03/12/2026
Maine ATV Legislative Update:
Two recent ATV-related bills blasted through the Legislature’s Inland Fisheries & Wildlife Committee recently. Here is a quick update on where things stand.
LD-276 – ATV Registration Process
Original concept:
LD-276 began as a proposal to modernize ATV laws, including replacing the current weight-based standard with a width-based classification system for ATVs.
What happened in committee:
After discussion with agencies, ATV organizations, landowners, and trail managers, the committee chose to focus on a more immediate issue involving the ATV registration process.
Currently, when an ATV is sold, dealers complete a form identifying whether the machine meets Maine’s legal size limits. However, that form remains with the dealer and does not follow the machine through the registration process, leaving town clerks without documentation.
All reference to weight and width was dropped from this bill and it now focuses only on the registration process.
Committee amendment:
The bill was amended to require that the dealer documentation:
-Be provided to the buyer
-Be presented to the town clerk during registration
-Be submitted to the Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife
The goal is to create a clear and consistent registration process that provides better documentation from the point of sale.
Status:
The committee voted Ought to Pass as Amended.
The bill now moves to the House and Senate for consideration.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
LD-350 – ATV Policy Review
Original concept:
LD-350 originally proposed reconvening the 2019 ATV Task Force to review ATV issues.
Committee amendment:
Rather than creating a new task force, the committee amended the bill to use the existing:
Landowners and Land Users Relations Advisory Board (LSRAB)
Resolve:
The board will:
-Review ATV size, weight, and classification issues
-Gather input from riders, clubs, landowners, dealers, and manufacturers
-Provide findings and recommendations to the Legislature
-Report deadline: February 1, 2027.
The Legislature may consider additional policy changes after reviewing the report.
Status:
The committee voted Ought to Pass as Amended.
The bill now moves to the House and Senate.
