BILL TRACKING
State Legislation Tracker
The table found below summarizes the Firearms Related Bills in the 131st Legislature. Bills marked RED are anti-gun. Bills marked GREEN are pro-gun. Bills marked YELLOW may not be directly related to gun rights, but could be of interest to gun owners.
For More Detailed Updates on Legislation that was brought forward from 2023,
or legislation that was submitted in 2024, please see the recent updates on our homepage.
Legislative Summary for 131st
The following is a summation of the activity of the 131st Legislature (as of January 27, 2024) that has taken place in Augusta regarding a host of gun bills, both good and bad. Gun Owners of Maine would like to thank all the people who worked to defeat the gun control bills as well as those who supported the pro-gun bills.
LD 22 An Act to Impede the Transfer of Firearms to Prohibited Persons
Status= Passed and Signed into Law as Amended. Passed both House and Senate, amended by the Senate to exclude antique and muzzle loader firearms and sent back to the House for concurrence. The amendment also clarifies that the seller has to know or has reason to believe that the buyer is a prohibited person for the law to apply. In addition, the penalty is changed to a civil violation for the first offense.
LD 52 (HP 27) An Act to Allow Certain School Employees to Carry Firearms on School Property
Status= Dead. Failed both in the House and Senate.
LD 60 An Act to Require a 72-hour Waiting Period After the Sale of a Firearm
Status= Dead. Passed the House but failed in the Senate. BROUGHT BACK AS LD 2238
LD 168 An Act Regarding Criminal Background Checks for the Sale, Transfer or Exchange of Firearms
Status= Dead Voted in House last minute - Passed House, failed in Senate. (Dead)
LD 271 An Act Requiring the University of Maine System and the Maine Community College System to Offer a For-credit Course on Hunting, Fishing, Recreational Shooting and Trapping
Status= Dead. No action was taken by the committee and the LD was placed in Legislative Files.
LD 551 An Act to Strengthen Maine Citizens' Second Amendment Rights by Allowing the Discharge of Firearms on Private Property That Is Within 500 Feet of School Property in Certain Circumstances
Status=Dead Passed the Senate as amended but failed to pass in the House.
LD 582 An Act to Enhance Certain Penalties for Possession of Firearms by Prohibited Persons
Status=Passed as Amended, Became law without the Governor's Signature
LD 624 An Act to Prohibit Government Officials from Maintaining Records Related to Firearms Owners
Status=Dead Passed by the Senate but failed in the House.
LD 629 An Act To Improve, Protect And Defend The Individual Civil Right To Bear Arms Through Exemption Of Firearms And Ammunition From Taxation
Status=Active, Carried over No committee vote has yet occurred
LD 674 Bail Commissioners to Carry Firearms in Correctional Facilities and Jails
Status=Dead Passed by the House, failed in the Senate.
LD 943 An Act to Enhance Privacy and Prohibit Shipping Companies from Maintaining Records of Firearm and Ammunition Shipments
Status=Dead Failed in both the House and the Senate.
LD 1000 Resolve, to Convene a Firearm Range Safety Working Group
Within the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
Status=Dead Failed in both the House and the Senate.
LD 1011 An Act Requiring the Reporting of Stolen Firearms
Status=Dead Failed in both House and Senate
LD 1103 An Act to Allow Persons Who Lawfully Use or Possess Cannabis to Own or Possess Firearms or Ammunition
Status=Passed Passed by the House and Senate as amended, became Law without the Governor's signature. However, the use/possession of Cannabis and the owning/possession of firearms is still a federal offense.
LD 1072 An Act Regarding the Bureau of Motor Vehicles
Status=Passed The part of this bill which would have prohibited the carrying of firearms in DMV offices was removed by an amendment. The bill was then passed by both the House and Senate and signed by the Governor. GOME no longer considers this bill to be a concern for gun owners.
LD 1340 An Act to Prohibit the Sale or Possession of Rapid-fire Modification Devices
Status=Dead The bill passed in the House but then failed in the Senate.
LD 1451 An Act to Prohibit State and Local Enforcement of Federal
Firearms Laws
Status=Dead Failed in the House and Senate
LD 1561 An Act to Restore Firearm Rights and Hunting Privileges to Persons Previously Convicted of Certain Nonviolent Felony Crimes
Status=Carried over Came out of committee with a divided report, Majority Ought to Pass as amended, carried over.
