Maine committee hears industry split over bill to curb overlapping agricultural fair dates

Representative Christina Mitchell introduced LD 2096 as a response to conflicts over fair scheduling last season, saying ‘‘The intent of this bill, 2 0 9 6, is to address the concerns that arose with the fair dates last season between 2 fairs.’’ The bill would give the Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) authority to suspend or revoke licenses for licensees that operate outside approved licensed fair dates and would tie stipend eligibility to activities occurring within licensed dates.

The department’s director of agricultural resource development, Michelle Webb, testified neither for nor against the bill but urged several clarifying changes. Webb said Title 7 chapter 4 already directs DACF on fair licensing and recommended aligning definitions with department rules, substituting the term ‘‘exhibition’’ for ‘‘event’’ to avoid confusion, and reconsidering proposed changes to section 97 covering pulling competitions. Webb also noted that the department had not yet decided how long a suspension or revocation should last and that licensing currently runs on a four‑year cycle.

Supporters representing Cumberland Farmers Club argued the bill (as amended) would give the department needed enforcement tools. Elizabeth Tarantino, secretary of the Cumberland Farmers Club, said the Cumberland County Fair suffered ‘‘negative impacts in 2025 by the opening of another fair outside of licensed agricultural fair dates’’ and backed the sponsor’s amendment.

Opposition came from a wide swath of Maine’s smaller fair organizers and associations. Barry W. Norris of the Maine Association of Agricultural Fairs said 24 of the association’s fair representatives voted unanimously at their annual meeting ‘‘not to support this bill as written’’ and noted that the amendment arrived late. David Hastings of the West Oxford Agricultural Society said the measure ‘‘is proposed solely by 1 fair’’ and warned the changes would establish licensing requirements ‘‘which has never been the law in Maine’’ and could penalize small fairs that rely on stipend funding. Several speakers raised particular concern that tighter definitions or a required minimum number of competition days would exclude long‑standing small fairs and harm volunteer‑run community events.

Committee members asked DACF to clarify sanction timeframes and whether a violation would remove stipend eligibility for a single year or for the length of a four‑year license; Webb said that question should be addressed in rulemaking or at the work session. Multiple fair representatives and the department offered to participate in a work session to refine language.

The committee closed the public hearing on LD 2096 and will take the measure into a work session where the sponsor and department are expected to negotiate draft language and timing for enforcement provisions.