# Maine LD 157: An Act to Amend Certain Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Laws Maine LD 157, An Act to Amend Certain Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Laws, is a 132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026) House bill sponsored by David Woodsome (Republican); status signed, last action 2025-05-29 (Signed by Governor, ACTPUB Chapter 132); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-17). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD157-132 - 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 157 - State: Maine - Session: 132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026) - Title: An Act to Amend Certain Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Laws - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2025-01-14 - Last action: 2025-05-29, Signed by Governor, ACTPUB Chapter 132 - Sponsor: David Woodsome (Republican) - Cosponsors: 0 - Subjects: INLAND FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE DEPT, INLAND FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE DEPT - ADMINISTRATION - Touches household money: yes - Economic provisions PRIA read: 7 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Moose applicants can keep points without permit: benefit, low. If you apply for a moose permit, you can choose not to receive a permit and still keep your preference points for that application. This lets you delay a hunt without losing your place in line. - Hunters and trappers pay $1 for education: cost, low. The state takes $1 from each hunting and trapping license and puts it in a new Fish and Wildlife Management Education Fund. The fund pays for public education about game management and youth and family outdoor programs. The department can hire private groups and keep teaching during ballot‑initiati… - Out-of-state trappers need course proof: cost, low. If you apply for a Maine trapping license using an adult license from another state, province, or country, you must also show proof you passed a comparable trapper education course. If you cannot, you may submit a signed affidavit. This rule does not apply to junior or apprentice applicants. - New safety rules near homes and swim areas: cost, low. You may not shoot archery equipment within 100 yards of a home without the owner’s permission. You may not operate a watercraft inside a marked swim area or fly an airmobile on a beach next to one. Each violation is a $100 to $500 civil fine. After 3 or more civil violations in 5 years, it becomes… - Small lead tackle banned; fines apply: cost, low. Maine bans certain small lead fishing gear. Retailers may not sell lead sinkers or unpainted lead jigs that weigh 1 ounce or less or are 2.5 inches or shorter. Anglers may not use lead sinkers or unpainted lead jigs of that size. Starting September 1, 2026, using painted lead jigs is also banned. E… - Taxidermist license renews every three years: cost, low. Beginning January 1, 2026, a taxidermist license runs through the rest of the calendar year it is issued plus two more calendar years. You can renew every three years if your license is not suspended or revoked. Each renewal costs $77. - More Wildlife Management Areas added, one removed: mixed, low. The law adds four Wildlife Management Areas: Caribou Stream (Washburn and Woodland, Aroostook County); Lexington (Lexington Township, Somerset County); Macwahoc (Upper Molunkus Township and North Yarmouth Academy Grant Township, Aroostook County); and Rangeley (Rangeley, Franklin County). It also r… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: David Woodsome (Republican), House ## Actions (8) - 2025-05-29: Signed by Governor, ACTPUB Chapter 132 - 2025-05-27: PASSED TO BE ENACTED, in concurrence. (Senate) - 2025-05-27: PASSED TO BE ENACTED. Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH. (House) - 2025-05-22: Report READ and ACCEPTED, in concurrence.READ ONCE.Committee Amendment "A" (H-232) READ and ADOPTED, in concurrence.Under suspension of the Rules, READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED BY Committee Amendment "A" (H-232), in concurrence.Ordered sent down forthwith. (Senate) - 2025-05-22: 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" (H-232).Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH. (House) - 2025-03-21: Carried over, in the same posture, to the next special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature, pursuant to Joint Order SP 519. (House) - 2025-01-14: The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on INLAND FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE in concurrence (Senate) - 2025-01-14: Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife suggested and ordered printed. The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on INLAND FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE.Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH. (House) ## Bill text - Amendment C-A (H-232), adopted by House & Senate: [PDF](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0090&item=2&snum=132) - Enacted: [PDF](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0090&item=3&snum=132) - Introduced: [PDF](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0090&item=1&snum=132) ## Related bills - LD 1522: An Act to Establish the Maine Eviction Prevention Program (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 2067: An Act to Include Community Mental Health Workers Under the 1998 Special Plan for Retirement (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 (H-232), adopted by House & Senate (PDF)](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0090&item=2&snum=132) - [Enacted (PDF)](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0090&item=3&snum=132) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0090&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 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 2067: An Act to Include Community Mental Health Workers Under the 1998 Special Plan f…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD2067-132) - [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-LD157-132 (as of 2026-10-17).