All Roll Calls
Yes: 154 • No: 96
MaineLD 2054132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026)HouseWALLET
An Act to Clarify the Laws Regarding Moose Hunting Permits for Hunting Outfitters
Sponsored By: Richard Mason (Republican)
Became Law
HUNTINGHUNTING - MOOSE
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 2 costs, 1 mixed.
Caps on outfitter moose permits
The law limits outfitter access to moose permits. No more than 2% of all moose permits can go to hunting outfitters. Lodge permits also cannot be more than 5% of total permits for each season, sex, and wildlife district.
Rules to use or transfer lodge permits
A lodge permit can be sold or transferred only once, only as part of a package with your food and lodging, and only to an eligible hunter. The hunter must hunt with a licensed guide and may not resell the permit. Outfitters may not buy or sell lodge permits to other outfitters. You must use the permit only for the listed year, season, sex, and district. You can swap with another lodge permit, but not with a public‑drawing permit unless you are moving the hunt to your camp’s district. The commissioner may let a lodge‑permit holder defer a permit under existing deferral rules. If you get a lodge permit, you cannot enter the public drawing again until the 4th calendar year after your last lodge permit was issued. You may not sell a subpermittee or alternate subpermittee spot.
New lodge-permit program for outfitters
The law creates a separate lodge‑permit drawing for hunting outfitters. Each lodge permit costs $1,500. To qualify, you must run a state‑licensed sporting camp, sell a package with food, lodging, and a licensed guide, offer guide services at least three months a year, and have guided moose hunts in at least 3 of the last 5 years. Applicants must sign an affidavit that they meet these rules. Outfitters can hold more than one lodge permit and get preference in the drawing if they list their camp’s district first. Residents and nonresidents who will be eligible for a Maine hunting license by opening day can hunt on a lodge permit.
Updated drawing adds season and district picks
The Department updates the lodge‑permit drawing so applicants can mark their preferred season and wildlife district. This aims to cut down on permit swapping by outfitters.
Lodge-permit money funds youth programs
If the annual moose‑permit auction brings in under $107,000, money from lodge‑permit sales first funds youth conservation education up to $107,000. Any money left after that goes to the Moose Research and Management Fund.
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Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Richard Mason
Republican • House
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 4/14/2026
RECEDE AND CONCUR
Yes: 24 • No: 10
Senate vote • 4/14/2026
RECONSIDER
Yes: 0 • No: 33
House vote • 4/9/2026
ADOPT HBH-1038 to CAH-976
Yes: 111 • No: 37
Senate vote • 4/8/2026
COMMIT
Yes: 19 • No: 16
Actions Timeline
ACTPUB Chapter 727
5/4/2026PASSED TO BE ENACTED, in concurrence.
4/14/2026SenatePASSED TO BE ENACTED. Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
4/14/2026HouseOn motion by Senator PIERCE of Cumberland Tabled until Later in Today's Session, pending FURTHER CONSIDERATION. Taken from the table by the President Senator BALDACCI of Penobscot moved the Senate INSIST on Bill COMMITTED to the Committee on INLAND FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE. On motion by Senator CURRY of Waldo the Senate RECEDED and CONCURRED to PASSAGE TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED BY Committee Amendment "A" (H-976) as Amended by House Amendment "B" (H-1038) thereto PREVAILED. Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 952 Yeas 24 - Nays 10 - Excused 1 - Absent 0 Held at the Request of FARRIN of Somerset Motion by Senator BENNETT of Oxford to RECONSIDER whereby the Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED BY Committee Amendment "A" (H-976) as Amended by House Amendment "B" (H-1038) FAILED. Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 954 Yeas 0 - Nays 33 - Excused 2 - Absent 0 Ordered sent down forthwith.
4/14/2026SenateOn motion of Speaker FECTEAU of Biddeford, the House RECEDED.On motion of Representative CLUCHEY of Bowdoinham, House Amendment "B" (H-1038) to Committee Amendment "A" (H-976) was READ and ADOPTED.ROLL CALL NO. 799(Yeas 111 - Nays 37 - Absent 2 - Excused 0 - Vacant 1)Committee Amendment "A" (H-976) as Amended by House Amendment "B" (H-1038) thereto was ADOPTED. The Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (H-976) as Amended by House Amendment "B" (H-1038) thereto.In NON-CONCURRENCE and sent for concurrence.ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
4/9/2026HouseReports READ Senator BALDACCI of Penobscot moved to ACCEPT The Majority Ought to Pass As Amended Report. On motion by Senator STEWART of Aroostook Tabled until Later in Today's Session, pending Motion by Senator BALDACCI of Penobscot to ACCEPT The Majority Ought to Pass As Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (H-976) Report. Roll Call Ordered Taken from the table by the President On motion by Senator BALDACCI of Penobscot Bill and accompanying papers COMMITTED to the Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife PREVAILED in NON-CONCURRENCE Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 914 Yeas 19 - Nays 16 - Excused 0 - Absent 0 Sent down for concurrence
4/8/2026SenateReports READ.On motion of Representative DILL of Old Town, the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report was ACCEPTED.The Bill was READ ONCE.Committee Amendment "A" (H-976) was READ and ADOPTED.Under suspension of the rules, the Bill was given its SECOND READING without REFERENCE to the Committee on Bills in the Second Reading.The Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (H-976). Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
4/6/2026HouseReceived by the Clerk of the House on December 9, 2025.The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on INLAND FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to Joint Rule 401.
12/9/2025House
Bill Text
Enacted
Engrossed
Introduced
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