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132nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
SECOND REGULAR SESSION-2026
Legislative Document No. 2026
H.P. 1356 House of Representatives, December 5, 2025
An Act Regarding Distributions from the Stipend Fund for
Agricultural Fair Competitions and Events
(EMERGENCY)
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule
203.
Received by the Clerk of the House on December 3, 2025. Referred to the Committee on
Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed
pursuant to Joint Rule 401.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative PLUECKER of Warren.
Page 1 - 132LR2712(01)
1Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not
2 become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
3Whereas, current law prohibits a distribution of funds from the Stipend Fund that
4 takes into account prizes offered and paid by a licensee at an agricultural fair competition
5 or event held other than during the period in which the fair is held; and
6Whereas, changing the law to allow distributions from the fund to apply to fair
7 competitions and events that occur during a 24-hour window prior to the period in which
8 the fair is held would allow judges of fair competitions and events to volunteer in other
9 capacities during the period in which the fair is held; and
10Whereas, this change needs to take effect as soon as possible to ensure that it will
11 apply to the upcoming fair season; and
12Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within
13 the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as
14 immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now,
15 therefore,
16Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
17Sec. 1. 7 MRSA §86, sub-§5, as amended by PL 2025, c. 161, §3, is further
18 amended by amending the first blocked paragraph to read:
19 In determining distribution under this subsection, an allowance may not be made on
20 premiums offered and paid by a licensee at any competition or event held other than during
21 the period in which its annual fair is held judged up to 24 hours prior to the licensed fair
22 dates or during the licensed fair dates. Allowance may not be made or consideration given
23 for lump sums, payments or premiums previously arranged and agreed upon for the
24 presentation and display of any animals or products without regard to competition or event.
25Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation
26 takes effect when approved.
27SUMMARY
28 This bill amends the law governing the distribution of funds from the Stipend Fund to
29 agricultural fair licensees by allowing prizes paid for a competition or event judged up to
30 24 hours prior to the licensed fair dates to be considered in calculating the distribution.
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