This bill is reported out by the Joint Standing Committee on State and Local Government pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 23, section 3036, subsection 11 and implements the recommendations of the Maine Abandoned and Discontinued Roads Commission included in its annual report dated February 3, 2025. The bill limits liability for repairs and maintenance of a public easement of an owner, lessee or occupant of property abutting a public easement. It also amends current law to provide municipalities and village corporations, through a vote of approval by their legislative bodies, the option to determine if they will be responsible to maintain and repair public easements or portions of public easements to a minimum level of maintenance until the legislative body votes to discontinue providing year-round repairs and maintenance. It provides that county commissioners and municipal officers may designate public ways and public easements regardless of whether the municipality maintains or repairs the public easements and impose restrictions within their respective jurisdictions similar to those made by the Department of Transportation. It also provides an ongoing annual appropriation of $6,500 to the Road Commission Fund program to provide expense reimbursement for members and to support the work of the Maine Abandoned and Discontinued Roads Commission. FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED (See attached) Approved: 06/02/25
132nd MAINE LEGISLATURE LD 1985 LR 2549(01) An Act to Implement the Recommendations of the Maine Abandoned and Discontinued Roads Commission Fiscal Note for Original Bill Sponsor: Committee: State and Local Government Fiscal Note Required: Yes Fiscal Note Projections Projections FY 2025-26 FY 2026-27 FY 2027-28 FY 2028-29 Net Cost (Savings) General Fund $6,500 $6,500 $6,500 $6,500 Appropriations/Allocations General Fund $6,500 $6,500 $6,500 $6,500 Correctional and Judicial Impact Statements This bill may increase the number of civil suits filed in the court system. The additional workload associated with the minimal number of new cases filed in the court system does not require additional funding at this time. The collection of additional filing fees will increase General Fund revenue by minor amounts. Fiscal Detail and Notes The bill includes General Fund appropriations to the Office of the Attorney General of $6,500 beginning in fiscal year
2025-26 to provide expense reimbursement for members and to support the work of the Maine Abandoned and Discontinued Roads Commission. LR2549(01) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1

Statutes affected:
Bill Text LD 1985, HP 1332: 23.3105, 29-A.2395