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Page 1 - 132LR1460(03)
STATE OF MAINE
_____
IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD
TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FIVE
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S.P. 538 - L.D. 1308
Resolve, Directing the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and the
Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to Examine Issues
Related to Public Access to Privately Owned Lands
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, a majority of land in the State is privately owned; and
Whereas, the ability of residents to access these lands is in jeopardy as more and more
landowners are closing off access to their land; and
Whereas, urgent action is needed to ensure this trend is reversed; and
Whereas, this legislation must take effect as soon as possible to convene a working
group to explore opportunities to increase access and address these issues; and
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now,
therefore, be it
Sec. 1. Working group. Resolved: That the Department of Inland Fisheries and
Wildlife and the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, jointly referred to
in this resolve as "the departments," shall convene a working group to examine issues
related to public access to privately owned land in the State and opportunities to expand
this access.
Sec. 2. Working group membership. Resolved: That the working group
established under section 1 must be as broadly representative of interested parties and
groups as possible, must be geographically representative of the different regions of the
State and consists of at least the following 12 members:
1. A representative of a statewide organization representing commercial forest
landowners;
2. A representative of a statewide organization representing small woodland owners;
APPROVED
JUNE 17, 2025
BY GOVERNOR
CHAPTER
82
RESOLVES
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3. A representative of an organization managing recreational access to the North Maine
Woods;
4. A representative of a conservation organization that manages land or conservation
easements;
5. A representative of an agricultural organization;
6. A representative of a statewide organization representing Maine guides;
7. A representative of the tourism and outdoor recreation industry focused on hiking,
wildlife watching, biking, paddling or other popular outdoor pursuits;
8. A representative of a statewide association representing hunters and anglers;
9. A representative of a statewide association representing recreational vehicle users;
10. A representative from the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry,
Bureau of Parks and Lands;
11. A representative from the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife's landowner
relations program; and
12. A representative from the Department of Economic and Community Development.
Sec. 3. Working group chairs. Resolved: That the Commissioner of Agriculture,
Conservation and Forestry or the commissioner's designee and the Commissioner of Inland
Fisheries and Wildlife or the commissioner's designee serve as cochairs of the working
group under section 1 and shall make appointments to the working group as outlined in
section 2. The cochairs shall serve as nonvoting members of the working group.
Sec. 4. Working group duties. Resolved: That the working group under section 1
shall:
1. Solicit and explore strategies to provide private landowners with financial incentives
to maintain and expand recreational access to important corridors and destinations;
2. Solicit input from a broad range of individuals and businesses involved in outdoor
and traditional recreational activities, landowners, outdoor recreation and public access
policy experts and the general public to understand the history and value of and issues
associated with the State's tradition of public access to public and private property;
3. Develop an assessment of the current and future status of public access to public and
private property, with particular attention to current and future outdoor and traditional
recreational activities;
4. Bring forth additional discussion points as agreed upon by the working group;
5. Recommend actions and policies that may be implemented to better support public
access to public and private property in both municipalities and the unorganized territory;
and
6. Evaluate enforcement of existing laws and rules on designated state trail systems.
Sec. 5. Working group staff assistance. Resolved: That the departments shall
provide staffing to the working group under section 1 within existing resources and may
seek staffing and financial support from other state agencies and private entities to
accomplish the working group's work.
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Sec. 6. Report. Resolved: That the departments shall report any findings and
recommendations resulting from meetings of the working group under section 1 to the Joint
Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry and the Joint Standing
Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife by February 15, 2026. Each of the committees
may report out a bill based on the report to the Second Regular Session of the 132nd
Legislature.
Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation
takes effect when approved.