An Act to Promote the Welfare of Disabled Veterans Through the
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1430
Committee: Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
Sponsors: PERKINS, STEWART
Amends: 12 MRSA §11154

Legislative Document
No. 1430
H.P. 939
House of Representatives, April 3, 2025
An Act to Promote the Welfare of Disabled Veterans Through the 
Transfer of Moose Permits
Reference to the Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife suggested and ordered 
printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative PERKINS of Dover-Foxcroft.  (BY REQUEST)
Cosponsored by Senator STEWART of Aroostook and
Representatives: CHAPMAN of Auburn, DILL of Old Town, FREDETTE of Newport, 
MCINTYRE of Lowell, SOBOLESKI of Phillips, THORNE of Carmel, WHITE of Guilford, 
WHITE of Ellsworth.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  12 MRSA §11154, sub-§16, as enacted by PL 2019, c. 191, §1, is amended 
to read:
16.  Moose permit transfer; disabled veterans.  A person who holds a valid moose 
permit may transfer, in accordance with this subsection, that permit to a disabled veteran 
who meets the eligibility and permit requirements under this section and section 10853, 
subsection 4 and who is not otherwise prohibited from holding a moose permit.  The 
commissioner may authorize a permit holder to transfer the moose permit to a disabled 
veteran identified by the permit holder, or the permit holder may return the permit to the 
department, which, in accordance with rules adopted by the commissioner, shall provide 
for the transfer of the permit to a disabled veteran.  A Notwithstanding subsections 16-A, 
16-B and 16-C, a transferor and a transferee of the permit are subject to the elimination of 
any accumulated points under subsection 8 and the 3-year ineligibility period under 
subsection 5.  Rules adopted under this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in 
Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2‑A.
Sec. 2.  12 MRSA §11154, sub-§16-A is enacted to read:
16-A.  Moose permit transfer; nonprofit veteran aid organization transfer to 
disabled veterans.  A nonprofit veteran aid organization based in this State that promotes 
the mental and emotional welfare of veterans in this State by providing outdoor 
opportunities may apply for a moose permit in order to transfer that permit, in accordance 
with this subsection, to a disabled veteran who is a resident of this State, who meets the 
eligibility and permit requirements under this section and section 10853, subsection 4 and 
who is not otherwise prohibited from holding a moose permit.  The commissioner may 
authorize the transfer of a moose permit obtained under this subsection to a disabled veteran 
identified by the organization, or the organization may return the permit to the department, 
which, in accordance with rules adopted by the commissioner, shall provide for the transfer 
of the permit to a disabled veteran. The nonprofit veteran aid organization is eligible to 
apply for a permit and start accumulating points under subsection 8 the year following the 
transfer.
Sec. 3.  12 MRSA §11154, sub-§16-B is enacted to read:
16-B.  Moose permit transfer; nonprofit veteran aid organization employee and 
volunteer transfer to disabled veterans.  An employee or volunteer of a nonprofit veteran 
aid organization based in this State that promotes the mental and emotional welfare of 
veterans in this State by providing outdoor opportunities who holds a valid moose permit 
may transfer, in accordance with this subsection, that permit to a disabled veteran who is a 
resident of this State, who meets the eligibility and permit requirements under this section 
and section 10853, subsection 4 and who is not otherwise prohibited from holding a moose 
permit.  The commissioner may authorize the permit holder to transfer the moose permit to 
a disabled veteran identified by the permit holder, or the permit holder may return the 
permit to the department, which, in accordance with rules adopted by the commissioner, 
shall provide for the transfer of the permit to a disabled veteran. The employee or volunteer 
of the nonprofit veteran aid organization based in this State is eligible to apply for a permit 
and start accumulating points under subsection 8 the year following the transfer.
Sec. 4.  12 MRSA §11154, sub-§16-C is enacted to read:
16-C.  Moose permit transfer; registered Maine guide transfer to disabled 
veterans.  A registered Maine guide who is a resident of this State and who holds a valid 
moose permit may transfer, in accordance with this subsection, that permit to a disabled 
veteran who is a resident of this State, who meets the eligibility and permit requirements 
under this section and section 10853, subsection 4 and who is not otherwise prohibited 
from holding a moose permit.  The commissioner may authorize the permit holder to 
transfer the moose permit to a disabled veteran identified by the permit holder, or the permit 
holder may return the permit to the department, which, in accordance with rules adopted 
by the commissioner, shall provide for the transfer of the permit to a disabled veteran. If 
the registered Maine guide transferred that guide's permit without remuneration, that guide 
is eligible to apply for a permit and start accumulating points under subsection 8 the year 
following the transfer.
SUMMARY
This bill amends the laws governing moose permit transfers to disabled veterans by the 
following organizations or individuals if they meet certain eligibility requirements: 
1.  Nonprofit veteran aid organizations based in this State that promote the mental and 
emotional welfare of veterans in this State by providing outdoor opportunities;
2.  The employees and volunteers of nonprofit veteran aid organizations based in this 
State that promote the mental and emotional welfare of veterans in this State by providing 
outdoor opportunities; and
3.  Registered Maine guides who are residents of this State.
The bill clarifies that if an eligible organization or individual transfers a moose permit 
to a disabled veteran, the eligible organization or individual is able to apply for a moose 
permit again the following year and may also start accumulating points for the public 
chance drawing for a moose permit the following year.