LD 1696 An Act to Create a Civil Cause of Action for Persons Suffering
Damages Arising from the Sale of Abnormally Dangerous Firearms
SUBMITTING TESTIMONY & TESTIFYING ONLINE
Once bills are scheduled for public hearings, you can sign up to testify live: https://www.mainelegislature.org/testimony/. At this link, you can submit written testimony and/or sign up to testify. If you sign up to testify, you will receive an email to register for the Zoom webinar. Once you register, you’ll receive another email with a Zoom link to join the hearing. You must sign up at least 30 minutes before the hearing.
When you join the hearing online, you will be a participant—able to see and hear the committee, but they will not see or hear you. When it’s your turn to testify, you will be switched to a panelist, enabling the committee members to see and hear you. If a lot of people are signed up to testify, you will probably be limited to three minutes. After completing your testimony you will be switched back to a participant. At that point, if you wish to log off, you should have the option of watching the remainder of the hearing on the committee’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/MaineStateLegislature/channels.
To testify in this manner, you will need a device equipped with a camera and microphone (laptop, tablet, webcam, cell phone, etc.) and an Internet connection.
To check on a bill’s committee status, click on SUMMARY & STATUS below, then click on “Status in Committee”.
| LD/Bill | Sponsor | Title / Status |
| LD 22 |
SPONSOR: Senator CARNEY of Cumberland COSPONSOR(S): Representative SHEEHAN of Biddeford and |
TITLE: An Act to Impede the Transfer of Firearms to Prohibited Persons SUMMARY & STATUS: https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=22&snum=131 |
| LD 52 |
SPONSOR:
Representative FOSTER of Dexter COSPONSOR(S): Senator HARRINGTON of York and |
TITLE: An Act to Allow Certain School Employees to Carry Firearms on School Property SUMMARY & STATUS: http://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=52&snum=131 |
| LD 60 |
SPONSOR: Representative CRAVEN of Lewiston COSPONSOR(S): Representatives: ARFORD of Brunswick, CRAFTS of Newcastle, DODGE of |
TITLE: An Act to Require a 72-hour Waiting Period After the Sale of a Firearm
SUMMARY & STATUS: https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=60&snum=131 |
| LD 168 |
SPONSOR: Rep. TALBOT ROSS, Rachel of Portland COSPONSOR(S): Representative: SALISBURY of Westbrook |
TITLE: An Act Regarding Criminal Background Checks for the Sale, Transfer or Exchange of Firearms SUMMARY & STATUS: https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=168&snum=131 |
| LD 271 |
SPONSOR:
Senator POULIOT of Kennebec COSPONSOR(S): Representitive SAMPSON of Alfred and |
TITLE: An Act Requiring the University of Maine System and the Maine Community College System to Offer a For-credit Course on Hunting, Fishing, Recreational Shooting and Trapping SUMMARY & STATUS: https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=271&snum=131 |
| LD 551 |
SPONSOR:
Representative MORRIS of Turner COSPONSOR(S): Senator BRAKEY of Androscoggin and |
TITLE:
An Act to Strengthen Maine Citizens' Second Amendment Rights by Allowing the Discharge of Firearms on Private Property That Is Within 500 Feet of School Property in Certain Circumstances. SUMMARY & STATUS: https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=551&snum=131 |
| LD 582 |
SPONSOR:
Senator LYFORD of Penobscot COSPONSOR(S): Representative CAMPBELL of Orrington and |
TITLE: An Act to Enhance Certain Penalties for Possession of Firearms by Prohibited Persons SUMMARY & STATUS: https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=582&snum=131 |
| LD 624 |
SPONSOR:
Representative ARDELL of Monticello COSPONSOR(S): Senator STEWART of Aroostook andRepresentatives: BABIN of Fort Fairfield, BLIER of Buxton, BOYER of Poland, HENDERSON of Rumford, MORRIS of Turner, PERKINS of Dover-Foxcroft, WHITE of Guilford |
TITLE: An Act to Prohibit Government Officials from Maintaining Records Related to Firearms Owners
