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LD 1241

An Act To Establish The Make Change For Wildlife Program To Support The Maine Endangered And Nongame Wildlife Fund

132nd Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Joe Baldacci and 8 co-sponsors

Repeals WECARE and creates Make Change for Wildlife: retailers collect voluntary at-checkout donations for the Maine Endangered and Nongame Wildlife Fund, replacing fees with gifts

Signed by Governor
#contributions #endangered #wildlife
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Bill Summary · LD 1241

LD 1241 — Make Change for Wildlife Program (2025)

Status: Signed by Governor (June 12, 2025)
Introduced: March 25, 2025
Committee: Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
Subject: Contributions; Endangered & nongame wildlife funding

Summary / Purpose

LD 1241 repeals the fee‑based Wildlife Enthusiast’s Conservation Appreciation, Recreation and Enjoyment (WECARE) program and establishes a new, voluntary Make Change for Wildlife program to support the Maine Endangered and Nongame Wildlife Fund. The new program authorizes participating businesses to collect voluntary donations at the point of sale and remit those donations to the Maine Endangered and Nongame Wildlife Fund administered by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

Key provisions

  • Repeals the existing WECARE program (which was fee‑based).
  • Creates the Make Change for Wildlife program as a voluntary point‑of‑sale donation mechanism.
  • Allows participating businesses to collect customer donations at checkout and remit those funds to the Maine Endangered and Nongame Wildlife Fund (Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife).
  • Directs remitted donations to the Maine Endangered and Nongame Wildlife Fund to support threatened, endangered, and nongame wildlife activities (statutory fund administration remains with the Department).

(Exact statutory text, remittance procedures, reporting or administrative rulemaking provisions are not included in the fiscal note summary.)

Who is affected

  • Participating retail businesses and other point‑of‑sale merchants that opt into the voluntary program.
  • Consumers who choose to make voluntary donations at checkout.
  • The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, which will receive and oversee funds deposited in the Maine Endangered and Nongame Wildlife Fund.
  • Administrators and prior participants of the WECARE program (whose fee structure is eliminated).

Fiscal impact

  • Fiscal notes (approved 5/31/25 and 6/6/25) indicate the bill will eliminate the modest fee revenue previously collected under WECARE but is expected to be offset by voluntary donations under the new program.
  • Net revenue impact is uncertain and cannot be estimated in advance; it will depend on how many businesses participate and the volume/amount of donations. The Legislature identifies a potential current biennium increase to Other Special Revenue Funds but does not specify amounts.

Legislative timeline / key actions

  • 2025-03-25: Referred to Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.
  • 2025-05-05: Committee work session; voted OTP‑AM (ought to pass as amended).
  • 2025-06-05: Committee Amendment “A” (H‑480) adopted; bill passed to be engrossed as amended.
  • 2025-06-09: Passed (in concurrence) and ordered sent forthwith.
  • 2025-06-12: Signed by the Governor (enacted).

If you want, I can draft plain‑language talking points for businesses considering participation or outline possible administrative steps the Department may need to implement the program.

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

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