# Maine LD 2118: An Act to Eliminate the Natural Areas Program and Reassign Certain Responsibilities Under the Program to the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and to Amend the Law Governing Administration of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Bureau of Resource Management Maine LD 2118, An Act to Eliminate the Natural Areas Program and Reassign Certain Responsibilities Under the Program to the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and to Amend the Law Governing Administration of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Bureau of Resource Management, is a 132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026) House bill sponsored by James Dill (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-15 (Signed by Governor, ACTPUB Chapter 706); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-17). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD2118-132 - 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 2118 - State: Maine - Session: 132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026) - Title: An Act to Eliminate the Natural Areas Program and Reassign Certain Responsibilities Under the Program to the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and to Amend the Law Governing Administration of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Bureau of Resource Management - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-01-07 - Last action: 2026-04-15, Signed by Governor, ACTPUB Chapter 706 - Sponsor: James Dill (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 0 - Subjects: INLAND FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE DEPT, INLAND FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE DEPT - ADMINISTRATION - Touches household money: yes - Economic provisions PRIA read: 10 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Clearer species and habitat definitions: benefit, low. The law updates what counts as endangered, threatened, and special‑concern fish and wildlife. It defines natural areas, rare plants, and invasive species. Habitat for listed fish and wildlife now counts as a key conservation factor. The commissioner must set criteria by rule and report to lawmakers… - New Natural Areas Conservation Fund: benefit, low. The law creates a dedicated, non‑lapsing fund for native plants and natural areas. The fund can accept gifts, grants, fees, and other income. At least 15% of the money is set aside for endangered and threatened species projects. The commissioner may award grants to people, groups, and agencies for… - One-year funds for invasives and lists: benefit, low. For FY 2026–27, up to $150,000 may shift to remove invasive stilt grass. In the same year, up to $25,000 may shift to update the official list of threatened and endangered plants. These transfers use available payroll balances after obligations are met. They require the State Budget Officer’s recom… - Seed money for conservation fund: benefit, low. The law provides $500 in FY 2026–27 to open the Natural Areas Conservation Fund (account N548). This creates the fund account so the state can start receiving and using money for natural-area and native plant conservation. - State inventories and privacy for species: benefit, low. The commissioner keeps a statewide inventory and databases for natural areas and shares information for planning and conservation. The commissioner may keep exact species locations confidential when disclosure would harm the species. In those cases, only the landowner may get the precise location.… - Higher fines for harming listed species: cost, medium. Fines apply to endangered or threatened fish and wildlife. A negligent violation is a Class E crime with a $1,000 fine per violation. An intentional violation is a Class D crime with a $2,000 fine per violation. It is also illegal to intentionally import, sell, or transport a delisted species witho… - New references for land tax break: mixed, low. The law changes how land is identified for a property tax exemption tied to natural areas. It now uses an official identification database and areas named under Title 12, section 10053. Property owners and local assessors must use these new references to decide if land qualifies. It does not change… - Natural areas move to Wildlife Department: mixed, low. The law ends the Natural Areas Program at Agriculture and moves its work to Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. The Bureau of Resource Management is reorganized under two directors (wildlife; fisheries and hatcheries). One manager, one coordinator, and five biologists move with their funding. The board… - Plant lists, data, and a temporary limit: mixed, low. The law defines endangered and threatened plants and sets an official plant list with a public hearing and review every two years. The commissioner now decides plant listings and when natural communities are imperiled or critically imperiled. Exact plant locations can be kept confidential from the… - Stronger habitat rules with permit options: mixed, low. The law bans significant changes to habitat identified for listed fish and wildlife. Project sites that include protected habitat are covered, while a single residential lot not in a multi‑lot project remains exempt. Before an approval, the commissioner must certify the action does not pose a signi… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: James Dill (Democratic), House ## Actions (8) - 2026-04-15: Signed by Governor, ACTPUB Chapter 706 - 2026-04-14: On motion by Senator ROTUNDO of Androscoggin taken from the Special Appropriations Table Subsequently, PASSED TO BE ENACTED in concurrence. (Senate) - 2026-04-07: On motion by Senator ROTUNDO of Androscoggin PLACED ON THE SPECIAL APPROPRIATIONS TABLE pending PASSAGE TO BE ENACTED, in concurrence. (Senate) - 2026-04-07: PASSED TO BE ENACTED. Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH. (House) - 2026-04-06: Report READ and ACCEPTED, in concurrence.READ ONCE.Committee Amendment "A" (H-972) 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-972), in concurrence.Ordered sent down forthwith. (Senate) - 2026-04-06: 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-972).Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH. (House) - 2026-01-07: The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY in concurrence (Senate) - 2026-01-07: Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry suggested and ordered printed. The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY.Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH. (House) ## Bill text - Amendment C-A (H-972), adopted by House & Senate: [PDF](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP1433&item=2&snum=132) - Enacted: [PDF](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP1433&item=3&snum=132) - Introduced: [PDF](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP1433&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-972), adopted by House & Senate (PDF)](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP1433&item=2&snum=132) - [Enacted (PDF)](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP1433&item=3&snum=132) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP1433&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-LD2118-132 (as of 2026-10-17).