SUMMARY & STATUS: https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=624&snum=131 |
| LD 629 |
SPONSOR:
Representative ARDELL of Monticello COSPONSOR(S): Senator STEWART of Aroostook andRepresentatives: BABIN of Fort Fairfield, BLIER of Buxton, BOYER of Poland, CYRWAY of Albion, HENDERSON of Rumford, PERKINS of Dover-Foxcroft, WHITE of Guilford |
TITLE:
An Act To Improve, Protect And Defend The Individual Civil Right To Bear Arms Through Exemption Of Firearms And Ammunition From Taxation SUMMARY & STATUS: https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=629&snum=131 |
| LD 674 |
SPONSOR:
Representative LAJOIE of Lewiston COSPONSOR(S): Representatives: BRIDGEO of Augusta, LANDRY of Farmington, LEE of |
Title: An Act to Allow Bail Commissioners to Carry Firearms in Correctional Facilities and Jails SUMMARY & STATUS: https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=674&snum=131 |
| LD 943 |
SPONSOR:
Representative ARDELL of Monticello COSPONSOR(S): None. |
Title: An Act to Enhance Privacy and Prohibit Shipping Companies from Maintaining Records of Firearm and Ammunition Shipments
SUMMARY & STATUS: https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=943&snum=131 |
| LD 1000 |
SPONSOR:
Representative ROBERTS of South Berwick COSPONSOR(S): Representatives: CLUCHEY of Bowdoinham, DOUDERA of Camden,MASTRACCIO of Sanford |
Title: Resolve, to Convene a Firearm Range Safety Working Group Within the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife SUMMARY & STATUS: https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=1000&snum=131 |
| LD 1011 |
SPONSOR:
Representative DOUDERA of Camden COSPONSOR(S): Senator CARNEY of Cumberland |
Title: An Act Requiring the Reporting of Stolen Firearms
SUMMARY & STATUS: https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=1011&snum=131 |
| LD 1103 |
SPONSOR:
Representative BOYER of Poland COSPONSOR(S): Representatives: EATON of Deer Isle, FAULKINGHAM of Winter Harbor,HASENFUS of Readfield, LIBBY of Auburn, MATHIESON of Kittery, SUPICA of Bangor, WARREN of Scarborough, Senator: HICKMAN of Kennebec |
Title: An Act to Allow Persons Who Lawfully Use or Possess Cannabis to Own or Possess Firearms or Ammunition
SUMMARY & STATUS: https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=1103&snum=131 |
| LD 1072 |
SPONSOR:
Senator CHIPMAN of Cumberland COSPONSOR(S): Representative WILLIAMS of Bar Harbor and |
Title: An Act Regarding the Bureau of Motor Vehicles
SUMMARY & STATUS: https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=1072&snum=131 NOTE: Sections of this bill will turn DMV offices into Gun Free Zones, Specifically Section 4 - 160 This bill was amended to remove firearms concerns before passage |
| LD 1451 |
SPONSOR(S): Senator BRAKEY of Androscoggin COSPONSOR(S): Representative PERKINS of Dover-Foxcroft and |
Title: An Act to Prohibit State and Local Enforcement of Federal Firearms Laws SUMMARY & STATUS: https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=1451&snum=131 |
| LD 1561 |
SPONSOR(S):
Representative PERKINS of Dover-Foxcroft COSPONSOR(S): Senator HICKMAN of Kennebec and |
Title: An Act to Restore Firearm Rights and Hunting Privileges to Persons Previously Convicted of Certain Nonviolent Felony Crimes
SUMMARY & STATUS: https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=1561&snum=131 |
| LD 1696 |
SPONSOR(S):
Representative MILLETT of Cape Elizabeth COSPONSOR(S): Senator CARNEY of Cumberland and |
Title: An Act to Create a Civil Cause of Action for Persons Suffering Damages Arising from the Sale of Abnormally Dangerous Firearms This would create a "soft ban" on various firearms, as manufacturers might not want to sell into the state if they feel there might be potential litigation. This could potentially include common firearms like handguns and semi-automatic rifles. SUMMARY & STATUS: https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?PID=1456&snum=131&paper=&paperld=l&ld=1696 |
Gun Owners of Maine |
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