# Maine LD 1343: An Act to Protect the Right to Harvest Fish and Wildlife

Maine LD 1343, An Act to Protect the Right to Harvest Fish and Wildlife, is a 132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026) Senate bill sponsored by Craig V. Hickman (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-06 (Signed by Governor, ACTPUB Chapter 642) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD1343-132
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Maine LD 1343
- State: Maine
- Session: 132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026)
- Title: An Act to Protect the Right to Harvest Fish and Wildlife
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-03-28
- Last action: 2026-04-06, Signed by Governor, ACTPUB Chapter 642
- Sponsor: Craig V. Hickman (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 9
- Subjects: HUNTING, HUNTING - REGULATIONS
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 6 (330 yes, 313 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Right to hunt and fish with rules: mixed, low. The law recognizes your right to hunt, fish, and trap for your own food and health. This applies when you take fish and wildlife for your own nourishment and well-being. You still must follow all laws and rules, including licenses, seasons, bag limits, and safety rules. The Department enforces thes…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Craig V. Hickman (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Ann Fredericks (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Billy Bob Faulkingham (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Trey L. Stewart (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: James Dill (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Joseph M. Baldacci (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Matt A. Harrington (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Stephen Wood (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Tavis Hasenfus (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Tiffany Roberts (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-26 | House | Enactment | pass | 77 | 66 |   |
| 2026-03-25 | House | TABLE UNTIL LATER | pass | 72 | 68 |   |
| 2026-03-24 | Senate | RECEDE AND CONCUR | pass | 20 | 15 |   |
| 2026-03-17 | House | ACC MIN OUGHT NOT TO PASS REP | fail | 71 | 72 |   |
| 2026-03-03 | Senate | ACCEPT MAJORITY OUGHT TO PASS AS AMENDED REPORT | fail | 15 | 19 |   |
| 2025-06-12 | House | INDEFINITELY POSTPONE | pass | 75 | 73 |   |

