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LD 1213

An Act To Allow The Premiums And Gratuities Paid For Any Agricultural Events Approved By The Commissioner Of Agriculture, Conservation And Forestry To Be Considered In Apportionment Of Stipends To Agricultural Fairs

132nd Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Rick Bennett and 9 co-sponsors

The bill redirects how the existing Stipend Fund is apportioned by counting premiums and gratuities from approved agricultural events when determining each fair’s share, without in

Signed by Governor
#agricultural #fairs #funding
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Bill Summary · LD 1213

Summary — LD 1213 (132nd Maine Legislature)

Title: An Act To Allow The Premiums And Gratuities Paid For Any Agricultural Events Approved By The Commissioner Of Agriculture, Conservation And Forestry To Be Considered In Apportionment Of Stipends To Agricultural Fairs
Bill No.: LD 1213
Subject: Agricultural fairs; funding / stipend apportionment
Introduced: March 20, 2025
Status: Enacted — Signed by Governor (May 30, 2025)

Purpose

LD 1213 amends the criteria used to calculate distributions from the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry’s (DACF) Stipend Fund so that premiums and gratuities paid for agricultural events approved by the Commissioner may be counted when apportioning stipends to agricultural fair licensees. The intent is to change how the remaining stipend funding is allocated among eligible fairs by including certain event-paid premiums/gratuities in the apportionment base.

Key provisions

  • Directs DACF to consider premiums and gratuities paid for any agricultural events that the Commissioner approves when determining apportionment of stipends to agricultural fair licensees.
  • Applies to distributions remaining after required priority distributions are made:
    • First, distributions to fair licensees that conduct pari‑mutuel racing.
    • Second, distributions to fair licensees that did not conduct pari‑mutuel racing but met other existing criteria.
  • Does not create additional funding; it modifies the distribution ratio among the remaining eligible licensees.
  • Implemented as amended by Committee Amendment “A” (S‑135).

Who is affected

  • Agricultural fair licensees in Maine (recipients of stipends from the DACF Stipend Fund). Fairs that hold Commissioner‑approved agricultural events and pay premiums or gratuities may see changes in their share of the remaining stipend pool.
  • Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry — administrative responsibility for applying the changed apportionment rules.
  • No new appropriations or additional total stipend dollars are authorized by this bill.

Fiscal impact

  • Fiscal notes (revised 4/23/25 and 5/28/25) estimate minor additional administrative costs to DACF, charged to Other Special Revenue Funds. Those costs are expected to be small and absorbable within existing budgeted resources.
  • The total amount available in the Stipend Fund is unchanged; the bill only alters distribution ratios among eligible licensees.

Legislative timeline & status

  • Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (Mar 20, 2025).
  • Reported Out as OTP‑AM; committee amendment A (S‑135) adopted.
  • Passed both chambers (May 22–28, 2025) and sent for concurrence.
  • Signed by the Governor: May 30, 2025 — now law.

Practical implications

Fairs that run Commissioner‑approved agricultural events and pay premiums/gratuities may receive a different portion of the existing stipend pool, depending on how those payments affect apportionment under the revised criteria. There is no increase in statewide stipend funding; impacts will be redistributive among eligible fairs.

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

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