An Act to Stabilize and
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 0077
Committee Amendment CA_A_H323 (House)
Amends: 12 MRSA §10108, 12 MRSA §10252, 12 MRSA §11109, 12 MRSA §12501

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "f\ » to H.P. 41, L.D. 77, "An Act to Stabilize and
Sustainably Fund the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Fisheries and
Hatcheries Division by Increasing the biland Fishing License Fees and Establishing the
Inland Fisheries Conservation and Enhancement Fund"
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following:
'An Act to Stabilize and Sustainably Fund the Department of Inland Fisheries and
Wildlife, Fisheries and Hatcheries Division by lucreasing the Inland Fishing License
Fees and Establishing the Inland Fisheries Conservation and Enhancement Program'
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and insertmg the
following:
'See. 1. 12 MRSA §10108, sub-§13 is enacted to read:
13. Inland Fisheries Csnservation and Enhancement Program. The Inland
Fisheries Conservation and Enhancement Proeram, referred to in this subsection as "the
program," is established within the department's fisheries and hatcheries division.
A. The_program must;
d) Prioritize native inland fish conservation and the research, management and
enhancement of the State's native fish. includine but not limited to those identified
by the department as species of greatest conservation need, brook trout, lake
whitefish. arctic charr and lake trout;
(2) Identify and implement actions to enhance native fish production and stockine.
including assessment of native fish production proerams; and
0 (3) Continue to conserve, protect and enhance the State's sport fish fisheries ,
B. To the extent that resources allow, the program must also support and mcorporate
the followine elements:
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
^0<0 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "/^" to H.P. 41, L.D. 77
^
d) The design and implementation of regional and statewide fisheries research
programs to^cpnserve the State's native inland and sport fish fisheries, ensuring the
lone-term sustainabilitv and health of the State's fisheries;
f2) Investment in new technology, equipment and trainine proerams to enhance
the success and effectiveness of the m'oeram;
(3} Effective communication regarding oneoine uroeram actions, success and
collaboration;
C4) The establishment of collaborative partnerships to engage organizations.
communities and companies reoresentme conservation groups, anglers, land trusts
and other oreanizations mvolved in outdoor recreation m itnolementine and
publicizing the program; and
(5) Engagement with representatives of various agencies, anglers and nonprofit
oreanizations to enhance and restore the State's native fisheries habitat and
populations,
C. The commissioner may accept money, goods or services donated to the department
for the program. Money accepted by the commissioner under this subsection must be
deposited mto thejlsheries and hatcheries_division dedicated accQunt.
D, The commissioner, or the commissioner's desienee. shall report no later than
February 1st annually to the iomt standine committee of the Leeislature havine
jurisdiction over inland fisheries and wildlife matters regarding program activities,
emohasizine the work being done to conserve, research^ manage and enliance_the
State's native inland fish populations and mcluding a summary of expenditures and
their allocation,
Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §10252, as affected by PL 2003, c. 614, §9 and amended by c.
655, Pt. B, §51 and affected by §422, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
§10252, Fish hatchery maintenance fund
1. Fund estabIished._The fish hatchery maintenance fund, referred to in this section
as "the fund." is established in the department as a nonlapsine fund to be used by the
commissioner to fund or assist m funding engineerine designs. statewide facilities
assessments and maintenance, lepauLand capital improvements at fish hatcheries and
feeding stations owned by the State. The fund may be used for overtime personnel services
2 costs when overtime for fish stocking and other hatcherv-related work is operationaUY
required. Additionally, the fund may support the^esign, construction and operation of
4 additional state fish hatcheries that support the mission of the department. as aporoved by
5 the Leeislature, The fund may not be used to fund the general operatine costs of an existing
fishhatcherv.
7 2. Fundine. Notwithstanding section 10801, subsection 4. $2 from each fishing
license sold must be deposited into the fund. Additionallv, money deposited pursuant to
Title 29-A. section 456-C. subsection 3. paragraph A. subparagraph fl) must also be
credited to the fund. The commissioner may accepfand deposit into the fund any monetary
gifts, donations or other contributions fi'om public or m'ivate sources and must use that
money for the purposes specified in subsection 1.,
Page2-132LR0251(02)
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "/t" to H,P. 41, L.D. 77
Sec. 3. 12 MRSA §11109, sub-§3, ^D, as repealed and replaced by PL 2015, c.
494, Pt, D, §2, is amended to read;
D. A resident combmation huntmg and fishing license is $43- $48 and permits hunting
of all legal species, subject to the permit requirements in subchapter 3,
Sec. 4. 12 MRSA §11109, sub-§3, ^]E, as repealed and replaced by PL 2015, c.
494, Pt. D,§2, is amended to read:
E. A resident combination archery hunting and fishing license is $43- $48 and permits
hunting of all legal species, subject to the permit requirements in subchapter 3,
Sec. 5. 12 MRSA §11109, sub-§3,^[J, as repealed and replaced by PL 2015, c.
