MaineMaine law limits Colorado seed potato imports during rulemaking
Maine's agriculture department may not allow Colorado seed potato imports until it adopts updated quarantine rules, with limited exemptions for lab-grown seed.
What it does
Maine's agriculture department may not allow Colorado seed potatoes into the state until it adopts updated quarantine rules. Lab-grown plantlets and nuclear seed are exempt.
The agriculture department must start updating Maine's potato quarantine rule by May 31, 2026, using current science on plant diseases and insect pests and aligning it with state law.
The agriculture department must report Maine's current seed potato certification standards to the Legislature's agriculture committee by February 2, 2027. The committee may propose related legislation in 2027.
The agriculture department must keep working with potato industry representatives to prevent harmful pests from entering Maine, as far as practicable, and protect potato crops.
Argument forLimiting Colorado seed potato imports during rulemaking could help protect Maine crops from harmful pests, while exempting certain lab-grown seed.
Argument againstThe import limit could make it harder for Maine growers to get Colorado seed potatoes while the department updates its rules.
More detail
The Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry may not allow seed potatoes from Colorado to be imported into Maine. The limit applies to seed potatoes imported from Colorado. The limit does not cover plantlets or nuclear seed produced under controlled laboratory conditions. The limit lasts until the department finally adopts the amended potato quarantine rule.
The department shall start rulemaking to update its potato quarantine rule. The rule is Chapter 30: Quarantine (Potato). The updated rule must align with state law and use the latest science-based data on known and emerging plant diseases and insect infestations. The department must start rulemaking on or before May 31, 2026.
The department shall report on seed potato certification standards to the Legislature's agriculture committee. The report concerns current seed potato certification standards in Maine. The report must cover import and testing requirements, and existing quarantines that restrict or prohibit moving seed potatoes capable of carrying disease or insect infestations. The committee may submit related legislation to the 133rd Legislature in 2027. The report is due no later than February 2, 2027. The committee may submit legislation in 2027.
The department shall continue working with potato industry representatives to prevent harmful pests from entering Maine, as far as practicable. The department works with representatives of the potato industry. The work concerns pests that may affect the health, yield, or marketability of Maine potato crops.
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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 21Became Law without Governor's SignatureBecame Law
- Apr 7FINALLY PASSED - Emergency - 2/3 Elected Required, in concurrence.Passed 2nd Chamber
- Apr 7Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
- Apr 7FINALLY PASSED.Passed 1st Chamber
- Apr 7This being an emergency measure, a two-thirds vote of all the members elected to the House was necessary.
- Apr 7In concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
- Apr 7The Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (S-626).Minor
- Apr 7Under suspension of the rules CONSENT CALENDAR - SECOND DAY.
- Apr 7CONSENT CALENDAR - FIRST DAY
- Apr 6Reported Out - OTP-AM
- Apr 6Ordered sent down forthwith for concurrence.
- Apr 6Under suspension of the Rules, READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED BY Committee Amendment "A" (S-626).Minor
- Apr 6Committee Amendment "A" (S-626) READ and ADOPTED.Minor
- Apr 6READ ONCE.Minor
- Apr 6Report READ and ACCEPTED.
- Mar 26Voted - OTP-AM
- Mar 26Work 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 15Work Session Held - TABLED
- Mar 21CARRIED OVER, in the same posture, to the next special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature, pursuant to Joint Order SP 519.
- Feb 5Received by the Secretary of the Senate on February 5, 2025 and REFERRED to the Committee on AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2Introduced
Agriculture