# Maine LD 2054: An Act to Clarify the Laws Regarding Moose Hunting Permits for Hunting Outfitters

Maine LD 2054, An Act to Clarify the Laws Regarding Moose Hunting Permits for Hunting Outfitters, is a 132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026) House bill sponsored by Richard Mason (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-04-16 (Signed by Governor, ACTPUB Chapter 727); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD2054-132
- 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 2054
- State: Maine
- Session: 132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026)
- Title: An Act to Clarify the Laws Regarding Moose Hunting Permits for Hunting Outfitters
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-12-09
- Last action: 2026-04-16, Signed by Governor, ACTPUB Chapter 727
- Sponsor: Richard Mason (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: HUNTING, HUNTING - MOOSE
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 4 (154 yes, 96 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 4

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Easier lodge permit draw for outfitters: benefit, low. In the lodge-permit drawing, an outfitter that lists its camp’s district first gets preference for that district. The Department must update the drawing so applicants can choose season and district preferences, to reduce permit swapping.
- Lodge permit money supports youth programs: benefit, low. If the annual auction brings in under $107,000, money from lodge permit sales must fund youth conservation education up to $107,000. Any remaining lodge-permit money goes to the Moose Research and Management Fund.
- New lodge permits for hunting outfitters: mixed, medium. The law creates a new lodge permit just for licensed hunting outfitters. Each permit costs $1,500. To qualify, you must run a licensed sporting camp, offer food, lodging, and a licensed guide for at least 3 months a year, and have guided moose hunts in 3 of the last 5 years. Applicants must sign an…
- Rules to use and sell lodge permits: mixed, medium. An outfitter may sell or transfer a lodge permit only once, and only with a package that includes food and lodging. The hunter must be guided by a licensed guide, and the outfitter must tell the Department who the hunter is. The hunter cannot resell the permit, and outfitters cannot trade permits w…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Richard Mason (Republican), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-14 | Senate | RECEDE AND CONCUR | pass | 24 | 10 |   |
| 2026-04-14 | Senate | RECONSIDER | fail | 0 | 33 |   |
| 2026-04-09 | House | ADOPT HBH-1038 to CAH-976 | pass | 111 | 37 |   |
| 2026-04-08 | Senate | COMMIT | pass | 19 | 16 |   |

## Actions (8)

- 2026-04-16: Signed by Governor, ACTPUB Chapter 727
- 2026-04-14: PASSED TO BE ENACTED, in concurrence. (Senate)
- 2026-04-14: PASSED TO BE ENACTED. Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH. (House)
- 2026-04-14: On motion by Senator PIERCE of Cumberland Tabled until Later in Today's Session, pending FURTHER CONSIDERATION. Taken from the table by the President Senator BALDACCI of Penobscot moved the Senate INSIST on Bill COMMITTED to the Committee on INLAND FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE. On motion by Senator CURRY of Waldo the Senate RECEDED and CONCURRED to PASSAGE TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED BY Committee Amendment "A" (H-976) as Amended by House Amendment "B" (H-1038) thereto PREVAILED. Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 952 Yeas 24 - Nays 10 - Excused 1 - Absent 0 Held at the Request of FARRIN of Somerset Motion by Senator BENNETT of Oxford to RECONSIDER whereby the Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED BY Committee Amendment "A" (H-976) as Amended by House Amendment "B" (H-1038) FAILED. Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 954 Yeas 0 - Nays 33 - Excused 2 - Absent 0 Ordered sent down forthwith. (Senate)
- 2026-04-09: On motion of Speaker FECTEAU of Biddeford, the House RECEDED.On motion of Representative CLUCHEY of Bowdoinham, House Amendment "B" (H-1038) to Committee Amendment "A" (H-976) was READ and ADOPTED.ROLL CALL NO. 799(Yeas 111 - Nays 37 - Absent 2 - Excused 0 - Vacant 1)Committee Amendment "A" (H-976) as Amended by House Amendment "B" (H-1038) thereto was ADOPTED. The Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (H-976) as Amended by House Amendment "B" (H-1038) thereto.In NON-CONCURRENCE and sent for concurrence.ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH. (House)
- 2026-04-08: Reports READ Senator BALDACCI of Penobscot moved to ACCEPT The Majority Ought to Pass As Amended Report. On motion by Senator STEWART of Aroostook Tabled until Later in Today's Session, pending Motion by Senator BALDACCI of Penobscot to ACCEPT The Majority Ought to Pass As Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (H-976) Report. Roll Call Ordered Taken from the table by the President On motion by Senator BALDACCI of Penobscot Bill and accompanying papers COMMITTED to the Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife PREVAILED in NON-CONCURRENCE Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 914 Yeas 19 - Nays 16 - Excused 0 - Absent 0 Sent down for concurrence (Senate)
- 2026-04-06: Reports READ.On motion of Representative DILL of Old Town, the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report was ACCEPTED.The Bill was READ ONCE.Committee Amendment "A" (H-976) 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-976). Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH. (House)
- 2025-12-09: Received by the Clerk of the House on December 9, 2025.The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on INLAND FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to Joint Rule 401. (House)

## Bill text

- Amendment C-A (H-976), adopted by House & Senate: [PDF](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP1378&item=2&snum=132)
- Amendment H-B to C-A (H-1038), adopted by House & Senate: [PDF](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP1378&item=8&snum=132)
- Enacted: [PDF](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP1378&item=9&snum=132)
- Introduced: [PDF](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP1378&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-976), adopted by House & Senate (PDF)](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP1378&item=2&snum=132)
- [Amendment H-B to C-A (H-1038), adopted by House & Senate (PDF)](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP1378&item=8&snum=132)
- [Enacted (PDF)](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP1378&item=9&snum=132)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP1378&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)
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- [Maine state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/maine)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD2054-132 (as of 2026-10-17).