An Act to Authorize the Commissioner of Marine Resources to Adopt Emergency Rules to Protect Certain Marine Mammals in Exceptional Circumstances
Sponsored By: Allison Hepler (Democratic)
Signed by Governor
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Emergency harvest limits help protect marine mammals
Maine’s marine resources commissioner can issue emergency rules limiting where or how people harvest marine life to protect state-listed marine mammals. This power applies when immediate action is needed to address an exceptionally high risk to those mammals. The commissioner must consult industry personnel before acting, but can bypass certain usual rulemaking requirements. The department must report its use of this power to the Legislature’s marine resources committee by January 1 each year. The committee can introduce a bill based on that report in the same year. The law provides no funding or compensation for affected harvesters.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Allison Hepler
Democratic • House
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
Actions Timeline
Signed by Governor, ACTPUB Chapter 625
4/3/2026PASSED TO BE ENACTED, in concurrence.
3/25/2026SenatePASSED TO BE ENACTED. Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
3/24/2026HouseCOMMITTEE ON BILLS IN THE SECOND READING REPORTS NO FURTHER VERBAL AMENDMENTS NECESSARY. REPORT ACCEPTED.READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED BY Committee Amendment "A" (H-856), in concurrence.Ordered sent down forthwith.
3/19/2026SenateReport READ and ACCEPTED, in concurrence.Bill READ ONCE Committee Amendment "A" (H-856) READ and ADOPTED. ASSIGNED FOR SECOND READING NEXT LEGISLATIVE DAY.
3/18/2026SenateCONSENT 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-856).Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
3/17/2026HouseReceived by the Clerk of the House on December 3, 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.
12/3/2025House
Bill Text
Amendment C-A (H-856), adopted by House & Senate
Enacted
Introduced
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