An Act To Extend The Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative To December 31, 2031

132nd Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Cameron Reny

Extends the Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative to Dec 31, 2031, preserving marketing, funding and governance to support lobstermen and Maine's lobster industry through 2031.

Signed by Governor

#collaborative #lobsters #promotion

Overview

Bill Number: LD 2002

Title: An Act To Extend The Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative To December 31, 2031

Purpose (as stated in title): Extend the duration of the Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative through December 31, 2031.

Status: Introduced and received by the Secretary of the Senate on December 3, 2025; REFERRED to the Committee on Marine Resources under Joint Rule 308.2.

What the bill would do

Extend the Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative (the advocacy/marketing program for Maine lobster) for an additional period ending December 31, 2031.

The extension would preserve, at a minimum, the authority of the Collaborative to operate and promote Maine lobster, continuing its role in marketing and industry promotion through the extended date.

Specific provisions, including governance structure, funding mechanisms, oversight, program scope, and reporting requirements, would be defined in the full text of the bill. The material provided here does not include those details.

Key provisions (based on the bill’s title and typical structure)

Extension of the Collaborative’s authorization/mandate to December 31, 2031.

Continuation of operations, marketing activities, and outreach as currently authorized (subject to any amendments enacted in the bill).

Potential alignment with existing state agencies (e.g., a department or board overseeing marketing programs) and any sunset or transitional provisions.

Any new or revised reporting, performance metrics, or auditing requirements would be specified in the enacted text.

Note: The exact statutory language, including any new funding, governance tweaks, or reporting requirements, is not provided in the information available here. A full read of the enacted text is needed to confirm detailed provisions.

Who would be affected

Maine lobster industry participants (e.g., lobstermen, processors, wholesalers) who benefit from or fund the Marketing Collaborative.

The Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative’s governance body and participating industry stakeholders.

State agencies involved in marketing and promotion programs (likely the Maine Department of Marine Resources or related state entities).

Procedural and timeline notes

Introduced: December 3, 2025.

Received by the Secretary of the Senate: December 3, 2025.

Referral: Committee on Marine Resources pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2.

Current stage: Early in the legislative process with committee review pending. No floor action or final passage status provided in the available information.

Next steps for readers

Monitor the Committee on Marine Resources for hearings, potential amendments, and reports on fiscal impact.

Review the full text of LD 2002 when available to understand:

The exact extension date and any related effective dates.
Funding authorization (if any) and appropriations guidance.
Governance, oversight, and reporting requirements.
Any conditions or sunset provisions beyond December 31, 2031.

Potential impacts (non-exhaustive)

Positive: Ensures continuity of Maine lobster marketing efforts, supporting industry promotion through 2031.

Fiscal/operational: Dependent on enacted language; could include funding allocations, reporting expectations, or governance changes.

Industry certainty: Provides long-term planning horizon for marketing activities tied to Maine lobster.

Bill