While more than a thousand bills were introduced in the 132nd session of Maine’s legislature, only a select few have passed both chambers and made it to the Governor’s desk. Legislative developments can and will impact the state’s outdoor industry – from workforce and conservation programs to regulations for boats and ATVs.
Maine Outdoor Brands is committed to ensuring that our state is a thriving hub for outdoor enthusiasts and businesses alike, and will continue to follow and advocate for policies that support the health and sustainability of our $3 billion outdoor recreation economy.
Below you will find a summary of the legislation passed in 2025 that impacts the outdoor industry, as well as a summary of bills that have been carried over for consideration when the legislature reconvenes in January.
Passed Legislation:
Bills Impacting Outdoor Recreation:
Also known as the Merrymeeting Trail Bill, this bill directs the Department of Transportation, subject to funding, to remove state-owned inactive railroad track along the section of Lower Road between Brunswick and Gardiner up to the existing Kennebec River Rail Trail, and a portion of the rail line in Hallowell, and to replace the track with an interim bicycle and pedestrian trail surfaced with pavement or dust on the existing rail bed.
(Read more from MOB Member Eastern Trail Alliance and NEMBA)
This bill will create the Maine Experiential Education Program within the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to provide Maine schools with outdoor and experiential hands-on learning opportunities related to gardens, food and agriculture.
(Read more from MOB Member The Ecology School)
This bill establishes the Outdoor School for All Maine Students Program to provide immersive outdoor education to serve students enrolled in grade 4 to grade 8 in the State. It also establishes the Outdoor School for All Maine Students Program Fund within the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Service.
(Read more from MOB’s testimony in support)
This resolve directs the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to create a working group to explore opportunities to work with commercial landowners to establish public-private partnerships designed to maintain public access to privately owned land.
(Read more from MOB Members the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Maine Coast Heritage Trust and The Nature Conservancy)
MOB supports the Governor’s budget as it relates to continuation of the Domestic Trade Program within the Department of Economic and Community Development and for a limited period deputy director position in the Office of Outdoor Recreation funded by the Northern Border Regional Commission.
(Read more from MOB Testimony)
Bills with Implications for Outdoor Businesses:
LD 66: An Act to Expand Access to the Maine Wage Assurance Fund
This bill amends the laws governing the Maine Wage Assurance Fund to increase the number of weeks for which payment may be made from 2 to 4. This bill increases accessibility to the Maine Wage Assurance Fund for workers to be able to recover 4 weeks, as opposed to 2 weeks, of lost wages if the employer does not pay due to insolvency or bankruptcy.
Failed Legislation
LD 908: An Act to Eliminate the Sales Tax on Prepared Foods and Support the State’s Hospitality Industry
This bill proposed to eliminate an 8% sales tax on prepared foods. However, the bill proposed increasing the sales tax on bikes, boating gear, tents and other equipment used for outdoor recreation.
(Read more from MOB Testimony’s Opposing this legislation)
LD 173: An Act to Exempt Certain Watercraft from Registration Requirements
This bill exempts canoes, kayaks and rowboats that are equipped with a motor having a manufacturer’s horsepower rating less than 100 horsepower from boat registration requirements.
(Read more from MOB Member the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and Maine Marine Trades Association)
Carried Over:
Bills Impacting Outdoor Recreation:
This bill proposes changing the minimum weight of an oversized all-terrain vehicle from 2,000 to 2,500 pounds.
(Read more from MOB Member Testimony the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife)
This bill proposes allocating 40% of the sales and use tax revenue from snowmobiles to the Snowmobile Trail Fund within the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. Of that 40%, 80% must be dedicated to trail maintenance and 20% must be dedicated to capital equipment expenditures.
LD 593: An Act to Extend Funding for the Land for Maine’s Future Program
This bill will provide $10 million from the General Fund for each of the fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027. This funding will be used to support eligible expenditures and authorized purposes of the Land for Maine’s Future Program.
(Read more from MOB Testimony in support)
Bills with Implications for Outdoor Businesses:
This bill provides funding to make permanent one Public Service Coordinator I position to support the Career Exploration Program in the Department of Economic and Community Development effective July 1, 2026.
This would establish a new pass-through entity tax (PTET). Certain entities could elect to pay Maine Income at the entity level. This would be applicable to partnership and S corporations. This bill creates a new filing status in Maine for pass-through entities in order to allow business owners to decrease their federal taxes.
L.D. 1822 – An Act to Enact the Maine Online Data Privacy Act
This bill regulates the collection, use, processing, disclosure, sale and deleting of non-publicly available personal data by a person who conducts business or produces products in Maine. Specifically, it would limit the collection of personal data to what is “reasonably necessary and proportionate to provide or maintain a specific product or service requested by the consumer.” Further, it would limit the sale of sensitive data and require organizations to provide consumers with a privacy notice informing of their rights to their data.