An Act To Support Agriculture, Conservation And Forestry In Maine

132nd Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Rachel Talbot Ross

Concept draft to support Maine's agriculture, conservation, and forestry; carries over with no substantive provisions, funding details, or enacted changes yet.

Became Law without Governor's Signature

#agriculture #conservationandfore #procedures #provisionsrevised

LD 473 Summary — An Act To Support Agriculture, Conservation And Forestry In Maine

Overview

Bill Number: LD 473

Title: An Act To Support Agriculture, Conservation And Forestry In Maine

Sponsor: Sen. Talbot Ross of Cumberland

Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry

Introduced: February 5, 2025

Status: Carried over, in the same posture, to any special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature, pursuant to Joint Order SP 800.

Fiscal Note: No fiscal note attached; Preliminary Fiscal Impact Statement indicates the bill is a concept draft with insufficient data.

Purpose and Intent

Based on the title, the bill is intended to support Maine’s agriculture, conservation, and forestry sectors. The specific goals, programs, or policy changes are not provided in the available materials.

Key Provisions

The actual text of LD 473, including any specific provisions, programs, funding mechanisms, regulatory changes, or governance structures, is not included in the documents provided. A preliminary impact note confirms that the bill is a concept draft and lacks sufficient data at this stage.

Procedural History and Timeline

Feb 5, 2025: Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (Joint Rule 308.2).

Mar 21, 2025: CARRIED OVER, in the same posture, to the next special or regular session per SP 519.

May 15, 2025: Work session held; bill tabled.

May 16–19, 2025: Carry over requested and approved.

May 19, 2025: Carry Over Approved.

Jun 25, 2025: Carried over again, in the same posture, to any special or regular session per SP 800.

Current posture: Carried over to future session(s); no substantive action taken on the bill to date.

Fiscal Implications

The bill carries a Preliminary Fiscal Impact Statement but is described as a concept draft with insufficient data. Without the actual text, potential costs, savings, or funding sources cannot be assessed.

Potential Impacts and Stakeholders

Agriculture sector: farmers, agribusinesses,Extension services, and agricultural suppliers.

Conservation community: land trusts, conservation districts, and environmental groups.

Forestry sector: loggers, mills, timber producers, and related industries.

Local and state government: agencies implementing any new programs, funding, or regulatory changes.

Taxpayers: budgetary impacts depend on enacted provisions and funding mechanisms.

Next Steps / Tracking

To understand the bill’s substantive provisions, readers should monitor LD 473’s text when released, committee hearings, and Joint Order SP 800 (and any related SPs) for updates on sessions and potential changes. A formal fiscal note or impact analysis may accompany a later version.