
($71,477) 
2025-26 
($71,477) 
($71,477) 
2025-26 
($238,257) 
($238,257) 
2026-27 
($71,477) 
($71,477) 
2026-27 
($71,477) 
($71,477) 
2026-27 
($238,257) 
($238,257) 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section 
number to read consecutively. 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the bill and changes the title. The amendment provides that, 
beginning January 1, 2026, the fee for boats operating on inland waters of the State with a 
motor that is 5 horsepower or less is $20, $10 of which must be used for invasive species 
prevention and control. The amendment provides that the fee for boats operating only on 
tidal waters with a motor that is 5 horsepower or less is $10. The amendment also prnvides 
that the fee for operating a watercraft with a motor that has a horsepower rating over 5 
horsepower but no more than 10 horsepowe1· is the same as the fee currently established 
for watercraft with a motor that is 10 horsepower or less. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 05/16/25 LRL 
LD 173 
LR 502(02) 
An Act to Exempt Certain Watercraft from Registration Requirements 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment A• CH-l/rJZ.) 
· Committee: Inland Fisheries and \Vildlife 
Net Cost (Savings) 
General Fund 
Appropriations/Allocations 
Other Special Revenue Funds 
Revenue 
General Fund 
Other Special Revenue Funds 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes. 
Fiscal Note 
$82,822 
($238,257) 
($82,822) 
($238,257) 
FY 2026-27 
$82,822 
($238,257) 
($82,822) 
($238,257) 
Projections 
FY2027-28 
$91,104 
($262,083) 
($91,104) 
($262,083) 
Projections 
FY 2028-29 
$99,3R6 
($285,908) 
($99,386) 
($285,908) 
The fee changes proposed in this bill are expected to reduce General Fund revenue to the Department of Inland 
Fisheries and Wildlife (IFW) and the Department of Marine Resources (DMR), as well as reduce Other Special 
Revenue Funds (OSR) revenue to both IFW and the Depa1iment ofEnviromnental Protection (DEP). Detailed impacts 
are outlined below: 
Registration Revenue 
Lake and River Sticker Revenue 
IFW 
General Fund 
$ 
(62,117) 
IFW 
OSR 
$ 
(71,477) 
DMR 
General Fund 
$ 
{20,705) 
DEP 
OSR 
$ 
{166,780) 
$ 
(82,822) 
$ 
(238,257) 
The estimated revenue reductions are based on cunent registration data and assume that approximately 11,913 inland 
and 2,269 tidal registrations that are currently registered as 10 hp or below would qualify under the 5 hp or below 
catego1y created in the bill. Statutorily required fee increases in fiscal year 2028-29 and distribution fonnulas for the 
Lake and River Protection Sticker program remain unchanged. The bill includes accompanying Other Special Reve1· 
Fund deallocations to reflect the re.duction in anticipated revenues. 
LR0502(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1