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LD 95

An Act To Amend And Simplify Certain Wildlife Laws

132nd Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Sally Cluchey

Maine's LD 95 amends and simplifies bow-and-arrow and crossbow hunting laws to create clearer rules and easier administration for hunters, with minor state costs absorbed.

Signed by Governor
#bowandarrow #crossbow #hunting
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Bill Summary · LD 95

Summary — LD 95: "An Act To Amend And Simplify Certain Wildlife Laws"

Status: Signed by Governor (June 17, 2025)
Introduced: January 8, 2025
Committee: Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
Subject areas (as classified): Bow and arrow, crossbow, hunting

Purpose and intent

The bill’s stated purpose (from its title) is to amend and simplify Maine’s wildlife laws—particularly provisions that regulate bow-and-arrow and crossbow use and related hunting rules. The intent is to streamline statutory language and regulatory requirements to make Maine’s hunting laws clearer and easier to administer and follow.

Key points and what is known from legislative record

  • The official bill text was considered and amended in committee; Committee Amendment “A” (H‑609) was adopted in the Legislature prior to enactment.
  • The Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife recommended the bill “Ought To Pass as Amended” (OTP‑AM).
  • Specific statutory changes are not included in the documents provided here, so exact wording, section-by-section amendments, or concrete regulatory changes cannot be summarized from this record alone.

Fiscal impact

  • Two fiscal notes (LR 248(02) and LR 248(03))—dated 03/03/2025 and 06/11/2025 respectively—conclude the same: the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife would incur a minor General Fund cost to implement the bill, but those costs are expected to be absorbed within existing budgeted resources.

Who would be affected

  • Hunters who use bows, arrows and crossbows; hunting licensees and applicants generally.
  • Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (administration, enforcement, outreach, licensing systems).
  • Law enforcement officers enforcing wildlife statutes and potentially organizations or businesses that provide hunter education, licensing services, or equipment sales.
  • Conservation and hunting-interest groups who monitor statute changes.

Legislative/procedural timeline (selected)

  • 2025-01-08: Referred to and printed for the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee.
  • 2025-02-05: Committee work session; voted OTP‑AM.
  • 2025-03-21: Bill carried over in same posture to next session pursuant to Joint Order SP 519.
  • 2025-06-10–11: Committee Amendment H‑609 adopted; bill passed to be engrossed and enacted.
  • 2025-06-17: Signed by Governor.

Notes and next steps

  • This summary is based on bill metadata, fiscal notes, and legislative actions provided. The precise statutory amendments and regulatory impacts are not in the supplied documents.
  • To review exact changes (text of the engrossed/enacted bill and Committee Amendment H‑609), consult the Maine Legislature’s website or request the enrolled bill text; I can retrieve and summarize the specific statutory changes if you wish.

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

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