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Bill Summary · LD 1198

Summary — LD 1198 (132nd Maine Legislature)

Bill at a glance

  • Title: Resolve, Directing the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry To Assess Its Current Meat and Poultry Inspection Programs
  • Bill Number: LD 1198
  • Introduced: March 20, 2025
  • Status: Signed by the Governor (emergency measure) — Signed May 30, 2025; Finally passed May 27, 2025
  • Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
  • Classification: Resolve (directive to an executive department)

Main purpose / intent

LD 1198 directs the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) to undertake an assessment of its existing meat and poultry inspection programs. The Resolve is intended to evaluate the current state of those programs to inform potential operational or policy changes.

Key provisions

  • Directs DACF to assess its current meat and poultry inspection programs. (The text of the Resolve itself is limited to this directive; no further statutory changes or funding authorizations are included in the materials provided.)
  • The bill was amended in committee (Committee Amendment "A" (S-90)) and passed as amended; the specific contents of that amendment are not included in the provided documents.

Fiscal impact

  • Two fiscal notes (dated 04/22/25 and revised 05/22/25) conclude the Resolve will cause a "minor cost increase" to the General Fund.
  • Any additional costs to DACF are expected to be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources.

Who is affected

  • Primary: Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry — tasked with conducting the assessment and likely preparing any resulting report or recommendations.
  • Secondary: Meat and poultry producers, processors, retailers and related businesses—may be affected indirectly if the assessment leads to program or regulatory changes.
  • Public health and consumers could be affected indirectly depending on any changes implemented after the assessment.
  • The Legislature and Governor may use the assessment findings to guide future policy or funding decisions.

Procedural / timing notes

  • Introduced March 20, 2025; referred to the Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee.
  • Committee worked the bill (work sessions in April); Committee Amendment A adopted.
  • Passed both chambers as an emergency measure (requiring and receiving a two‑thirds vote) on May 27, 2025.
  • Signed by the Governor on May 30, 2025 — as an emergency resolve it takes effect immediately upon signature.
  • The Resolve does not include an explicit deadline for completion of the assessment in the provided materials; if a report or timeline was specified in the full text, that detail was not included in the supplied documents.

Notes / open items

  • The exact scope, deliverables (e.g., a written report), and timetable for the assessment are not specified in the fiscal note excerpts provided. Review of the full text of the engrossed Resolve or departmental guidance would be required to identify any required reporting deadlines or specific assessment elements.

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

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