132nd Maine Legislature
Legislation of Interest to Woodland Owners
The Second Regular Session of the 132nd Maine Legislature convened on January 7, 2026 Below are bills of interest to woodland owners.
Two bills are moving through the Maine Legislature that would reverse the ATV Task Force Agreement and ignore landowner concerns about property impacts and enforcement.
LD 19 An Act to Change the Definition of “Oversized ATV” in the Laws Governing the Registration of All-Terrain Vehicles - In Opposition To Read our testimony HERE.
This bill raises the maximum weight of an ATV that can be registered in Maine from 2,000 to 2,500 pounds. Maine Woodland Owners testified against the bill in the last session and is watching this one very closely. As a refresher, the legal size (weight and width) limit of ATVs was established by the legislature in 2021 based on the unanimous recommendations of a Governor-appointed working group. Tom Doak served on that group. The limit was set due to the inability of Maine’s ATV system to accommodate the impacts of larger machines, as well as increasing landowner frustrations. All existing ATVs, regardless of size, were grandfathered, but future registrations were limited to the new standard.
Oversized ATVs may be operated on one’s own land, but cannot be registered for use off their land. Manufacturers continue to build bigger and bigger machines, and people continue to buy them, hoping to register them for use on trails. Lifting the size restrictions puts the ATV trail network at risk as many landowners may choose to implement their own size restrictions or deny access to ATVs altogether. One of the reasons that the existing size limit was chosen was that it was acceptable to most landowners, which ensured a unified and straightforward system that made it easy for users to ride across boundaries. The Maine Woodland Owners Board of Directors voted to close the ATV trails on land trust properties if the size restrictions are increased.
LD 276: An Act to Modernize ATV Classification, Registration, Trail Access and Landowner Protections. A new bill that aims to eliminate the size restrictions on ATVs and replace them with a classification system that has no upper limit. In Opposition To. Read Amanda Egan’s testimony HERE
LD 2118 An Act to Eliminate the Natural Areas Program and Reassign Certain Responsibilities Under the Program to the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and to Amend the Law Governing Administration of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Bureau of Resource Management - In Support Of. Read Amanda Egan’s testimony HERE.
LD798 An Act to Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue to Fund Mass Timber Manufacturing (carried over). This bond issue would provide $50 million to help finance the design and construction or retrofitting of a manufacturing facility to produce mass timber. Mass timber manufacturing in the state would open up a new market and bolster Maine’s forest products industry. It would also put Maine on the leading edge of an innovative and increasingly popular construction technology.
LD1761 An Act to Prohibit Indemnification Agreements (carried over). This bill prohibits the inclusion of transfer of liability provisions in contracts in which a party transfers liability arising out of its own negligence or intentional act or omission. There are a number of exceptions added through an amendment, including for insurance policies, surety bonds, and a release or waiver of liability agreement. Legislation of this sort is typically narrowed to a particular industry, such as construction; however, this bill is very broad in scope. The logging industry is a strong supporter of the bill, which brought forest management more into the conversation than was anticipated. While the bill was voted Ought to Pass as Amended by the Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Committee last session, they referred it to the Judiciary Committee, where it met a bipartisan Ought Not to Pass vote this session. Maine Woodland Owners testified Neither For Nor Against at Judiciary’s public hearing. Much of the testimony and committee discussion raised the high potential for unintentional consequences of this bill, and we think it is unlikely that it will pass. Neither For Nor Against Read Amanda Egan’s testimony HERE
REPORT: LD 1308 Resolve, Directing the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to Examine Issues Related to Public Access to Privately Owned Lands. The working group that was tasked by the Legislature in 2025 with examining issues related to public access to private lands reported back to the Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife in early February. Through data analysis, extensive stakeholder involvement, and public comment, the working group developed a comprehensive set of recommendations that aims to protect Maine’s tradition of public access to private lands. Strengthening enforcement of existing laws emerged as the most critical strategy. Maine Woodland Owners served on this committee and was instrumental in ensuring the inclusion of strong support for addressing the needs of private landowners. The report was sure to clarify that “public access to private land in Maine exists solely at the discretion of landowners, and nothing in this report should be interpreted as diminishing those rights or creating an expectation of access where a landowner chooses otherwise.” We will continue to partner with the Administration as it works to implement recommendations and will monitor any future legislation that emerges from this effort.
LD 350, Resolve: To Reconvene the 2019 Task Force on All-Terrain Vehicle Trail Initiatives. LD 350 was introduced as a sidestep to this session’s controversial ATV legislation by establishing a new Task Force to study ATV size. While “studying” an issue sounds neutral, the duties proposed for this Task Force imply that a size increase is inevitable. Maine Woodland Owners formally opposed the bill, stating that the legislation appeared designed to create a pathway for heavier machines that the land cannot sustain. We anticipate a divided report, with the majority favoring an amendment that shifts these study duties to the existing Landowner and Land Users Relations Advisory Board (on which we serve). A minority of the committee is expected to recommend “Ought Not to Pass.” In Opposition To Read Amanda Egan’s testimony HERE.
LD 2217 An Act Related to the Electronic Tagging of Deer.
In Opposition To Read Amanda Egan’s testimony HERE
LD 2221 An Act to Amend the Composition of the Landowners and Land User Relations Advisory Board To improve communication between those who own the land and those who use it, we supported LD 2221. This legislation adds key seats to the Landowner and Land User Relations Advisory Board, including a representative for non-motorized recreation. For too long, the voices of hikers, skiers, and birders have been missing from these formal discussions. We believe adding this perspective will lead to more balanced policies that respect the diverse ways we all enjoy our woodlands. In Support of Read Amanda Egan’s testimony HERE
Articles
