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132nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
FIRST REGULAR SESSION-2025
Legislative Document No. 829
S.P. 356 In Senate, March 4, 2025
An Act to Standardize the Laws Regarding the Carrying of
Concealed Handguns in State Parks
(EMERGENCY)
Reference to the Committee on Judiciary suggested and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator HAGGAN of Penobscot.
Cosponsored by Senator: HARRINGTON of York, Representatives: ARDELL of Monticello,
FOSTER of Dexter, HENDERSON of Rumford, PERKINS of Dover-Foxcroft, POIRIER of
Skowhegan, WHITE of Guilford.
Page 1 - 132LR1138(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, this legislation provides that a person may carry a concealed handgun in
4 state parks, Baxter State Park, the Allagash Wilderness Waterway and Acadia National
5 Park without a concealed handgun permit; and
6Whereas, this legislation needs to take effect prior to the summer 2025 recreation
7 season; and
8Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within
9 the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as
10 immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now,
11 therefore,
12Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
13Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §756, sub-§2, ¶G, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 607, §1, is amended
14 to read:
15 G. When the firearm is a concealed firearm handgun, as defined in Title 25, section
16 2002, subsection 8-A, carried by a person to whom a valid permit to carry a concealed
17 firearm has been issued as provided in Title 25, chapter 252 who is not otherwise
18 prohibited from possessing a firearm. The person must have in that person's possession
19 the permit as required in Title 25, section 2003.
20Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §1803, sub-§7, as amended by PL 2013, c. 405, Pt. A, §24 and
21 c. 424, Pt. A, §4, is further amended to read:
227. Exceptions Exception. Notwithstanding subsection 6 or any other rule-making
23 authority, the bureau may not adopt rules that prohibit the following persons a person who
24 is not otherwise prohibited from possessing a firearm from carrying a concealed handgun
25 in the buildings or parts of buildings and other public property that are under the bureau’s
26 jurisdiction: .
27 A. A person to whom a valid permit to carry a concealed handgun has been issued
28 under Title 25, chapter 252. The person must have in that person's possession the valid
29 permit;
30 B. A person to whom a valid permit to carry a concealed handgun has been issued by
31 another state if a permit to carry a concealed handgun issued from that state has been
32 granted reciprocity under Title 25, chapter 252. The person must have in that person's
33 possession the valid permit;
34 C. An authorized federal, state or local law enforcement officer in the performance of
35 that officer's official duties;
36 D. A qualified law enforcement officer pursuant to 18 United States Code, Section
37 926B. The law enforcement officer must have in that law enforcement officer's
38 possession photographic identification issued by the law enforcement agency by which
39 the person is employed as a law enforcement officer; and
Page 2 - 132LR1138(01)
1 E. A qualified retired law enforcement officer pursuant to 18 United States Code,
2 Section 926C. The retired law enforcement officer must have in the retired law
3 enforcement officer's possession:
4 ( 1) Photographic identification issued by the law enforcement agency from which
5 the person retired from service as a law enforcement officer that indicates that the
6 person has, not less recently than one year before the date the person carries the
7 concealed handgun, been tested or otherwise found by the agency to meet the
8 standards established by the agency for training and qualification for active law
9 enforcement officers to carry a handgun of the same type as the concealed
10 handgun; or
11 ( 2) Photographic identification issued by the law enforcement agency from which
12 the person retired from service as a law enforcement officer and a certification
13 issued by the state in which the person resides that indicates that the person has,
14 not less recently than one year before the date the person carries the concealed
15 handgun, been tested or otherwise found by that state to meet the standards
16 established by that state for training and qualification for active law enforcement
17 officers to carry a handgun of the same type as the concealed handgun.
18Sec. 3. Department to update rules. The Department of Agriculture, Conservation
19 and Forestry, Bureau of Parks and Lands shall update its rules to remove the requirement
20 that a person have a valid permit in order to carry a concealed handgun in state parks,
21 Baxter State Park and the Allagash Wilderness Waterway.
22Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation
23 takes effect when approved.
24SUMMARY
25 This bill removes the requirement that a person have a valid permit in order to carry a
26 concealed handgun in state parks, Baxter State Park, the Allagash Wilderness Waterway
27 and Acadia National Park and instead provides that any person who is not otherwise
28 prohibited from possessing a firearm may carry a concealed handgun in these locations.
29 The bill also directs the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Bureau of
30 Parks and Lands to update its rules to remove the requirement that a person have a valid
31 permit in order to carry a concealed handgun in state parks, Baxter State Park and the
32 Allagash Wilderness Waterway.
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