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132nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
FIRST SPECIAL SESSION-2025
Legislative Document No. 1528
S.P. 612 In Senate, April 8, 2025
An Act to Support Farmland Conservation
Reference to the Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry suggested and
ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator BENNETT of Oxford.
Cosponsored by Senators: BRENNER of Cumberland, HICKMAN of Kennebec,
Representatives: BLIER of Buxton, CRAY of Palmyra, DUCHARME of Madison, HALL of
Wilton, PLUECKER of Warren.
Page 1 - 132LR1689(01)
1Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
2Sec. 1. 7 MRSA §164, sub-§5 is enacted to read:
35. Funding. A separate nonlapsing, interest-bearing account, administered by the
4 department, is established in the department within the Bureau of Agriculture, Food and
5 Rural Resources to support public-private partnerships to carry out the purposes of the
6 program. The account consists of money appropriated or allocated to it by the Legislature
7 or received from any private or public source.
8Sec. 2. Transfer. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, on or before
9 June 30, 2026, the State Controller shall transfer $1,000,000 from the unappropriated
10 surplus of the General Fund to the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry,
11 Bureau of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources, Maine Working Farmland Access and
12 Protection Program established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 7, section 164 for
13 funding to support farmland conservation efforts.
14Sec. 3. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and
15 allocations are made.
16AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY, DEPARTMENT OF
17Bureau of Agriculture 0393
18 Initiative: Provides funding for farmland conservation efforts under the Maine Working
19 Farmland Access and Protection Program established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title
20 7, section 164.
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 2025-26 2026-27
All Other $1,000,000 $0
__________ __________
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL $1,000,000 $0
21Bureau of Agriculture 0393
26 Initiative: Establishes one Resource Management Coordinator position and provides
27 funding for associated All Other costs.
GENERAL FUND 2025-26 2026-27
POSITIONS - LEGISLATIVE COUNT 1.000 1.000
Personal Services $114,286 $120,766
All Other $3,500 $3,500
__________ __________
GENERAL FUND TOTAL $117,786 $124,266
28DACF Administration 0401
35 Initiative: Establishes one Resource Management Coordinator position and provides
36 funding for associated All Other costs.
GENERAL FUND 2025-26 2026-27
All Other $3,292 $3,292
__________ __________
GENERAL FUND TOTAL $3,292 $3,292
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Page 2 - 132LR1689(01)
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 2025-26 2026-27
All Other $647 $647
__________ __________
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL $647 $647
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AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION AND
FORESTRY, DEPARTMENT OF
DEPARTMENT TOTALS 2025-26 2026-27
GENERAL FUND $121,078 $127,558
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS $1,000,647 $647
__________ __________
DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS $1,121,725 $128,205
6SUMMARY
7 This bill establishes a separate nonlapsing, interest-bearing account administered by
8 the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to support public-private
9 partnerships to carry out the purposes of the Maine Working Farmland Access and
10 Protection Program. The account consists of money appropriated or allocated to the
11 program account by the Legislature or received from any private or public source.
20 The bill establishes and provides ongoing funding for one full-time, permanent position
21 within the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Bureau of Agriculture,
22 Food and Rural Resources.
23 The bill also transfers $1,000,000 from the unappropriated surplus of the General Fund
24 to fund farmland conservation efforts under the Department of Agriculture, Conservation
25 and Forestry, Bureau of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources, Maine Working Farmland
26 Access and Protection Program.
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