Maine LD 95: An Act To Clarify Residency Requirements For Legislative Candidates

Bill Text

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STATE OF MAINE
_____
IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD
TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FIVE
_____
H.P. 60 - L.D. 95
An Act to Amend and Simplify Certain Wildlife Laws
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §10851, sub-§1, ¶D, as amended by PL 2023, c. 239, §11, is
further amended to read:
D. For a resident 70 years of age or older. For a person who holds a valid senior
lifetime license under this section at any time during the calendar year that person turns
70 years of age, that lifetime license includes all hunting permits and licenses
authorized in this Part and may renew at no cost a guide license under section 12853.
A license holder under this paragraph who qualifies to hunt during the special expanded
archery season on deer under section 11153 and who meets the eligibility requirements
of section 11106 must have included in that person's license one antlerless deer permit
and one either-sex permit. A person who is 70 years of age or older may purchase a
senior lifetime license that entitles the holder to all the privileges described in this
paragraph for a one-time $8 fee.
Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §10853, sub-§3, as repealed and replaced by PL 2019, c. 638,
§1, is amended to read:
3. Paraplegics. A resident paraplegic or a nonresident paraplegic who is a resident
of another state may obtain upon application, at no cost, all hunting, trapping and fishing
licenses, including permits, stamps and other permission needed to hunt, trap and fish. A
license holder under this subsection who qualifies to hunt during the special expanded
archery season on deer under section 11153 and who meets the eligibility requirements of
section 11106 must have included in that person's license one antlerless deer permit and
one either-sex permit. The commissioner shall issue all fishing, trapping and hunting
licenses and permits applied for under this subsection if the commissioner determines the
applicant meets the requirements of this subsection and is not otherwise ineligible to hold
that permit or license. For the purposes of this subsection, "paraplegic" means a person who
has lost, or who has permanently lost the use of, both lower extremities.
A license issued to a resident paraplegic under this subsection remains valid for the life of
the license holder if the license holder continues to be a resident as that term is defined
under section 10001, subsection 53 and the license is not revoked or suspended. A
APPROVED
JUNE 17, 2025
BY GOVERNOR
CHAPTER
333
PUBLIC LAW

Page 2 - 132LR0248(03)
nonresident paraplegic may apply for and be qualified to be issued the complimentary
licenses and permits referred to in this subsection as long as the state where the person
resides provides a reciprocal privilege for resident paraplegics of this State.
Sec. 3. 12 MRSA §10853, sub-§4, as repealed and replaced by PL 2017, c. 475,
Pt. A, §19, is amended to read:
4. Disabled veteran. A resident disabled veteran or a nonresident disabled veteran
who is a resident of another state may obtain upon application, at no cost, all hunting,
trapping and fishing licenses, including permits, stamps and other permission needed to
hunt, trap and fish, and, upon meeting the qualifications as established in section 12853,
subsection 4, a guide license. A license holder under this subsection who qualifies to hunt
during the special expanded archery season on deer under section 11153 and who meets
the eligibility requirements of section 11106 must have included in that person's license
one antlerless deer permit and one either-sex permit. The commissioner shall issue all
fishing, trapping and hunting licenses and permits requested under this subsection if the
commissioner determines the applicant meets the requirements of this subsection and is not
otherwise ineligible to hold that permit or license. For the purposes of this subsection,
"disabled veteran" means a person who:
B. Was honorably discharged from the Armed Forces of the United States or the
National Guard; and
C. Has a service-connected disability evaluated at 50% or more.
Each application must be accompanied by satisfactory evidence that the applicant meets
the requirements of this subsection. An applicant for a license or permit under this section
is subject to the provisions of this Part, including, but not limited to, a lottery or drawing
system for issuing a particular license or permit. A permit or license issued under this
subsection remains valid for the life of the permit or license holder, as long as the permit
or license holder continues to remain a resident of this State or another state and the permit
or license issued under this subsection is not revoked or suspended. For a nonresident to
be eligible under this subsection, that nonresident's state must have a reciprocal agreement
with this State.
Sec. 4. 12 MRSA §10853, sub-§8, as amended by PL 2023, c. 646, Pt. A, §15, is
further amended to read:
8. Members of federally recognized Indian nation,