130th MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 188		LR 642(02)
	An Act Regarding the Transportation of Products in the Forest Products Industry
	Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment " "
	Committee: Taxation
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
			FY 2021-22	FY 2022-23	Projections  FY 2023-24	Projections  FY 2024-25
Net Cost (Savings)
	General Fund		$288,000	$399,000	$415,200	$432,210
Appropriations/Allocations
	General Fund		$288,000	$399,000	$415,200	$432,210
Correctional and Judicial Impact Statements
	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 fine and/or fee revenue will increase General Fund and dedicated revenue by minor amounts.
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	The Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry has indicated that the enforcement provisions of this bill will require additional staffing and resources.  The bill includes ongoing General Fund appropriations of $288,000 in fiscal year 2021-22 and $399,000 in fiscal year 2022-23 for three Forest Ranger III positions and associated costs.
	The bill prohibits a landowner who owns 50,000 or more acres of forest land from transporting forest products harvested on the landowner's land from one location in the State to another location in the State in violation of federal law or regulation or international trade agreement.  A landowner who violates this prohibition 3 or more times would have the parcel of land suspended from the Maine Tree Growth Tax Law for 2 years.  If such suspensions occur, Other Special Revenue Funds revenue and municipal revenue will be increased from penalties and increased tax revenue arising from changing the assessment. The bill also restricts landowners who have had land suspended from tree growth because of violating the prohibition discussed above from receiving a property tax exemption under the Business Equipment Tax Exemption program, the Business Equipment Tax Reimbursement program or any other income tax credit provided by the State.  To the extent this occurs, General Fund revenues, Local Government Fund revenues (revenue sharing) and municipal revenue will increase.  No estimate of increased revenue from violations can be made at this time.