An Act to Eliminate
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 2118
Committee Amendment CA_A_H972 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT A " to H.P, 1433, L.D. 2118, "An Act to Eliminate
the Natural Areas Program and Reassign Certain Responsibilities Under the Program to the
Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and to Amend the Law Governing
Administration of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Bureau of Resource
Management"
Amend the bill in section 32 in sub-c. 4 in §12825 by inserting after the first indented
paragraph the following;
This section is repealed September 30. 2029,'
Amend the bill by striking out all of section 41.
Amend the bill by inserting after section 44 the following:
'See. 45. Report regarding rulemaking. No later than February 15, 2029, the
Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife shall provide a report, including any fmdmgs
and recommendations, to the joint standing committees of the Legislature having
jurisdiction over inland fisheries and wildlife matters and agriculture, conservation and
forestiy matters regarding the effect of the prohibition established in the Maine Revised
Statutes, Title 12, section 12825, which provides that the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries
and Wildlife may not adopt rules to protect plants and plant communities under Title 12,
chapter 925, subchapter 4 except when required for the conservation of rare fish or wildlife
species, threatened fish or wildlife species or endangered fish or wildlife species. Each
committee may submit legislation related to the subject matter of the report to the 134th
Legislature in 2029.
Sec. 46. Transfer of Personal Services balances to All Other; Department
of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Resource IVIanagement Services - Inland
Fisheries and Wildlife. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, for fiscal
year 2026-27, the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is authorized to transfer up
to $150,000 of available balances of Personal Services appropriations, after all salary,
benefit and other obligations are met, to the All Other line category of the Resource
Management Services - Inland and Fisheries Wildlife program, General Fund account for
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
^
^-
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A " to H.P. 1433, L.D. 2118
the purpose of funding early detection and rapid response efforts to eradicate invasive stilt
grass. These amounts may be transferred by financial order upon the recommendation of
the State Budget Officer and approval of the Governor, These transfers are not considered
adjustments to appropriations.
Sec. 47. Transfer of Personal Services balances to All Other; Department
of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Resource Management Services - Inland
Fisheries and Wildlife. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, for fiscal
year 2026-27, the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is authorized to transfer up
to $25,000 of available balances of Personal Services appropriations, after all salaiy,
benefit and other obligations are met, to the All Other Ime category of the Resource
Management Services - Inland Fisheries and Wildlife program, General Fund account for
the purpose of funding an update to the State's official list of threatened and endangered
plants, These amounts may be transferred by financial order upon the recommendation of
the State Budget Officer and approval of the Governor. These transfers are not considered
adjustments to appropriations.
Sec. 48. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and
allocations are made.
AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY, DEPARTMENT OF
Natural Areas Program Z821
Initiative: Transfers one Public Service Manager II position, one Resource Management
Coordmator position and 5 Biologist It positions from the Natural Areas Program within
the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to the Resource Management
S ervices - Inland Fisheries and Wildlife program within the Department of Inland Fisheries
and Wildlife. This initiative also transfers All Other funds from the Natural Areas Program
within the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to the Resource
Management Services - Inland Fisheries and Wildlife program within the Department of
Inland Fisheries and Wildlife,
GENERAL FUND 2025-26 2026-27
Personal Sendces $0 ($418,180)
AllOther $0 ($66,242)
GENERAL FUND TOTAL
FEDERAL EXPENDITURES FUND
Personal Services
All Other
8 FEDERAL EXPENDITURES FUND TOTAL
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS
Personal Services
All Other
$0
2025-26
$0
$0
$0
2025-26
$0
$0
($484,422)
2026-27
($179,238)
($133,082)
($312,320)
2026-27
($302,202)
($605,699)
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
^&>
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "f\" to H.P, 1433, L.D. 2118
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL $0 ($907,901)
AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION AND
FORESTRY, DEPARTMENT OF
DEPARTMENT TOTALS 2025-26 2026-27
GENERAL FUND $0 ($484,422)
FEDERAL EXPENDITURES FUND $0 ($312,320)
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS $0 ($907,901)
DEPARTMENT TOTAL-ALL FUNDS $0 ($1,704,643)
miAND FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE, DEPARTMENT OF
Natural Areas Conservation Fund N548
Initiative; Provides baseline allocation to establish the account,
