Committee unanimously backs Sen. Pierce bill to enhance popular Land for Maine’s Future program 

AUGUSTA ­­— On Wednesday, the Legislature’s Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee voted unanimously to support a bill to enhance the popular Land for Maine’s Future (LMF) program. LD 1969, “An Act to Expand the Use of Funds to Support Land Conservation,” sponsored by Sen. Teresa S. Pierce, D-Falmouth, makes technical changes to a program that has historically earned strong bipartisan support. 

“Since 1987, Land for Maine’s Future has conserved more than 600,000 acres across the state. This has included iconic outdoor recreational areas such as Mount Kineo, the Cutler Coast and Tumbledown Mountain, as well as popular family-friendly destinations in my district like Blackstrap Hill, Knights Pond and Libby Hill Forest,” said Sen. Pierce. “I’m thankful the Governor put this bill forward, and I’m grateful for my colleagues who joined me in supporting this important legislation.”

This bill, as amended, would establish the Land for Maine’s Future Trust Fund, which would allow expanded use of previously allocated funds in accordance with a 2021 law. The bill would amend provisions of law affecting the Public Access to Maine Waters Fund, the Maine Working Waterfront Access Protection Fund and the Maine Working Farmland Access and Protection Fund. It also would establish the Conservation and Recreation Fund to achieve the purposes of the former Land for Maine’s Future Fund. Finally, LD 1969 would establish the Conservation Land Management Fund to make capital improvements to and enhance wildlife habitat protection on permanently conserved state, municipal and private conservation lands.

Representatives from the Mills Administration, Friends of Casco Bay, Maine Coast Heritage Trust, Maine Audubon, Natural Resources Council of Maine and Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine all testified in support. 

LD 1969 now faces votes in the Senate and House.