MaineMaine requires preferences for menhaden fishing licenses
Maine's signed law directs the commissioner to set license preferences for eligible past menhaden fishers and offer them a chance to apply before other new applicants.
What it does
The commissioner must establish a limited-entry system for commercial menhaden licenses by December 31, 2027. People without a license the prior year may qualify only when fewer than 350 licenses exist and the fishery exit ratio is one to one.
Before the limited-entry system is adopted, the commissioner may license residents or nonresidents who meet the past-license and landing tests for 2019, 2020, or 2021, and did not qualify for or receive a license under another listed provision.
When fewer than 350 licenses exist and the exit ratio is one to one, the commissioner gives preference to eligible past fishers, starting with people from the farthest-east towns. Other new applicants must wait until each preferred person has been offered a chance to obtain a license.
Argument forEligible past fishers could get an earlier chance at a license, with preference based on where they live.
Argument againstOther applicants could wait while the commissioner offers licenses to everyone who meets the preference rules.
More detail
The commissioner must establish a limited-entry system for commercial menhaden licenses. The system covers commercial menhaden licenses. A person who did not hold a commercial menhaden license in the previous calendar year may become eligible when fewer than 350 licenses exist and the fishery exit ratio is one to one. The rules must explain how the system works and is administered. The rules must be adopted by December 31, 2027.
Before the limited-entry system is adopted, the commissioner may issue a commercial menhaden license to an individual who meets the listed tests. The provision applies to residents and nonresidents seeking a commercial menhaden license. The individual must have held a menhaden fishing license in at least one of 2019, 2020, or 2021, reported legal landings of at least 20,000 pounds in at least one of those years, and not qualified for or received a license for any period under subsection 1-A. Documentation for the landing test must rely on information reported to the department before January 1, 2023. This authority applies before adoption of the limited-entry system.
The commissioner must assign licenses by preference and pause rules that would let other new applicants qualify until each person who meets the preference rules has been offered a chance to obtain a license. The preference and pause apply to people seeking commercial menhaden licenses. Preference applies when fewer than 350 commercial menhaden licenses exist and the fishery exit ratio is one to one. Among people who meet the eligibility tests, preference goes by town, starting with the farthest east; if several eligible people live in the same town, the commissioner chooses randomly. The commissioner must assign licenses as soon as practicable after this section takes effect. The pause lasts until each person who meets the preference rules has been offered the opportunity to obtain a license.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 16Signed by Governor Janet MillsLatest
- Apr 14PASSED TO BE ENACTED, in concurrence.Major
- Apr 14Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
- Apr 14PASSED TO BE ENACTED.Passed 2nd Chamber
- Apr 14Ordered sent down forthwith.
- Apr 14On motion by Senator PIERCE of Cumberland the Senate RECEDED and CONCURRED to PASSAGE TO ENGROSSED AS AMENDED BY Committee Amendment "A" (H-873) as Amended by House Amendment "C" (H-1067) thereto.Minor
- Apr 14ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
- Apr 14In NON-CONCURRENCE and sent for concurrence.
- Apr 14The Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (H-873) as Amended by House Amendment "C" (H-1067) thereto.Minor
- Apr 14Committee Amendment "A" (H-873) as Amended by House Amendment "C" (H-1067) thereto was ADOPTED.Minor
- Apr 14On motion of Representative FAULKINGHAM of Winter Harbor, House Amendment "C" (H-1067) to Committee Amendment "A" (H-873) was READ and ADOPTED.
- Apr 14Subsequently, on motion of Representative FAULKINGHAM of Winter Harbor, the House RECEDED.
- Apr 14Speaker laid before the House
- Apr 7Later today assigned.
- Apr 7On motion of Representative FAULKINGHAM of Winter Harbor, TABLED pending FURTHER CONSIDERATION.
- Apr 6Sent down for concurrence.
- Vote recorded ENACTMENT. Result: fail.Upper
- Apr 6Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 890 Yeas 14 - Nays 18 - Excused 3 - Absent 0
- Apr 6Subsequently, FAILED ENACTMENT in NON-CONCURRENCE.Major
- Apr 6Taken from the table by the President
- Apr 2On motion by Senator DUSON of Cumberland Tabled until Later in Today's Session, pending PASSAGE TO BE ENACTED, in concurrence.
- Mar 30Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
- Mar 30PASSED TO BE ENACTED.Became Law
- Mar 26RELEASED
- Mar 25Held at the Request of PIERCE of Cumberland
- Vote recorded ACCEPT MINORITY OUGHT NOT TO PASS REPORT. Result: fail.Upper
- Mar 25Under suspension of the Rules, READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED by Committee Amendment "A" (H-873) in concurrence.Minor
- Mar 25Committee Amendment "A" (H-873) READ and ADOPTED.Minor
- Mar 25READ ONCEMinor
- Mar 25Subsequently The Majority Ought to Pass As Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (H-873) Report ACCEPTED in concurrence.
- Mar 25Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 795 Yeas 17 - Nays 18 - Excused 0 - Absent 0
- Mar 25Motion by Senator TEPLER of Sagadahoc to ACCEPT the Minority Ought Not to Pass Report FAILED
- Mar 25Reports Read
- Mar 24Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
- Vote recorded ACC MAJ OTP AS AMENDED REP. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 24The Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (H-873).Minor
- Mar 24Under suspension of the rules, the Bill was given its SECOND READING without REFERENCE to the Committee on Bills in the Second Reading.
- Mar 24Committee Amendment "A" (H-873) was READ and ADOPTED.Minor
- Mar 24The Bill was READ ONCE.Minor
- Mar 24(Yeas 79 - Nays 63 - Absent 7 - Excused 1 - Vacant 1)
- Mar 24ROLL CALL NO. 670
- Mar 24On motion of Representative HEPLER of Woolwich, the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report was ACCEPTED.
- Mar 24Reports READ.
- Mar 19Reported Out - OTP-AM/ONTP
- Feb 26Voted - Divided Report
- Feb 26Work Session Reconsidered
- Feb 5Voted - Divided Report
- Feb 5Work Session Reconsidered
- Jan 29Work Session Reconsidered
- Jan 15Voted - Divided Report
- Jan 15Work Session Held
- 2025
- Jun 25Carried over, in the same posture, to any special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature, pursuant to Joint Order SP 800.
- May 19Carry Over Approved
- May 16Carry Over Requested
- May 1Work Session Held - TABLED
- Mar 28The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on MARINE RESOURCES pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to Joint Rule 401.Minor
- Mar 28Received by the Clerk of the House on March 28, 2025.Introduced
Agriculture