LD 866 Maine House · 132nd Legislature (2025-2026)

An Act To Reduce Posting Of Hunting Lands By Providing Free Antlerless Deer Permits To Certain Landowners Who Keep Their Lands Open To Hunting

LD 866 modifies Maine's antlerless deer permit program to provide free permits to landowners who keep their property open for public hunting. Eligible landowners who apply and are selected through a special process will not be charged for these permits, and the law requires that at least 25% of antlerless deer permits in each wildlife management district be reserved for them. If a landowner is not selected in the special process but later obtains a permit through the regular lottery, they will also receive it at no cost. This policy directly affects landowners in Maine who manage hunting access on their property.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2025
Committee Review
Jun 2025
House Passage
Jun 2025
Senate Passage
Jun 2025
Signed into Law
Jun 2025
Introduced Mar 4, 2025 Signed Jun 12, 2025
Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
26
Key actions
9
Committee
8
Jun 12, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by Governor
executive
Jun 10, 2025
Upper · Passed
FINALLY PASSED, in concurrence.
upper
Jun 10, 2025
Lower · Passed
FINALLY PASSED.
lower
Jun 9, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee Amendment "A" (H-521) READ and ADOPTED.
upper
Jun 9, 2025
Upper · Passed
On motion by Senator BALDACCI of Penobscot the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (H-521) Report ACCEPTED.
upper
Jun 9, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee Amendment "A" (H-521) was READ and ADOPTED.
lower
Jun 9, 2025
Lower · Passed
On motion of Representative ROBERTS of South Berwick, the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report was ACCEPTED.
lower
Jun 5, 2025
Legislature · Passed
Reported Out - OTP-AM/OTP-AM
legislature
Mar 4, 2025
Committee
The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on INLAND FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE in concurrence
upper
Mar 4, 2025
Committee
The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on INLAND FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE.
lower
Mar 4, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife suggested and ordered printed.
lower
1 primary · 9 co-sponsors

Sponsors