An Act To Cap Publicly Owned Land Area At No More Than 50 Percent Of Any County

LD 183 would limit publicly owned land (including land owned by federal, state, county, or municipal governments) to no more than 50% of any county's total land area in Maine. It requires the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to report biannually starting in 2026 on public land ownership percentages statewide and by county. The bill allows state, county, or municipal governments to exceed the 50% limit only with approval from two-thirds of both legislative chambers. This policy directly affects all counties and government entities managing public lands across Maine.