# Maine LD 2024: An Act to Make Changes to Certain Licensing Laws Governing For-hire Charter Boat Operators, Lobster and Crab Fishing and Elver Dealers

Maine LD 2024, An Act to Make Changes to Certain Licensing Laws Governing For-hire Charter Boat Operators, Lobster and Crab Fishing and Elver Dealers, is a 132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026) House bill sponsored by Allison Hepler (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-03-19 (Signed by Governor, ACTPUB Chapter 570); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD2024-132
- 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 2024
- State: Maine
- Session: 132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026)
- Title: An Act to Make Changes to Certain Licensing Laws Governing For-hire Charter Boat Operators, Lobster and Crab Fishing and Elver Dealers
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-12-03
- Last action: 2026-03-19, Signed by Governor, ACTPUB Chapter 570
- Sponsor: Allison Hepler (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: MARINE RESOURCES DEPT, MARINE RESOURCES DEPT - ADMINISTRATION
- Touches household money: yes
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 2

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Charter operators can use Coast Guard credentials: benefit, low. Maine recognizes a valid U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential as a qualifying option for for-hire charter boat operators. The credential must be issued by the U.S. Coast Guard and include an endorsement allowing passengers for hire.
- Lobster and crab fishers face trap limits: cost, medium. Maine sets an 800-trap submerged limit for Class I, II and III lobster and crab license holders. The cap also covers nonresident lobster and crab landing permit holders. Fishers must follow any lower limit set by rule for their fishing zone. Each vessel must stay within the applicable limit, even w…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Allison Hepler (Democratic), House

## Actions (7)

- 2026-03-19: Signed by Governor, ACTPUB Chapter 570
- 2026-03-12: PASSED TO BE ENACTED, in concurrence. (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: PASSED TO BE ENACTED. Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH. (House)
- 2026-03-05: COMMITTEE 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-812), in concurrence.Ordered sent down forthwith. (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: Report READ and ACCEPTED, in concurrence.Bill READ ONCE. Committee Amendment "A" (H-812) READ and ADOPTED. ASSIGNED FOR SECOND READING NEXT LEGISLATIVE DAY. (Senate)
- 2026-02-26: 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-812).Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH. (House)
- 2025-12-03: Received 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. (House)

## Bill text

- Amendment C-A (H-812), adopted by House & Senate: [PDF](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP1354&item=2&snum=132)
- Enacted: [PDF](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP1354&item=3&snum=132)
- Introduced: [PDF](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP1354&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-812), adopted by House & Senate (PDF)](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP1354&item=2&snum=132)
- [Enacted (PDF)](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP1354&item=3&snum=132)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP1354&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)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD2024-132 (as of 2026-10-17).