494, Ft. D,§2, is amended to read:
J. A nonresident combination huntmg and fishing license is $+§0 $169,
Sec. 6. 12 MRSA §11109, sub-§7, ^S, as amended by PL 2015, c. 245, §3, is
further amended to read:
B. A resident combination archery hunting and fishing license is $43- $48;
Sec. 7. 12 MR8A §U109-A, sub-§5, as amended by PL 2023, c, 49, §2 and
affected by §3, is further amended to read:
5. Fee. The fee for a super pack license is $30^ $212 for residents and $!«£ $187 for
a person holding 2 or more lifetime licenses,
Sec. 8. 12 MRSA §12501, sub-§6, as amended by PL 2023,c.228, §§11 and 12,
is further amended to read:
6. Schedule of fees. The fees for fishing licenses are as follows.
A. A resident fishing license is $3^- $30.
B. A resident combination hunting and fishing license is $43- $48,
C. A resident combination archeiy hunting and fishing license is $43- $48.
E. A 3-day fishing license for a resident or nonresident, valid for the 72-hour period
specified on the license, is $33- $30,
F. A nonresident 7-day fishing license, valid for 7 days from date indicated on license,
is $43- $62.
G, A nonresident 15-day fishing license, valid for 15 days from date indicated on
license, is $4-7 $66.
H. A nonresident season fishing license for persons 16 years of age or older is $64
J, A one-day fishing license for a resident or nonresident, valid for the 24-hour period
indicated on license, is $44- $18.
Sec. 9. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and
allocations are made.
INLAND FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE, DEPARTMENT OF
Fisheries and Hatcheries Operations 0535
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A " to H.P. 41, L.D, 77
Initiative: Provides funding for expenditures authorized in the Maine Revised Statutes,
Title 12, section 10252, subsection 1.
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 2025-26 2026-27
AllOther $500,000 $500,000
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL $500,000 $500,000
Inland Fisheries Conservation and Enhancement Program N531
Initiative: Provides baseline allocation to establish an account within the existing Fisheries
and Hatcheries Operations program, Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 2025-26 2026-27
AllOther $500 $500
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL $500 $500
INLAND FISHEMES AND WILDLIFE,
DEPARTMENT OF
DEPARTMENT TOTALS 2025-26 2026-27
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS $500,500 $500,500
DEPARTMENT TOTAL-ALL FUNDS $500,500 $500,500
See. 10. Effective date. Those sections of this Act that amend the Maine Revised
Statutes, Title 12, section 11109, subsection 3, paragraphs D, E and J and section 11109,
subsection 7, paragraph B and section 11109-A, subsection 5 and section 12501, subsection
6 take effect December 1, 2025,'
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbermg any nonconsecutive Part letter or section
number to read consecutively.
SUMMARY
This amendment makes the following changes to the bill.
1. It changes the title.
2, It adds language to allow the fish hatchery maintenance fund to be used for overtime
personnel services costs when overtime for fish stocking and other hatchery-related work
is operationally required and also makes clear that the fund may support the design,
construction and operation of additional state fish hatcheries.
3. It establishes the Inland Fisheries Conservation and Enhancement Program, which
replaces the Inland Fisheries Conservation and Enhancement Fund established in the bill,
and establishes program requirements and duties.
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT " Jl" to H.P. 41, L,D, 77
4. It makes changes to the fees for inland fishing licenses and adds an effective date
of December 1, 2025 for these changes.
5, It adds an appropriations and allocations section.
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Approved: 04/29/25
S^RL.
LD 77 LR 251(02)
An Act to Stabilize and Sustainably Fund the, Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Fisheries
and Hatcheries Division by Increasing the Inland Fishing License Fees and Establishing the Inland
Fisheries Conservation and Enhancement Fund
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment '^f'
Committee; Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
Net Cost (Savings)
General Fund
Appropriations/AIlocations
Other Special Revenue Funds
Revenue
General Fund
Other Special Revenue Funds
Projections Projections
FY 2025-26 FY 2026-27 FY 2027-28 FY 2028-29
($1,474,000) ($1,474,000) ($1,474,000) ($1,474,000)
$500,500
$1,474,000
$500,000
$500,500
$1,474,000
$500,000
$500,500
$1,474,000
$500,000
$500/"
$1,474,000
$500,000
Fiscal Detail and Notes
This bill establishes the Fisheries Conservation and Enhancement Program within the existing Fisheries and
Hatcheries Operations (FHO) program in the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. It expands the authorized
uses of the existing Fish Hatchery Maintenance Fund (FHMF) to include overtime personnel costs and specific
design, construction, and operational expenses, Beginning December 1, 2025, the bill increases fees for certain inland
fishing licenses by the amounts specified below and directs $2 from each license sold to be deposited into the FHMF.
These fee increases are projected to generate additional revenue of approximately $1,474,000 annually for the General
Fund and $500,000 annually in Other Special Revenue Funds revenue beginning in fiscal year 2025-26, The bill
includes corresponding Other Special Revenue Funds allocations of $500,000 beginning in fiscal year 2025-26 to
authorize expenditure of the additional revenue and initial baseline allocations of $500 to create the Inland Fisheries
Conservation and Enhancement program subaccount within the existing FHO program,
License Type
Non Resident Season Fishing
1-Day Fishing
3-Day Fishing
Non Resident 7-Day Fishing
Non Resident 15-Day Fishing
Non Resident Comb Hunt & Fish
Resident Season Fishing
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
Current
Increase
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
New Fee
LR0251(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1