LD 1241 Maine House · 132nd Legislature (2025-2026)

An Act To Establish The Make Change For Wildlife Program To Support The Maine Endangered And Nongame Wildlife Fund

This bill replaces Maine's old "WE CARE" program with the new "Make Change for Wildlife" program. It allows businesses to collect voluntary customer contributions at checkout (up to $10,000 annually per business) and deduct those amounts from their corporate income tax for tax years starting January 1, 2026. All funds collected through this program must be deposited into the Maine Endangered and Nongame Wildlife Fund. The program directly affects businesses that participate in collecting contributions and the wildlife fund, which supports conservation efforts for non-game and endangered species in Maine.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2025
Committee Review
Jun 2025
House Passage
Jun 2025
Senate Passage
Jun 2025
Signed into Law
Jun 2025
Introduced Mar 25, 2025 Signed Jun 12, 2025
Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
20
Key actions
6
Committee
5
Jun 12, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by Governor
executive
Jun 9, 2025
Upper · Passed
PASSED TO BE ENACTED, in concurrence.
upper
Jun 9, 2025
Lower · Passed
PASSED TO BE ENACTED.
lower
Jun 5, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee Amendment "A" (H-480) READ and ADOPTED, in concurrence.
upper
Jun 4, 2025
Legislature · Passed
Reported Out - OTP-AM
legislature
Mar 25, 2025
Committee
The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on INLAND FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE in concurrence
upper
Mar 25, 2025
Committee
The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on INLAND FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE.
lower
Mar 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife suggested and ordered printed.
lower
1 primary · 8 co-sponsors

Sponsors