# Maine LD 261: An Act Regarding the Authority of Municipalities to Regulate Timber Harvesting Maine LD 261, An Act Regarding the Authority of Municipalities to Regulate Timber Harvesting, is a 132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026) House bill sponsored by Stephan Bunker (Democratic); status signed, last action 2025-06-12 (Signed by Governor, ACTPUB Chapter 274) (as of 2026-10-17). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD261-132 - 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 261 - State: Maine - Session: 132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026) - Title: An Act Regarding the Authority of Municipalities to Regulate Timber Harvesting - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2025-01-23 - Last action: 2025-06-12, Signed by Governor, ACTPUB Chapter 274 - Sponsor: Stephan Bunker (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 0 - Subjects: FORESTRY, FORESTRY - TIMBER HARVESTING - Touches household money: no - Economic provisions PRIA read: 3 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Mailed hearing notice and 90-day challenge for landowners: mixed, low. When a town adopts or changes a timber rule under home rule, it must mail a hearing notice by first-class mail at least 14 days before the hearing. It must mail all landowners, or only owners in or next to the affected zones when the rule is zone-specific. Town officers must file a certificate show… - New process and state sign-off for timber rules: mixed, low. Beginning January 1, 2026, towns must follow a set process to make or change timber rules. A licensed forester must help write the rule. The town must meet with department staff, hold a public hearing at least 45 days before a vote, and send the department the draft and hearing details at least 30… - Towns align forestry terms and state covers notice costs: mixed, low. Municipalities keep the power to regulate timber harvesting, but local rules must use state forestry definitions. Ordinances adopted before September 1, 1990 must be updated by January 1, 2028 to match these terms. The State pays all direct costs for mailed landowner notices and other required publ… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Stephan Bunker (Democratic), House ## Actions (12) - 2025-06-12: Signed by Governor, ACTPUB Chapter 274 - 2025-06-09: PASSED TO BE ENACTED, in concurrence. (Senate) - 2025-06-09: PASSED TO BE ENACTED. Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH. (House) - 2025-06-05: Reports READ and ACCEPTED Bill READ ONCE Committee Amendment "A" (H-295) READ. House Amendment "A" (H-500) to Committee Amendment "A" (H-295) READ and ADOPTED Committee Amendment "A" (H-295) as Amended by House Amendment "A" (H-500) thereto ADOPTED Under suspension of the Rules, READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED by Committee Amendment "A" (H-295) as Amended by House Amendment "A" (H-500) thereto in concurrence. (Senate) - 2025-06-04: Speaker laid before the HouseSubsequently, the Committee Report was ACCEPTED.The Bill was READ ONCE.Committee Amendment "A" (H-295) was READ.On motion of Representative PLUECKER of Warren, House Amendment "A" (H-500) to Committee Amendment "A" (H-295) was READ and ADOPTED.Committee Amendment "A" (H-295) as Amended by House Amendment "A" (H-500) thereto was 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-295) as Amended by House Amendment "A" (H-500) thereto.Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH. (House) - 2025-06-03: Unfinished Business (House) - 2025-06-02: Unfinished Business (House) - 2025-05-29: Unfinished Business (House) - 2025-05-28: Unfinished Business (House) - 2025-05-28: CONSENT CALENDAR - FIRST DAYOn OBJECTION of Representative PLUECKER of Warren REMOVED.The Committee Report was READ.On motion of Representative PLUECKER of Warren, TABLED pending ACCEPTANCE of the Committee Report.Later today assigned. (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) - 2025-01-23: Received by the Clerk of the House on January 23, 2025.The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to Joint Rule 401. (House) ## Bill text - Amendment C-A (H-295), adopted by House & Senate: [PDF](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0164&item=2&snum=132) - Amendment H-A to C-A (H-500), adopted by House & Senate: [PDF](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0164&item=4&snum=132) - Enacted: [PDF](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0164&item=5&snum=132) - Introduced: [PDF](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0164&item=1&snum=132) ## Related bills - LD 1522: An Act to Establish the Maine Eviction Prevention Program (failed) - LD 2067: An Act to Include Community Mental Health Workers Under the 1998 Special Plan for Retirement (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 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-295), adopted by House & Senate (PDF)](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0164&item=2&snum=132) - [Amendment H-A to C-A (H-500), adopted by House & Senate (PDF)](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0164&item=4&snum=132) - [Enacted (PDF)](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0164&item=5&snum=132) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0164&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 2067: An Act to Include Community Mental Health Workers Under the 1998 Special Plan f…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD2067-132) - [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 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-LD261-132 (as of 2026-10-17).