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LD 157

An Act To Amend Certain Inland Fisheries And Wildlife Laws

132nd Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Woody Woodsome

LD 157 updates inland fisheries and wildlife laws with technical corrections plus minor penalties/fee changes, affecting DIFW, hunters, and licensees, with small revenue gains.

Signed by Governor
#administration #inlandfisheriesandwildlifedept #statutecorrections
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Bill Summary · LD 157

LD 157 — An Act To Amend Certain Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Laws

Status: Signed by Governor (May 29, 2025)
Introduced: January 14, 2025 | Committee: Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
Legislative Record: LR 244(02)/(03) — Passed to be enacted; Committee Amendment "A" (H-232) adopted

Purpose / Intent

LD 157 makes a set of amendments and statutory corrections to Maine’s inland fisheries and wildlife laws. The bill’s intent, as reflected in legislative actions and the fiscal notes, is primarily to update, clarify, and correct existing statutory language and to make limited substantive adjustments that affect administration, enforcement, penalties, or fee collections within the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (DIFW).

Key procedural steps

  • Referred to Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife: 2025-01-14
  • Committee recommendation: OTP-AM (recommended to pass as amended) after work sessions (02/10/25; reconsidered 05/07/25)
  • Committee Amendment “A” (H-232) adopted: 05/22/25
  • Passed to be enacted and sent for concurrence: 05/22/25 and 05/27/25
  • Signed by Governor: 05/29/25

Main provisions (summary characterization)

The public legislative record provided does not include the bill’s full text in this packet. Based on the bill title, committee classification, and fiscal notes, LD 157 appears to:
- Make technical corrections and clarifications to inland fisheries and wildlife statutes (e.g., definitions, cross-references, statutory language);
- Make limited substantive changes that affect enforcement or licensing (the fiscal note indicates some changes result in modest additional fines or fee receipts);
- Update administrative or procedural provisions governing DIFW operations.

For precise statutory wording and an itemized list of changes, consult the engrossed bill (with Committee Amendment A) and the final enacted text.

Who is affected

  • Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife: administrative and enforcement responsibilities; any minor additional workload is expected to be absorbed within existing resources.
  • Hunters, anglers, licensees and regulated parties: possible minor changes in regulatory language, penalties or fees.
  • Judicial/correctional system: minor increase in caseloads from a small number of additional violations; no new funding required.
  • State finances: General Fund and Other Special Revenue Funds will receive small revenue increases from additional fines/fees.

Fiscal and operational impact

  • Fiscal notes (approved 03/03/25 and 05/22/25) report:
    • Minor cost increase — General Fund
    • Minor revenue increase — General Fund
    • Minor revenue increase — Other Special Revenue Funds
    • Departmental costs expected to be minor and absorbable within current budgets
    • Additional court cases minimal and do not require new funding

Next steps / implementation

  • The bill was signed by the Governor on May 29, 2025. Check the enacted statute for the specific effective date(s) (some provisions may specify immediate or staggered effective dates).
  • For detailed changes (specific statutory sections amended, exact fee or penalty adjustments, and effective dates), review the final engrossed/enacted bill text and the DIFW implementation guidance.

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

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