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LD 606

Resolve, To Study Barriers To Financial Assistance Programs For Farmers And Food Producers

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

Directs a DACF-led study to identify barriers preventing Maine farmers and food producers from accessing financial assistance programs, with findings to guide policy improvements.

Became Law without Governor's Signature
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Bill Summary · LD 606

Summary — LD 606: Resolve, To Study Barriers To Financial Assistance Programs For Farmers And Food Producers

Status: Became law without the Governor’s signature (May 13, 2025)
Introduced: February 20, 2025
Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
Classification: Resolve (study directive)

Purpose and intent

LD 606 directs a state study to identify barriers that prevent farmers and other food producers in Maine from accessing financial assistance programs. The resolve’s stated aim is to develop an evidence-based understanding of those obstacles and to inform recommendations or future policy changes that would improve program accessibility and use.

Key provisions (what the resolve does)

  • Establishes a directed study to examine barriers to participation in financial assistance programs for farmers and food producers.
  • Assigns implementation responsibility to the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) or another state entity as specified in the full text.
  • Requires the study to gather information (likely via stakeholder engagement, data review, and/or consultations) and to produce findings and recommendations for policymakers.
  • Committee Amendment H‑65 was adopted during the legislative process; the bill ultimately passed as engrossed with that amendment.

Note: The bill text detailing scope, membership, specific tasks, deadline for the report, and required recipients of the study’s findings was not provided in the documents supplied. Consult the full enrolled text for exact deliverables and timelines.

Who is affected

  • Primary beneficiaries: Maine farmers and food producers (including small and beginning farmers) who seek state or federal financial assistance.
  • Implementing entity: Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) — responsible for conducting/overseeing the study and preparing any report.
  • Policymakers: Legislature and state agencies that may use the study’s recommendations to modify programs or procedures.

Fiscal and procedural notes

  • Fiscal impact: Fiscal notes (two versions) estimate a minor General Fund cost that DACF can absorb within existing resources.
  • Procedural history: Referred to the Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee (Feb 20, 2025); reported Out of Committee as OTP‑AM; amendment H‑65 adopted; passed the Legislature under an emergency measure (two‑thirds vote required and obtained); enacted without the Governor’s signature on May 13, 2025.
  • Emergency designation: Because it was passed as an emergency measure, the resolve became effective immediately upon enactment.

Next steps / Where to find more

To see the study’s required scope, deadlines, membership, and reporting date, review the enrolled bill text or the final resolve language available from the Maine Legislature’s website or the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.

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

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