Latest news with #LD820
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Lawmakers push for constitutional right to hunt and fish, but first vote falls shy in Maine House
May 29—AUGUSTA — A proposal to guarantee the right to hunt and fish in Maine's Constitution won broad bipartisan support in the Maine House of Representatives Thursday, but the initial vote fell short of the two-thirds threshold needed to send the proposed amendment to voters. Lawmakers voted 93-51 in favor of the bill sponsored by Rep. Liz Caruso, R-Caratunk, with several Democrats joining Republicans in support. But the effort will need even more support to advance to a statewide referendum. Constitutional amendments require two-thirds support from lawmakers before they can be presented to voters for approval. The proposal will still get another House vote and a second chance to meet the threshold. It now heads to the state Senate for an initial vote in that chamber. It comes after Maine became the first state in the nation to pass a "right to food" constitutional amendment in 2021, a rare success that led to a surge of proposed amendments that fell short in recent years. Those included a right to a healthy environment and a right to privacy. While many have been widely supported, opponents have raised concerns about unintended legal consequences from such broad amendments. Nearly two dozen other states have adopted constitutional amendments regarding the right to hunt and fish, according to the International Order of T. Roosevelt, which is advocating for the protection of hunting and fishing rights through constitutional amendments in all 50 states. Advocates for the amendment cited the adoption of similar provisions in other states during a floor debate in the House Thursday. Supporters said the measure would honor the importance of hunting and fishing in Maine's economy and culture. "You may think we already have the right to hunt and fish, but it's only in statute," Caruso said. "And we know that laws can be changed with future legislatures." "I believe LD 820 is good for Maine's people, Maine's wildlife and Maine's future," she added. In addition to guaranteeing the right to hunt, fish and harvest game in the Maine Constitution, the amendment's language also states that hunting and fishing are the preferred means of managing and controlling wildlife. Only one lawmaker, Rep. Tiffany Roberts, D-South Berwick, the House chair of the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee, spoke against the proposal. Roberts was also among a minority of lawmakers who voted against the bill in committee. "This is a constitutional amendment — a serious permanent change to our state's foundational legal document," she said. "It demands clarity, necessity and restraint and this proposal meets none of these standards." The proposal states that hunting and fishing are "subject to laws enacted by the Legislature and rules adopted by state agencies," but Roberts said the amendment would do nothing to safeguard against ballot initiatives and referendums targeting hunting and fishing. She pointed out that after the right to food was passed in 2021, the state was sued by a couple who argued that Maine's Sunday hunting ban violated the state Constitution. The ban ultimately was upheld by the Maine Supreme Judicial Court. "If we bring this amendment forward, we risk reviving that fight too," Roberts said. "This amendment doesn't strengthen hunting protections," she said. "It puts them under a spotlight and gives national groups a new target." Caruso argued that the proposal won't change current state rules and regulations around hunting and fishing or protections for wildlife conservation and management, but will ensure that Maine traditions are honored into the future. "This bill does not change Sunday hunting," she said. "It doesn't change rules, regulations or create a new governance structure, and it does not change or weaken private property rights. With regards to food, this bill will work in conjunction with the right to food." Rep. Sophie Warren, D-Scarborough, said that while she has never hunted and only gone fishing a few times, she sees the amendment as a good way to recognize constituents who value those activities. "I do support Maine's strong traditions of harvesting wild game, both for sustenance as well as game management and control," Warren said. "This amendment ensures that all of our current hunting laws, which I support, will be protected into the future." Rep. Jim Thorne, R-Carmel, said the proposal should be put to voters to weigh in on, which will happen only if both the House and Senate give two-thirds support. "All we're saying is, is this worthy to present to the people of Maine to have them decide if this is worthy of an amendment to change the Constitution," Thorne said. Copy the Story Link
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Maine Legislature weighs constitutional right to hunt and fish
'Very little unites Mainers as much as the rich tradition of hunting and fishing,' said Maine Rep. Elizabeth Caruso of Caratunk. (Photo credit: USFWS/Ryan Hagarty) When Rep. Elizabeth Caruso saw a map of states with a constitutionally protected right to hunt and fish, she was shocked that Maine wasn't on it. That inspired the Republican from Caratunk to introduce LD 820 to establish that right in the Maine Constitution. Even though the state boasts a constitutionally enshrined right to food, which includes some hunting, Caruso said there can never be enough protection for heritage traditions that contribute to the livelihood and economy of many communities throughout the state. 'Very little unites Mainers as much as the rich tradition of hunting and fishing,' she said. 'If you want to protect your childhood memories, family heritage and the Maine hunting and fishing legacy that we leave to our children, I ask you to vote 'ought to pass,'' she encouraged members of the Legislature's Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee during a public hearing Wednesday. This amendment, however, would maintain the state's Sunday hunting ban. Committee members raised questions about the specific language in the bill, especially around the terms 'traditional' and 'reasonable.' Caruso said she was trying to use broad and inclusive terms, but is open to workshopping it. There were also questions about whether this sort of amendment is needed, given the right to food. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife opposed the bill over similar language concerns. Deputy Commissioner Tim Peabody said the department expressed those concerns with Caruso and would like to see this done right, but believes the proposal isn't there yet. The department took a more neutral stance on previous attempts to pass this sort of amendment, Peabody said. However, he noted that there has been progress on this topic in recent years, in particular the 2024 Maine Supreme Judicial Court ruling that found the state's right to food includes limited rights to hunting. The department views that ruling as a win, Peabody said. 'Having the constitutional amendment in there is one thing, but having the Maine supreme court rule on the right to hunt is very strong for our department,' he said. 'We see that as much stronger than having an untested constitutional amendment in there.' Peabody was referring to the 2022 lawsuit filed by Virginia and Joel Parker, that argued the state's Sunday hunting ban was unconstitutional after the passage of the right to food amendment. The ruling from the state's highest court found that the Sunday ban does not violate the right to food because it falls under the poaching exception in the amendment. The Sportsman's Alliance of Maine also highlighted that ruling as its reason to support Caruso's proposal, arguing that it would clarify language and prevent future challenges, according to written testimony from Executive Director David Trahan. The right to hunt amendment is a legislative priority for the National Rifle Association, said state director Justin Davis. Both the Maine Forest Products Council and Maine Woodland Owners testified neither for nor against the bill because while they support hunting and fishing, they also raised concerns about the bill language and fear it could create confusion with the already established right to food. Humane World for Animals, an animal rights organization, opposed the bill. Constitutional amendments in Maine have high bars for passage. This bill will have to secure the support of two-thirds of the Legislature and would then be sent to the voters, who would ultimately decide. The Legislature is considering a variety of other potential amendments including an Equal Rights Amendment and one to provide for parental rights. Unless noted in the legislation, constitutional amendments passed this session would go on the November 2025 ballot. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
