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LD 47

An Act To Provide An Exception To A Fishing Prohibition Near The Crooked Brook Dam

132nd Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Rick Mason

LD 47 creates an exception to the fishing ban near Crooked Brook Dam, allowing certain fishing previously prohibited under defined terms.

Signed by Governor
#crookedbridgeflowagefishwaydam #fishing #regulations
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Bill Summary · LD 47

LD 47 — An Act To Provide An Exception To a Fishing Prohibition near the Crooked Brook Dam

Status: Signed by Governor (enacted as an emergency measure)
Introduced: January 6, 2025
Committee: Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

Purpose / Intent

LD 47 creates a statutory exception to an existing prohibition on fishing in the vicinity of the Crooked Brook (flowage/fishway) dam. The bill’s intent is to modify where or how the fishing prohibition applies so that certain fishing activity that had previously been prohibited near the dam is now permitted under the exception.

Note: The specific textual details of the exception (exact location, distance, methods, species, times, or other limitations) are not included in the materials provided. For the precise statutory change, consult the enacted bill text on the Maine Legislature’s website or the Office of the Revisor of Statutes.

Key Provisions (known from available record)

  • Establishes an exception to a current fishing prohibition in the area near the Crooked Brook Dam (Crooked Bridge Flowage fishway/dam).
  • Passed with a Committee Amendment (Committee Amendment “A”, H‑46) before final passage.
  • Enacted as an emergency measure (effective immediately upon the Governor’s signature).

Who is affected

  • Anglers and recreational fishers who fish in or near the Crooked Brook dam area — they may gain permission to fish where they were previously prohibited (subject to the exact terms of the exception).
  • The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife — responsible for implementing, enforcing, and interpreting the revised prohibition/exception.
  • Local landowners, dam operators, and conservation/interests groups may be indirectly affected depending on how the exception changes access, safety, or resource protections.

Fiscal Impact

  • Two fiscal notes (approved 03/03/2025 and 04/17/2025) report a minor General Fund cost increase.
  • Any additional costs to the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife are expected to be minor and absorbable within existing budgeted resources.

Legislative timeline / procedural notes

  • Jan 6, 2025: Bill received and referred to the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee.
  • Feb 10, 2025: Committee work session; committee voted OTP‑AM (ought to pass as amended).
  • Mar 21, 2025: Carried over to the next session per Joint Order SP 519.
  • Apr 17, 2025: Committee Amendment “A” (H‑46) read and adopted; bill read and passed to be engrossed as amended.
  • Apr 22, 2025: Passed to be enacted; considered an emergency measure requiring a two‑thirds vote.
  • Apr 25, 2025: Signed by the Governor and became effective immediately as an emergency enactment.

Practical notes / next steps

  • To know the exact scope of the exception (boundaries, permitted methods, timeframes, or any conditions), review the enacted bill text (LD 47, as amended by Committee Amendment A) available from the Maine Legislature or the Office of the Revisor of Statutes.
  • For implementation/enforcement questions, contact the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

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

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