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LD 80

An Act To Designate The Seppala Siberian Sleddog As The Maine State Dog

132nd Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Mark Babin and 9 co-sponsors

Designates the Seppala Siberian Sleddog as Maine's official state dog; no new programs, minor costs absorbable within existing General Fund resources for ceremonial recognition.

Became Law without Governor's Signature
#statedog #stateemblems #stategovernment
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Bill Summary · LD 80

Summary: LD 80 – An Act to Designate the Seppala Siberian Sleddog as the Maine State Dog

Basic Information

  • Bill number: LD 80
  • Title: An Act To Designate The Seppala Siberian Sleddog As The Maine State Dog
  • Status: Became Law without Governor's Signature
  • Introduced: January 6, 2025
  • Primary sponsor: Rep. David Boyer, Jr. (Poland)
  • Committee: State and Local Government
  • Version/Notes: Fiscal notes accompany the engrossed/original bill indicating minor General Fund costs; both notes cite that costs can be absorbed within existing resources.

Purpose and Intent

  • The main aim of the bill is to designate the Seppala Siberian Sleddog as the official state dog of Maine. This designation adds the breed to Maine’s set of state symbols (state dog) and aligns with the subject area of state symbols and state government.

Key Provisions

  • Designation: The bill officially designates the Seppala Siberian Sleddog as the Maine State Dog.
  • No additional duties, programs, or changes to state agencies are described in the fiscal notes; the primary action is the formal designation of the breed as the state dog.

Who or What Would Be Affected

  • State Government: May incur minor administrative or ceremonial costs associated with labeling and recognition (if any such costs arise beyond the designation itself). Fiscal notes describe these as minor and absorbable within existing General Fund resources.
  • Seppala Siberian Sleddog Community: Recognition as the official state dog could influence public events, educational materials, and promotional efforts highlighting the breed within Maine.

Procedural and Timeline Highlights

  • Introduction and Referral: Introduced January 6, 2025; referred to the Committee on State and Local Government.
  • Legislative Path:
    • Work session held March 12, 2025; voted OTP/ONTP March 28, 2025.
    • Passed the House and Senate stages in early April 2025; readings and engrossment followed the standard process.
    • April 1, 2025: Passed to be engrossed and sent for concurrence.
    • April 8, 2025: Readings completed; Roll Call (Yeas 24 – Nays 8 – Excused 2 – Absent 1) during a suspension-of-rules passage.
    • April 10, 2025: Passed to be enacted and sent for concurrence.
    • April 15, 2025: Passed to be enacted in concurrence.
  • Final Status: Became law on April 27, 2025, without the Governor’s signature.

Fiscal Impact

  • Fiscal Notes:
    • Preliminary and engrossed versions indicate a minor cost increase to the General Fund for designation of the state dog.
    • Both notes state that costs are minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. No new or ongoing program funding was identified beyond the designation itself.

Summary of Impact

  • The bill creates a formal designation of the Seppala Siberian Sleddog as Maine’s state dog, with no substantial programmatic changes or new mandates on state agencies beyond the symbolic designation. Any associated costs are described as minor and manageable within current resources.

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

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