LD473 Potato Quarantine Rulemaking Bill Passed
Summary
The Maine 132nd Legislature passed LD473 on April 7, 2026, directing the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to initiate rulemaking to establish Rule Chapter 30 concerning potato quarantine. The bill passed as an emergency measure requiring two-thirds legislative approval. The Department must now develop formal quarantine rules affecting potato producers and handlers within Maine.
What changed
Maine LD473 was enacted on April 7, 2026, as an emergency measure, directing the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to undertake formal rulemaking to establish Rule Chapter 30 governing potato quarantine. The bill passed both chambers with the required two-thirds vote after committee amendment.\n\nAgricultural firms engaged in potato production, processing, and distribution in Maine will be directly affected once the Department promulgates the formal quarantine rules. Affected parties should monitor the DACF rulemaking process and prepare internal compliance frameworks for potential quarantine protocols, testing requirements, or movement restrictions on potatoes within or through Maine.
What to do next
- Monitor Maine DACF for draft Rule Chapter 30 potato quarantine rules
- Prepare compliance procedures for anticipated potato quarantine requirements
- Review current potato handling and transportation operations for quarantine readiness
Archived snapshot
Apr 8, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
ChangeBridge / Maine / LD473 Passed LD473 LD Passed 2026-04-07
Resolve, Directing the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to Enter into Rulemaking Regarding Rule Chapter 30: Quarantine (Potato)
Bill Details
State Maine
Session 132nd Legislature
Chamber House
Official Source legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_...
LegiScan View on LegiScan
Sponsors
Rachel Talbot Ross (Sen - D)
Action History
2026-04-07 S FINALLY PASSED - Emergency - 2/3 Elected Required, in concurrence. 2026-04-07 H Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH. 2026-04-07 H FINALLY PASSED. 2026-04-07 H This being an emergency measure, a two-thirds vote of all the members elected to the House was necessary. 2026-04-07 H In concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH. 2026-04-07 H The Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (S-626). 2026-04-07 H Under suspension of the rules CONSENT CALENDAR - SECOND DAY. 2026-04-07 H CONSENT CALENDAR - FIRST DAY 2026-04-06 S Ordered sent down forthwith for concurrence. 2026-04-06 S Under suspension of the Rules, READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED BY Committee Amendment "A" (S-626). 2026-04-06 S Committee Amendment "A" (S-626) READ and ADOPTED. 2026-04-06 J Reported Out: OTP-AM 2026-04-06 S READ ONCE. 2026-04-06 S Report READ and ACCEPTED. 2026-03-26 J Voted: OTP-AM 2026-03-26 J Work Session Held 2025-06-25 S CARRIED OVER, in the same posture, to any special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature, pursuant to Joint Order SP 800. 2025-05-19 J Carry Over Approved 2025-05-16 J Carry Over Requested 2025-05-15 J Work Session Held: TABLED 2025-03-21 S CARRIED OVER, in the same posture, to the next special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature, pursuant to Joint Order SP 519. 2025-02-05 S Received by the Secretary of the Senate on February 5, 2025 and REFERRED to the Committee on AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2
Committee Referrals
2025-02-05 J Agriculture, Conservation And Forestry
Amendments
0000-00-00 Senate: C-A (S-626) Adopted
Bill Text Versions
0000-00-00 Introduced
Subjects
Agriculture, Conservation And Fore Procedures Legislative data powered by LegiScan (CC BY 4.0)
Named provisions
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