## Actions (29)

- 2026-04-06: Signed by Governor, ACTPUB Chapter 642
- 2026-03-30: PASSED TO BE ENACTED, in concurrence. (Senate)
- 2026-03-26: Speaker laid before the HouseSubsequently, PASSED TO BE ENACTED.ROLL CALL NO. 692(Yeas 77 - Nays 66 - Absent 6 - Excused 1 - Vacant 1)Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH. (House)
- 2026-03-25: Unfinished Business (House)
- 2026-03-25: On motion of Representative ROBERTS of South Berwick, TABLED pending PASSAGE TO BE ENACTED.ROLL CALL NO. 681(Yeas 72 - Nays 68 - Absent 9 - Excused 1 - Vacant 1)Later today assigned. (House)
- 2026-03-24: Taken from the table by the President On motion by Senator HICKMAN of Kennebec to RECEDE and CONCUR to ACCEPTANCE of The Majority Ought to Pass As Amended by Committee Amendment "B" (S-522) Report and PASSAGE TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED BY Committee Amendment "B" (S-522) PREVAILED. Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 791 Yeas 20 - Nays 15 - Excused 0 - Absent 0 Ordered sent down forthwith. (Senate)
- 2026-03-19: Unfinished Business (Senate)
- 2026-03-18: On motion by Senator PIERCE of Cumberland Tabled until Later in Today's Session, pending FURTHER CONSIDERATION. Sent down for concurrence. (Senate)
- 2026-03-17: Speaker laid before the HouseSubsequently, motion of Representative DILL of Old Town to ACCEPT the Minority Ought Not to Pass Report FAILED.ROLL CALL NO. 658(Yeas 71 - Nays 72 - Absent 6 - Excused 1 - Vacant 1)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 "B" (S-522) 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.Subsequently, the Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "B" (S-522).In NON-CONCURRENCE and sent for concurrence.ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH. (House)
- 2026-03-12: Unfinished Business (House)
- 2026-03-10: Unfinished Business (House)
- 2026-03-05: Unfinished Business (House)
- 2026-03-05: Reports READ.On motion of Representative MOONEN of Portland, TABLED pending ACCEPTANCE of Either Report.Later today assigned. (House)
- 2026-03-03: Reports READ. Motion by Senator BALDACCI of Penobscot to ACCEPT the Majority Ought to Pass As Amended Report FAILED. Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 729 Yeas 15 - Nays 19 - Excused 1 - Absent 0 Subsequently, the Minority OUGHT NOT TO PASS Report ACCEPTED. Sent down for concurrence (Senate)
- 2025-06-25: CARRIED OVER, in the same posture, to any special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature, pursuant to Joint Order SP 800. (Senate)
- 2025-06-16: Reports READ On motion by Senator PIERCE of Cumberland the Senate RECEDED and CONCURRED to Bill and accompanying papers be COMMITTED to the Committee on INLAND FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE. Ordered sent down forthwith. (Senate)
- 2025-06-13: On motion of Representative MOONEN of Portland, the House RECONSIDERED its action whereby the Bill and accompanying papers were INDEFINITELY POSTPONED.On further motion of same Representative the Bill and accompanying papers were COMMITTED to the Committee on INLAND FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE In NON-CONCURRENCE and sent for concurrence.ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH. (House)
- 2025-06-12: Speaker laid before the HouseSubsequently, the Bill and accompanying papers were INDEFINITELY POSTPONED.ROLL CALL NO. 451(Yeas 75 - Nays 73 - Absent 1 - Excused 2)In NON-CONCURRENCE and sent for concurrence.HELD at the Request of Representative MOONEN of Portland. (House)
- 2025-06-11: Unfinished Business (House)
- 2025-06-10: Unfinished Business (House)
- 2025-06-09: Unfinished Business (House)
- 2025-06-05: Unfinished Business (House)
- 2025-06-04: Unfinished Business (House)
- 2025-06-03: Unfinished Business (House)
- 2025-06-03: Reports READ.On motion of Representative ROBERTS of South Berwick, TABLED pending ACCEPTANCE of Either Report.Later today assigned. (House)
- 2025-06-02: Taken from the table by the President On motion by Senator BALDACCI of Penobscot The Majority Ought to Pass As Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (S-158) Report ACCEPTED READ ONCE Committee Amendment "A" (S-158) READ On motion by Senator HICKMAN of Kennebec Senate Amendment "A" (S-184) to Committee Amendment "A" (S-158) READ and ADOPTED Committee Amendment "A" (S-158) as Amended by Senate Amendment "A" (S-184) thereto ADOPTED. Under suspension of the Rules, READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED by Committee Amendment "A" (S-158) as Amended by Senate Amendment "A" (S-184) thereto. Sent down for concurrence (Senate)
- 2025-05-29: Unfinished Business (Senate)
- 2025-05-28: Reports READ On motion by Senator BALDACCI of Penobscot Tabled until Later in Today's Session, pending ACCEPTANCE OF EITHER REPORT. Unfinished Business (Senate)
- 2025-03-28: Received by the Secretary of the Senate on March 28, 2025 and REFERRED to the Committee on INLAND FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 (Senate)

## Bill text

- Amendment C-B (S-522), adopted by House & Senate: [PDF](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=SP0559&item=6&snum=132)
- Enacted: [PDF](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=SP0559&item=7&snum=132)
- Introduced: [PDF](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=SP0559&item=1&snum=132)

## Related bills

- LD 1522: An Act to Establish the Maine Eviction Prevention Program (failed)
- LD 2067: An Act to Include Community Mental Health Workers Under the 1998 Special Plan for Retirement (failed)
- LD 1665: An Act to Provide Property Tax Relief to Maine Families (failed)
- LD 1872: An Act to Reinvest in the Pension Funds of the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (failed)
- LD 1611: An Act to Decrease the Retirement Contributions Required for Teachers and State Employees (failed)
- LD 1294: An Act to Expand the Dependent Exemption Tax Credit (failed)

## Sources
- [Amendment C-B (S-522), adopted by House & Senate (PDF)](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=SP0559&item=6&snum=132)
- [Enacted (PDF)](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=SP0559&item=7&snum=132)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=SP0559&item=1&snum=132)

## Related
- [LD 1522: An Act to Establish the Maine Eviction Prevention Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD1522-132)
- [LD 2067: An Act to Include Community Mental Health Workers Under the 1998 Special Plan f…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD2067-132)
- [LD 1665: An Act to Provide Property Tax Relief to Maine Families](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD1665-132)
- [LD 1872: An Act to Reinvest in the Pension Funds of the Maine Public Employees Retiremen…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD1872-132)
- [LD 1611: An Act to Decrease the Retirement Contributions Required for Teachers and State…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD1611-132)
- [LD 1294: An Act to Expand the Dependent Exemption Tax Credit](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD1294-132)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD1343-132 (as of 2026-10-17).