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LD 866

An Act To Reduce Posting Of Hunting Lands By Providing Free Antlerless Deer Permits To Certain Landowners Who Keep Their Lands Open To Hunting

132nd Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Russell Black and 9 co-sponsors

Gives free antlerless deer permits to landowners who keep lands open to hunting, removes the $12 fee, aiming to reduce posted lands and boost hunter access.

Signed by Governor
#deer #hunting #permits
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Bill Summary · LD 866

Summary — LD 866 (132nd Maine Legislature)

Title: An Act To Reduce Posting Of Hunting Lands By Providing Free Antlerless Deer Permits To Certain Landowners Who Keep Their Lands Open To Hunting
Status: Signed by the Governor (6/12/2025)
Introduced: March 4, 2025
Committee: Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
Sponsor: Rep. Foster of Dexter

Purpose

LD 866 seeks to reduce the amount of private land that is posted against hunting by encouraging landowners to keep their properties open to hunters. It does this by providing complimentary antlerless deer permits to qualifying landowners.

Key provisions

  • Directs the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (DIF&W) to implement a Landowner Antlerless Deer Permit Gift Program (the enacted measure was handled as a Resolve in the engrossed form).
  • Grants free antlerless deer permits to landowners who meet specified criteria (described in the bill as landowners who keep their lands open to hunting). The fiscal documents refer to these as landowner-designated permits.
  • Removes the standard $12 fee that previously applied to this class of permits when they were part of statutory allocations and distributed via the existing lottery system.
  • Committee Amendment "A" (H-521) was adopted during legislative consideration; the engrossed/engrossed with amendment version contains the implementation direction to DIF&W.

Fiscal impact

  • Estimated reduction in General Fund revenue: $384,132 annually beginning in FY 2025–26 and continuing in subsequent years.
    • Estimate basis: roughly 32,000 landowner-designated permits that formerly generated a $12 fee each would no longer pay that fee (32,000 × $12 ≈ $384,000).
  • DIF&W administrative costs: described in fiscal notes as a minor General Fund cost increase that can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources.

Who is affected

  • Landowners who qualify under the bill’s criteria (those who keep lands open to hunting) — they would receive free antlerless deer permits.
  • Hunters and the public — potentially greater access to private lands for hunting and reduced posting of lands.
  • State finances — annual revenue loss to the General Fund of about $384,132.
  • DIF&W — minimal additional administrative responsibilities to implement and manage the gift program.

Procedural history / timeline

  • Referred to Inland Fisheries and Wildlife: 3/4/2025
  • Committee work: work sessions, divided report, OTP-AM recommendation, adoption of Committee Amendment A (H‑521)
  • Passed both chambers (concurrence): 6/10/2025
  • Signed by Governor: 6/12/2025

Notes: The fiscal notes provided outline the revenue change and anticipated administrative effects but do not list the detailed eligibility criteria for the landowner permits in the excerpts provided; readers should consult the final enrolled bill text or Resolve for the specific qualifying requirements and any program rules DIF&W will apply.

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

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