Trees in shoreland zones provide a number of important benefits including wildlife habitat, shade, woody debris, and buffers for water quality. In some cases, people who want to enhance their view of a waterbody are willing to pay a fine for illegally cutting down trees in these areas. This bill requires a person who cuts a tree or other vegetation in violation of the law, to replace the tree or vegetation with a plant of similar size and species. In addition, the violator must submit a reforestation plan to the municipality. Timber harvesting is exempted from the requirements.

Votes / Roll Calls:

Date	Desc	Yea	Nay	No Vote	Absent	Total	Passed	Chamber
01/01/2007	Roll Call	10	1	0	0	11	1
Votes	Show Susan M. W. Austin Yea Christopher W. Babbidge Yea Seth A. Berry Yea Richard M. Cebra Yea Margaret M. Craven Yea Philip A. Curtis Nay Donald G. Marean Yea H. Sawin Millett Jr. Yea Ann E. Peoples Yea Anne C. Perry Yea John L. Tuttle Yea