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LD 101

An Act Regarding Public Records And Fees For Requesting Public Records From The Department Of Inland Fisheries And Wildlife

132nd Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Tiffany Roberts

Creates a working group to review how IFW and other agencies classify, access, and charge for public records, identify barriers, and recommend changes.

Signed by Governor
#administration #freedomofaccessrequests #inlandfisheriesandwildlifedept
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Bill Summary · LD 101

Summary — LD 101 (132nd Maine Legislature)

Title: An Act Regarding Public Records And Fees For Requesting Public Records From the Department Of Inland Fisheries And Wildlife
Status: Signed by the Governor (May 29, 2025)
Introduced: January 8, 2025
Committee: Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

Purpose and intent

LD 101 addresses access to public records maintained by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IFW) and the fees charged for fulfilling public-records requests. As enacted (via committee amendment), the measure creates a working group to examine how records are classified and how access and fees are handled for IFW and certain other state agencies, with the goal of identifying issues and recommending changes.

Key provisions

  • Converts the original bill into a Resolve to convene a working group tasked with:
    • Examining the classification of public records maintained by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (and certain other state agencies referenced in the enacted language);
    • Reviewing policies and practices for public access to those records and the fees charged to request them;
    • Identifying inconsistencies, access barriers, or fee-structure issues and developing recommendations (for legislative or administrative action).
  • The bill was amended by Committee Amendment “A” (H‑231) prior to final passage; the engrossed/engrossed-as-amended version is the enacted measure.
  • No significant new appropriation was required. Fiscal notes indicate only a minor General Fund cost increase associated with agency participation in the working group; those costs are expected to be absorbed within existing budgets.

Who is affected

  • Requesters of IFW public records (members of the public, journalists, researchers, businesses) — potential future changes could alter access processes or request fees.
  • Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and other state agencies asked to participate — staff will serve on the working group and may need to provide information or attend meetings.
  • Legislature and regulatory agencies — may receive recommendations that could lead to future statutory or rule changes.

Fiscal and procedural notes / timeline

  • Fiscal impact: minor increase to the General Fund; departments’ participation costs expected to be absorbable within existing resources (Fiscal Notes approved 04/18/25 and 05/22/25).
  • Legislative actions:
    • Introduced Jan 8, 2025; referred to the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee.
    • Reported Out — OTP‑AM; work session held Mar 31, 2025.
    • Amended, passed, and finally passed in concurrence in late May 2025.
    • Signed by Governor on May 29, 2025.
  • The enacted language establishes the working group but the summary and fiscal documents do not specify membership, reporting deadlines, or required deliverables — monitor published text of the Resolve or subsequent agency notices for those details and for any report or recommendations produced.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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