An Act to Standardize the Laws Regarding the Carrying of
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 0829
Committee: Judiciary
Sponsors: HAGGAN
Amends: 12 MRSA §756, 12 MRSA §1803

Legislative Document
No. 829
S.P. 356
In Senate, March 4, 2025
An Act to Standardize the Laws Regarding the Carrying of 
Concealed Handguns in State Parks
(EMERGENCY)
Reference to the Committee on Judiciary suggested and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator HAGGAN of Penobscot.
Cosponsored by Senator: HARRINGTON of York, Representatives: ARDELL of Monticello, 
FOSTER of Dexter, HENDERSON of Rumford, PERKINS of Dover-Foxcroft, POIRIER of 
Skowhegan, WHITE of Guilford.
Emergency preamble.  Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, this legislation provides that a person may carry a concealed handgun in 
state parks, Baxter State Park, the Allagash Wilderness Waterway and Acadia National 
Park without a concealed handgun permit; and
Whereas, this legislation needs to take effect prior to the summer 2025 recreation 
season; 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.  12 MRSA §756, sub-§2, ¶G, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 607, §1, is amended 
to read:
G.  When the firearm is a concealed firearm handgun, as defined in Title 25, section 
2002, subsection 8-A, carried by a person to whom a valid permit to carry a concealed 
firearm has been issued as provided in Title 25, chapter 252 who is not otherwise 
prohibited from possessing a firearm. The person must have in that person's possession 
the permit as required in Title 25, section 2003.
Sec. 2.  12 MRSA §1803, sub-§7, as amended by PL 2013, c. 405, Pt. A, §24 and 
c. 424, Pt. A, §4, is further amended to read:
7.  Exceptions Exception.  Notwithstanding subsection 6 or any other rule-making 
authority, the bureau may not adopt rules that prohibit the following persons a person who 
is not otherwise prohibited from possessing a firearm from carrying a concealed handgun 
in the buildings or parts of buildings and other public property that are under the bureau’s 
jurisdiction:.
A.  A person to whom a valid permit to carry a concealed handgun has been issued 
under Title 25, chapter 252.  The person must have in that person's possession the valid 
permit;
B.  A person to whom a valid permit to carry a concealed handgun has been issued by 
another state if a permit to carry a concealed handgun issued from that state has been 
granted reciprocity under Title 25, chapter 252.  The person must have in that person's 
possession the valid permit;
C.  An authorized federal, state or local law enforcement officer in the performance of 
that officer's official duties;
D.  A qualified law enforcement officer pursuant to 18 United States Code, Section 
926B.  The law enforcement officer must have in that law enforcement officer's 
possession photographic identification issued by the law enforcement agency by which 
the person is employed as a law enforcement officer; and
E.  A qualified retired law enforcement officer pursuant to 18 United States Code, 
Section 926C.  The retired law enforcement officer must have in the retired law 
enforcement officer's possession:
(1)  Photographic identification issued by the law enforcement agency from which 
the person retired from service as a law enforcement officer that indicates that the 
person has, not less recently than one year before the date the person carries the 
concealed handgun, been tested or otherwise found by the agency to meet the 
standards established by the agency for training and qualification for active law 
enforcement officers to carry a handgun of the same type as the concealed 
handgun; or
(2)  Photographic identification issued by the law enforcement agency from which 
the person retired from service as a law enforcement officer and a certification 
issued by the state in which the person resides that indicates that the person has, 
not less recently than one year before the date the person carries the concealed 
handgun, been tested or otherwise found by that state to meet the standards 
established by that state for training and qualification for active law enforcement 
officers to carry a handgun of the same type as the concealed handgun.
Sec. 3. Department to update rules. The Department of Agriculture, Conservation 
and Forestry, Bureau of Parks and Lands shall update its rules to remove the requirement 
that a person have a valid permit in order to carry a concealed handgun in state parks, 
Baxter State Park and the Allagash Wilderness Waterway.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation 
takes effect when approved.
SUMMARY
This bill removes the requirement that a person have a valid permit in order to carry a 
concealed handgun in state parks, Baxter State Park, the Allagash Wilderness Waterway 
and Acadia National Park and instead provides that any person who is not otherwise 
prohibited from possessing a firearm may carry a concealed handgun in these locations. 
The bill also directs the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Bureau of 
Parks and Lands to update its rules to remove the requirement that a person have a valid 
permit in order to carry a concealed handgun in state parks, Baxter State Park and the 
Allagash Wilderness Waterway.