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LD 895

An Act To Support Immersive Outdoor Education By Establishing The Outdoor School For All Maine Students Program

132nd Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Rick Bennett and 8 co-sponsors

Creates a statewide program to expand immersive outdoor education for Maine students, administered by UMaine Extension, funded by available public/private funds.

Signed by Governor
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Bill Summary · LD 895

Summary — LD 895: “An Act To Support Immersive Outdoor Education By Establishing The Outdoor School For All Maine Students Program”

Status: Signed by Governor (enacted as emergency legislation)
Introduced: March 5, 2025
Sponsor: Sen. Bennett (Oxford)
Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry

Purpose

LD 895 creates the "Outdoor School for All Maine Students Program" to support immersive outdoor education opportunities for Maine students. The program is intended to expand access to experiential learning in natural settings and to coordinate program delivery through the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Service.

Key provisions

  • Establishes the Outdoor School for All Maine Students Program (administrative structure provided by statute).
  • Designates the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Service (within the University of Maine System) to administer and coordinate the program.
  • Authorizes the University of Maine System to accept and expend public or private funds to support the program.
  • Provides a small ongoing Other Special Revenue Funds base allocation to the University of Maine System to authorize expenditures in the event funds are received (see fiscal impact).

Note: The Legislature adopted Committee Amendment “A” (S‑61) and later the bill was engrossed and enacted. Exact program design and operational details are delegated to the administering entity and implementing rule or guidance as needed.

Fiscal impact

  • Ongoing Other Special Revenue Funds allocation of $500 per year beginning FY 2025–26 is included to authorize the University of Maine System (UMaine Cooperative Extension) to expend received funds in support of the program.
  • The $500 figure is an authorization for spending from special revenue (public or private funds) — it does not represent a substantive General Fund appropriation or major new state spending requirement.
  • Fiscal notes approved: 03/28/25 and 05/14/25 reflect the same $500 annual authorization.

Who is affected

  • Maine students and school districts (K–12) who would gain access to immersive outdoor education.
  • University of Maine Cooperative Extension Service (responsible administrator).
  • Local and regional outdoor education providers, nonprofit partners, and potential private/public funders that may contribute resources to operate the program.
  • State agencies and local schools coordinating logistics, transportation, and curricular alignment.

Legislative and procedural timeline

  • Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (3/5/2025).
  • Work session and committee action (OTP‑AM recommended; Committee Amendment adopted).
  • Passed by the House and Senate in May 2025; Senate roll call: Yeas 31, Nays 0, Excused 3, Absent 1 (Roll Call #210).
  • Passed as an emergency measure (required two‑thirds vote), meaning it became effective upon the Governor’s signature.
  • Signed by the Governor: May 23, 2025.

Practical effect

The law creates a statewide coordinating program to expand immersive outdoor education, sets UMaine Cooperative Extension as administrator, and authorizes modest special-revenue spending if and when funds are available. The program’s scale and services will depend largely on funds secured from public or private sources and implementation actions taken by UMaine Extension.

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

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