This page contains only matters that came before the 131st Legislature. To see other archived sessions, return to the Testimony Archive Index. For testimony regarding matters before the current legislature, go to the main testimony page.
KEY:
= top priority bill
Money in Politics & Ethics Testimony
2023-2024 TESTIMONY
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Official Bill Title: An Act to Require Campaign Finance Reports for State and County Candidates Other than Governor to Be Filed on the 42nd Day Before Any Election
Summary: Changes the law to have reports due for any election instead of just a general election.
Our position: Supports
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee: Divided Report
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Official Bill Title: An Act to Provide for the Ethical Election of Constitutional Officers by Restricting Certain Campaign Contributions
Summary: Constitutional officers may only make campaign contributions to candidates within the district they are eligible to vote in.
Our position: Neither for nor against
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Official Bill Title: An Act to Amend the Laws Governing Political Action Committees Relating to Union, Business and Nonprofit Organizations
Summary:
Update: This bill repealed our corporate contribution ban from 2021 but required the Ethics Commission to develop similar legislation and submit a report by Feb. 2024. The new year is here, and the Ethics Commission will present their new bill in a legislative meeting on Friday, January 12 in VLA. We'll watchdog the process, and we’ll work to ensure that a corporate contribution ban 2.0 passes in the Legislature.
Bill reverses the inability of PACs, ballot question committees, and party committees, to contribute funds they have received from a profit or nonprofit business entity to candidates or leadership PACs. This hollows out a bill that MCCE worked to pass in the 130th Session, LD 1417, which bans corporate contributions.
Our position: Oppose
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee: Killed in Committee. RIP.
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Official Bill Title: An Act to Prohibit Government Contracting Organizations from Influencing Elections
Summary: Requires that every state contract over $500,000 must prohibit the contracting party from contributing to candidates, PACs, political party, or political tax-exempt organizations for the duration of the contract, plus two years.
Our position: Support
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House: Dies
Last Action in Senate
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Official Bill Title:An Act to Require Disclosure for Communications Paid for Using Maine Clean Election Act Funding
Summary:MCEA candidate disclaimers. Bill requires a disclaimer on communications that the communication was authorized by the candidate and funded by Maine Clean Election Act public funds.
Our position: Oppose
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House Last Action in Senate Last Governor Action Signed into Law
Official Bill Title:An Act to Prohibit Persons Who Donate to a Governor's Transition Committee and Inaugural Committee from Registering as Lobbyists
Summary:Prohibits a person who was part of Governor's transition or inauguration committees to register or engage in lobbyist activity.
Our position: Neither For Nor Against
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee: Killed in Committee. RIP.
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Official Bill Title: An Act to Make Changes to the Distribution Amounts to Certain Maine Clean Election Act Candidates in Contested Elections
Summary: Bill lowers revenue to MCEA candidates for contested from $15,000 to $8,200 for state House and $60,000 to $32,000 for state Senate elections.
Our position: Oppose
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Official Bill Title: An Act to Limit the Requirements Regarding Leadership Political Action Committees and to Promote Clean Election Transparency
Summary: Bill provides that PACs that address principles, instead of candidates, are not required to form a leadership PAC and requires MCEA candidates to file a report to the Ethics commission listing all qualifying contribution and identifying information on each person who made a qualifying contribution.
Our position: Oppose
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Official Bill Title: An Act to Increase Transparency in Municipal Ballot Referenda Expenditures
Summary: Requires ballot question committees in towns with 15,000 or less residents, spending more than $5,000, to comply with same rules as larger municipalities.
Our position: Support
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House: Dies
Last Action in Senate
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Official Bill Title: An Act to Fund Adult Intellectual Disability and Autism Spectrum Disorder Services by Eliminating Certain Tax Funding from the Maine Clean Election Fund
Summary:Eliminates $3,000,000 state funding for Clean Elections and instead use the funds to eliminate the waiting list for services for adults with intellectual disabilities or autism spectrum disorder.
Our position: Oppose
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee:
Last Action in House: Dies
Last Action in Senate
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Official Bill Title: An Act to Require Disclosure of Campaign Funding Sources
Summary:Requires notification to $10,000+ donors to PACS, party and ballot question committees that funds may influence a Maine campaign. Bill also includes new reporting requirements and penalties, including sources of contributions and information on top 3 contributors.
Our position: Support
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate: Sent to the ballot during the November 2023 election. This referendum was approved by Maine voters.
