RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine to Establish the Right to Hunt and Fish

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132nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
FIRST REGULAR SESSION-2025
Legislative Document No. 820
H.P. 527 House of Representatives, March 4, 2025
RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of
Maine to Establish the Right to Hunt and Fish
Received by the Clerk of the House on February 27, 2025. Referred to the Committee on
Inland Fisheries and Wildlife pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to Joint
Rule 401.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative CARUSO of Caratunk.
Cosponsored by Senator CYRWAY of Kennebec and
Representatives: ARDELL of Monticello, BOYER of Poland, DILL of Old Town, MORRIS of
Turner, SMITH of Palermo, Senators: BRADSTREET of Kennebec, HICKMAN of Kennebec.

Page 1 - 132LR0592(01)
1Constitutional amendment. Resolved: Two thirds of each branch of the
2 Legislature concurring, that the following amendment to the Constitution of Maine be
3 proposed:
4Constitution, Art. IX, §26 is enacted to read:
5Section 26. Right to hunt, fish and harvest game and fish. The right of the
6 people to hunt, fish and harvest game and fish, including by the use of traditional methods,
7 may not be infringed, subject to reasonable laws enacted by the Legislature, and reasonable
8 rules adopted by the state agency designated for fish and wildlife management as provided
9 by statute, to promote wildlife conservation and management and to preserve the future of
10 hunting and fishing. Public hunting and fishing are the preferred means of managing and
11 controlling wildlife. This section may not be construed to modify any provision of law
12 relating to eminent domain, trespass or property rights.
13Constitutional referendum procedure; form of question; effective date.
14Resolved: That the municipal officers of this State shall notify the inhabitants of their
15 respective cities, towns and plantations to meet, in the manner prescribed by law for holding
16 a statewide election, at a statewide election held in the month of November following the
17 passage of this resolution, to vote upon the ratification of the amendment proposed in this
18 resolution by voting upon the following question:
19 "Do you favor amending the Constitution of Maine to provide that the right
20 of the people to hunt, fish and harvest game and fish may not be infringed,
21 subject to reasonable laws and rules, and to provide that public hunting
22 and fishing are the preferred means of managing and controlling wildlife?"
23 The legal voters of each city, town and plantation shall vote by ballot on this question
24 and designate their choice by a cross or check mark placed within the corresponding square
25 below the word "Yes" or "No." The ballots must be received, sorted, counted and declared
26 in open ward, town and plantation meetings and returns made to the Secretary of State in
27 the same manner as votes for members of the Legislature. The Governor shall review the
28 returns. If it appears that a majority of the legal votes are cast in favor of the amendment,
29 the Governor shall proclaim that fact without delay and the amendment becomes part of
30 the Constitution of Maine on the date of the proclamation.
31Secretary of State shall prepare ballots. Resolved: That the Secretary of State
32 shall prepare and furnish to each city, town and plantation all ballots, returns and copies of
33 this resolution necessary to carry out the purposes of this referendum.
34SUMMARY
35 This resolution proposes to amend the Constitution of Maine to provide that the right
36 of the people to hunt, fish and harvest game and fish, including by the use of traditional
37 methods, may not be infringed, subject to reasonable laws and rules to promote wildlife
38 conservation and management and to preserve the future of hunting and fishing. It also
39 provides that public hunting and fishing are the preferred means of managing and
40 controlling wildlife.
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