# Maine LD 1548: An Act to Prevent the Introduction or Transfer of Invasive Fish Species in Inland Waters of the State Maine LD 1548, An Act to Prevent the Introduction or Transfer of Invasive Fish Species in Inland Waters of the State, is a 132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026) Senate bill sponsored by Russell J. Black (Republican); status signed, last action 2025-06-17 (Signed by Governor, ACTPUB Chapter 343) (as of 2026-10-17). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD1548-132 - 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 1548 - State: Maine - Session: 132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026) - Title: An Act to Prevent the Introduction or Transfer of Invasive Fish Species in Inland Waters of the State - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2025-04-10 - Last action: 2025-06-17, Signed by Governor, ACTPUB Chapter 343 - Sponsor: Russell J. Black (Republican) - Cosponsors: 3 - Subjects: FISH, FISH - NONINDIGENOUS - Touches household money: no - Economic provisions PRIA read: 5 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Towns get narrow permits to restock ponds: benefit, low. Local governments can get a limited permit to restock a great pond they oversee if the state stocked it before January 1, 2019 but stopped due to poor public access. The permit allows only the same species, requires buying fish or eggs from an in-state tested facility, and needs hand-carry boat acc… - Stricter penalties for illegal fish transport and stocking: cost, high. You must have a permit to bring live fish or eggs into Maine. Violations are Class E crimes with $1,000 to $10,000 fines. A permit is also required to transport live fish taken in the State, except baitfish, Atlantic salmon used in commercial aquaculture, and smelts. Stocking inland waters or priva… - Health certificate required to import live fish: cost, low. Permit applications must include a statement from a certified fish health inspector, fish pathologist, or licensed accredited veterinarian. It must show the fish or eggs come from sources with no evidence of listed diseases like VHS, IPN, IHN, or Myxosomo cerebralis. This certification is required… - No dumping live baitfish or smelts: cost, low. The law bans disposing live baitfish or smelts into inland waters. A first offense is a civil fine of $100 to $500. If you have 3 or more prior civil violations in the last 5 years, a new violation is a Class E crime. - State stops regulating some salmon aquaculture: mixed, medium. The agency cannot make rules or issue permits for Atlantic salmon used in commercial aquaculture in coastal waters or land-based facilities. It also cannot regulate permits or rules for the Atlantic salmon restoration program. This reduces department oversight and changes compliance duties for oper… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Russell J. Black (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: James Thorne (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Richard Mason (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Stephen Wood (Republican), House ## Actions (7) - 2025-06-17: Signed by Governor, ACTPUB Chapter 343 - 2025-06-11: PASSED TO BE ENACTED, in concurrence. (Senate) - 2025-06-10: PASSED TO BE ENACTED. Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH. (House) - 2025-06-09: CONSENT CALENDAR - FIRST DAYUnder suspension of the rules CONSENT CALENDAR - SECOND DAY.The Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (S-312).In concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH. (House) - 2025-06-09: Report READ and ACCEPTED.READ ONCE.Committee Amendment "A" (S-312) READ and ADOPTED.Under suspension of the Rules, READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED BY Committee Amendment "A" (S-312).Ordered sent down forthwith for concurrence. (Senate) - 2025-04-10: The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on INLAND FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE.In concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH. (House) - 2025-04-10: Committee on INLAND FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE suggested and ordered printed REFERENCE to the Committee on INLAND FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE Ordered sent down forthwith for concurrence (Senate) ## Bill text - Amendment C-A (S-312), adopted by House & Senate: [PDF](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=SP0632&item=2&snum=132) - Enacted: [PDF](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=SP0632&item=3&snum=132) - Introduced: [PDF](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=SP0632&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-A (S-312), adopted by House & Senate (PDF)](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=SP0632&item=2&snum=132) - [Enacted (PDF)](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=SP0632&item=3&snum=132) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=SP0632&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) - [Maine bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/maine/bills) - [Maine state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/maine) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD1548-132 (as of 2026-10-17).