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 2025-26 2026-27
AllOther $0 $500
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL $0 $500
Resource IManagement Serfices - Inland Fisheries and Wildlife 0534
Initiative; Transfers one Public Service Manager II position, one Resource Management
Coordinator position and 5 Biologist H positions from the Natural Areas Program within
the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to the Resource Management
Services - Inland Fisheries and Wildlife program within the Department of Inland Fisheries
and Wildlife, This initiative also transfers All Other funds from the Natoal Areas Program
within the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to the Resource
Management Services - Inland Fisheries and Wildlife program within the Department of
Inland Fisheries and Wildlife,
GENERAL FUND 2025-26 2026-27
Personal Services $0 $418,180
AHOther $0 $66,242
GENERAL FUND TOTAL $0 $484,422
FEDERAL EXPENDITURES FUND 2025-26 2026-27
Personal Services $0 $179,238
AHOther $0 $133,082
FEDERAL EXPENDITURES FUND TOTAL $0 $312,320
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 2025-26 2026-27
Personal Services $0 $302,202
AHOther $0 $605,699
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "/A " to H.P, 1433, L,D. 2118
"/A"to:
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$500
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL $0 $907,901
INLAND FISHERIES AND WDJ)LIFE,
DEPARTMENT OF
DEPARTMENT TOTALS 2025-26 2026-27
GENERAL FUND $0 $484,422
FEDERAL EXPENDITURES FUND $0 $312,320
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS $0 $908,401
DEPARTMENT TOTAL-ALL FUNDS $0 $1,705,143
SECTION TOTALS 2025-26 2026-27
GENERAL FUND
FEDERAL EXPENDITURES FUND
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS
SECTION TOTAL-ALL FUNDS $0 $500
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section
number to read consecutively.
SUMMARY
This amendment repeals on September 30, 2029 the provision of the bill that prohibits
the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife from adopting rules to protect plants
and plant communities except when required for the conservation of rare fish or wildlife
species, threatened fish or wildlife species or endangered fish or wildlife species.
The amendment directs the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to provide a
report, including any findings and recommendations, to the joint standing committees of
the Legislature having jurisdiction over inland fisheries and wildlife matters and
agriculture, conservation and forestiy matters regarding the effect of this prohibition. Each
committee may submit legislation related to the subject matter of the report to the 134th
Legislature in 2029.
The amendment allows the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to transfer
funds from available balances of Personal Services appropriations to the Resource
Management Services - Inland Fisheries and Wildlife program for the purposes of funding
early detection and rapid response efforts to eradicate invasive stilt grass and funding an
update to the State's official list of threatened and endangered plants,
The amendment also removes from the bill a provision allowing the Department of
Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to determine that a municipality has a comprehensive land
use plan in providing for the protection of wildlife habitat, fisheries, unusual natural areas
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
^a)
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "fl\" to H,P, 1433, L,D, 2118
and archaeological and historic sites for the purposes of an exemption from review for the
determmation of municipal capacity for a site location of development.
The amendment adds an appropriations and allocations section.
FISCAL NOTE REQUDUED
(See attached)
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Approved: 04/01/26 t^Kt.
LD 2118 LR 2633(02)
An Act to Eliminate the Natural Areas Program and Reassign Certain Responsibilities Under the
Program to the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and to Amend the Law Governing
Administration of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Bureau of Resource Management
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment '^'/ 14-^IZ
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 $0 $0 $0
Appropriations/AUocations
General Fund
Federal Expenditures Fund
Other Special Revenue Funds
Fiscal Detail and Notes
This bill transfers statutory references and administrative oversight of the Natural Areas Program from the Department
of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (ACP) to the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IFW). As a result,
one Public Service Manager H position, one Resource Management Coordinator position, five Biologist II positions,
and associated All Other costs will be transferred.
This change will result in the following adjustments to ACF's budget beginning in fiscal year 2026-27:
General Fund deappropriations of $ (484,427)
Federal Expenditures Fund deallocations of $ (312,320)
Other Special Revenue Funds deallocations of $ (907,901)
Corresponding adjustments to IFW in fiscal year 2026-27: will include:
General Fund appropriations of $ 484,427
Federal Expenditures Fund allocations of $ 312,320
Other Special Revenue Funds allocations of $ 907,901
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$500
$0
$0
$500
$0
$0
$500
LR2633(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1