PRIA Logo™
MaineLD 1353132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026)HouseWALLET

An Act Regarding Required Landings in the Menhaden Fishery

Sponsored By: Billy Bob Faulkingham (Republican)

Signed by Governor

FISHFISH - FISHERIES

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Priority licenses for eastern towns and past landings

Before the new rules are adopted, the department can issue licenses to people with proven past activity. You must have held a commercial menhaden license in 2019, 2020, or 2021 and reported at least 20,000 pounds of legal landings in one of those years, based on records filed before January 1, 2023. You also must not already qualify for or have received a license under the main eligibility path. When total licenses are under 350 and the exit ratio is 1 to 1, the department gives preference by where you live: the farthest east towns first, then the next town to the west as needed. If more than one eligible person lives in the same town, the department uses a random draw.

New limited-entry rules for menhaden licenses

The law creates a limited-entry system for commercial menhaden licenses. Applicants who did not hold a license last year can be eligible only when total licenses are under 350 and the exit ratio is 1 to 1. The Department of Marine Resources must adopt these rules by December 31, 2027. This sets clear timing and gates for when new licenses open.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Billy Bob Faulkingham

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Cheryl Golek

    Democratic • House

  • James Thorne

    Republican • House

  • Marianne Moore

    Republican • Senate

  • Morgan Rielly

    Democratic • House

  • Wayne Farrin

    Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 110 • No: 99

Senate vote • 4/6/2026

ENACTMENT

Yes: 14 • No: 18

Senate vote • 3/25/2026

ACCEPT MINORITY OUGHT NOT TO PASS REPORT

Yes: 17 • No: 18

House vote • 3/24/2026

ACC MAJ OTP AS AMENDED REP

Yes: 79 • No: 63

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by Governor, ACTPUB Chapter 761

    4/16/2026

  2. PASSED TO BE ENACTED, in concurrence.

    4/14/2026Senate

  3. PASSED TO BE ENACTED. Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    4/14/2026House

  4. On motion by Senator PIERCE of Cumberland the Senate RECEDED and CONCURRED to PASSAGE TO ENGROSSED AS AMENDED BY Committee Amendment "A" (H-873) as Amended by House Amendment "C" (H-1067) thereto. Ordered sent down forthwith.

    4/14/2026Senate

  5. Speaker laid before the HouseSubsequently, on motion of Representative FAULKINGHAM of Winter Harbor, the House RECEDED.On motion of Representative FAULKINGHAM of Winter Harbor, House Amendment "C" (H-1067) to Committee Amendment "A" (H-873) was READ and ADOPTED.Committee Amendment "A" (H-873) as Amended by House Amendment "C" (H-1067) thereto was ADOPTED. The Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (H-873) as Amended by House Amendment "C" (H-1067) thereto.In NON-CONCURRENCE and sent for concurrence.ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    4/14/2026House

  6. Unfinished Business

    4/13/2026House

  7. Unfinished Business

    4/9/2026House

  8. Unfinished Business

    4/9/2026House

  9. Unfinished Business

    4/7/2026House

  10. On motion of Representative FAULKINGHAM of Winter Harbor, TABLED pending FURTHER CONSIDERATION.Later today assigned.

    4/7/2026House

  11. Taken from the table by the President Subsequently, FAILED ENACTMENT in NON-CONCURRENCE. Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 890 Yeas 14 - Nays 18 - Excused 3 - Absent 0 Sent down for concurrence.

    4/6/2026Senate

  12. On motion by Senator DUSON of Cumberland Tabled until Later in Today's Session, pending PASSAGE TO BE ENACTED, in concurrence. Unfinished Business

    4/2/2026Senate

  13. PASSED TO BE ENACTED. Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    3/30/2026House

  14. RELEASED

    3/26/2026Senate

  15. Reports ReadMotion by Senator TEPLER of Sagadahoc to ACCEPT the Minority Ought Not to Pass Report FAILED Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 795 Yeas 17 - Nays 18 - Excused 0 - Absent 0 Subsequently The Majority Ought to Pass As Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (H-873) Report ACCEPTED in concurrence. READ ONCE Committee Amendment "A" (H-873) READ and ADOPTED. Under suspension of the Rules, READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED by Committee Amendment "A" (H-873) in concurrence. Held at the Request of PIERCE of Cumberland

    3/25/2026Senate

  16. Reports READ.On motion of Representative HEPLER of Woolwich, the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report was ACCEPTED.ROLL CALL NO. 670(Yeas 79 - Nays 63 - Absent 7 - Excused 1 - Vacant 1)The Bill was READ ONCE.Committee Amendment "A" (H-873) 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-873). Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    3/24/2026House

  17. Carried over, in the same posture, to any special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature, pursuant to Joint Order SP 800.

    6/25/2025House

  18. Received by the Clerk of the House on March 28, 2025.The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on MARINE RESOURCES pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to Joint Rule 401.

    3/28/2025House

Bill Text

  • Amendment C-A (H-873), adopted by House & Senate

    PDF

  • Amendment H-C to C-A (H-1067), adopted by House & Senate

    PDF

  • Enacted

    PDF

  • Introduced

    PDF

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation