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LD 39

An Act To Require Forest Landowners To Report The Registration Or Sale Of Their Forest Carbon Credits

132nd Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Bill Pluecker

Requires Maine forest landowners to report registrations or sales of forest carbon credits to the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, boosting transparency.

Signed by Governor
#carbonoffset #forestry #practices
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Bill Summary · LD 39

Summary — LD 39

An Act To Require Forest Landowners To Report The Registration Or Sale Of Their Forest Carbon Credits

Purpose

LD 39 requires forest landowners in Maine to report when they register or sell forest carbon credits — i.e., when they enroll forestland in a carbon project or transfer carbon-offset credits generated from that land. The stated intent is to increase transparency about participation in forest carbon programs and the marketed sale of associated credits.

Key provisions (based on available documents)

  • Requires reporting by forest landowners of:
    • the registration of forest carbon credits (enrollment in a forest carbon program or project), and
    • the sale or transfer of forest carbon credits tied to their land.
  • Directs reporting to the State agency identified in the bill (the fiscal note references the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, indicating that department would administer or receive reports).
  • Committee Amendment "A" (H-125) was adopted; the bill passed as amended. (The fiscal notes reference both the engrossed version and the amended version; the summary above reflects the bill’s central reporting requirement.)

Note: The full bill text contains the specific reporting mechanism, timelines, thresholds, required data elements, and any enforcement or penalty provisions. Those details were not included in the documents provided.

Who is affected

  • Primary: Private and non‑private forest landowners who register forest carbon projects or sell carbon credits derived from Maine forests.
  • Secondary: The Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, which would receive and manage the reports.
  • Potentially affected: Organizations that buy or broker forest carbon credits, and entities relying on forest carbon accounting or land-use data for planning and policy.

Fiscal impact

  • Fiscal note(s) (Revised 05/06/25 and 05/14/25) estimate a minor General Fund cost increase.
  • Any additional costs to the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry are expected to be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources.

Legislative timeline and status

  • Introduced: January 6, 2025
  • Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry — reported OTP‑AM (ought to pass as amended)
  • Committee Amendment "A" (H‑125) adopted
  • Passed both chambers (concurred) and ordered enacted: May 20, 2025
  • Signed by the Governor: May 23, 2025 — bill enacted into law
  • (Earlier procedural notes: carried over to next session, multiple work sessions and readings as shown in legislative history)

Implementation / Next steps

  • Agencies (notably the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry) will need to issue guidance or forms consistent with the statute’s reporting requirements.
  • Landowners and market participants should consult the enacted statute or agency guidance for exact reporting timelines, the data to be reported, and any exemptions or penalties.

For the precise statutory language, reporting forms, and implementation schedule, review the enacted bill text and any implementing rules available from the Maine Legislature or the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.

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

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