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Official Bill Title: An Act to Prohibit Campaign Spending by Foreign Governments and Promote an Anticorruption Amendment to the United States Constitution
Summary:This bill will stop foreign government spending in Maine elections. It also calls on Maine's congressional delegation to work for a constitutional amendment that would overturn Citizens United, the Supreme Court ruling that allows unrestricted spending by corporations on political campaigns.
Our position: Support
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Official Bill Title: An Act to Improve Disclosure of Lobbyist Activities
Summary:Requires lobbyists to file reports to Ethics Commission: 1) within 48 hours of entering into a lobbying agreement, 2) every Friday report on legislative activity, 3) every Friday state agency activity
Our position: Neither for nor against
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate: Dies
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Official Bill Title: An Act to Eliminate Private Contributions to the Maine Clean Election Fund
Summary:Eliminates all private funding of Maine Clean Election Fund including, seed money, qualifying contributions, tax checkoff program, and voluntary contributions.
Our position: Oppose
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Official Bill Title: An Act to Clarify Required Political Committees 24-hour Reports
Summary:This bill amends the 24-hour reporting requirements by: 1. Eliminating that requirement for political action committees in the State, state party committees and municipal, district and county party committees; and 2. Changing from $1,000 to $5,000 the amount of expenditures required to be reported by ballot question committees in the State. The bill also increases to $25,000 the aggregate amount that a party committee, a ballot question committee, a leadership political action committee, a separate segregated fund committee, a caucus political action committee and any other political action committee can contribute to a candidate in support of the candidacy of one person.
Our position: Oppose
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Official Bill Title: An Act to Allow Candidates for County Office to Participate in the Maine Clean Election Act
Summary:Expands clean elections to include candidates running for District Attorney offices.
Our position: Support
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate: Dies
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Official Bill Title: JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING SEPARATE APPLICATIONS TO THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES CALLING CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS TO CONSIDER REPRESENTATIONAL INTEGRITY AND PROPOSE AMENDMENTS ESTABLISHING TERM LIMITS FOR CONGRESS AND ADDRESSING CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM
Summary:This is a joint resolution that could trigger two Article V Conventions to amend the U.S. Constitution, where one seeks to establish term limits for Congress and the other addresses money in politics and overturns the disastrous Citizens United decision. Since 1991, the League has opposed term limits. We 100% stick up for meaningful campaign finance reform, but an Article V convention isn’t a good way to fix Citizens United. Overall, we opposed SP 705 in our testimony, with strong concerns that the conventions may not be fair and representative of the people; they could make their own rules and set their own agendas.
Our position: Oppose
Elections & Voting Testimony
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee: Killed in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Official Bill Title: An Act to Provide Postage Prepaid Return Envelopes to Voters Who Send Absentee Ballots by Mail
Summary: This bill would require the Secretary of State to provide prepaid postage on the return envelopes for absentee ballots for U.S. mailings only, not overseas. We appreciate the public spirit of this bill, but we’re researching some logistical complexities.
Our position: Neither For Nor Against
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate: Dies
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Official Bill Title: An Act to Require a Person to Show Photographic Identification for the Purpose of Voting
Summary: This bill would require voters to show photo ID at the polls on Election Day. The League always opposes these bills. They disproportionately disenfranchise BIPOC, elderly, disabled, and poor voters.
Our position: Oppose
Featured News:
Debate over voter ID returns to Augusta | Feb. 6, 2023
Maine Public | Kevin Miller
This bill was staunchly opposed by Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows as well as the ACLU of Maine, Disability Rights Maine, the Maine Women’s Lobby, the Maine Transgender Network, Maine Conservation Voters and the League of Women Voters of Maine. | Read more here.
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate: Dies
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Official Bill Title: An Act to Ensure Efficiency in Petitions Reviewed by the Secretary of State by Clarifying Deadlines Related to Those Petitions
Summary: This bill would require the Secretary of State to determine the validity of certain petitions within 30 business days from the deadline submission, rather than from the drop-off.
Our position: Neither For Nor Against
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate: Dies
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Official Bill Title: An Act to Require a Registered Voter to Update the Registration
Summary: This bill would require voters to renew their voter registration every four years. We have some new measures in place (Automatic Voter Registration and membership in ERIC, the national voter registration database) that are much better solutions for keeping the voter rolls current.
Our position: Oppose
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee: Killed in Committee. RIP.
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Official Bill Title: An Act to Prevent a Conflict of Interest in State Elections by Requiring the Secretary of State to Resign Before Running for Elected Office
Summary: Requires the Secretary of State to resign if running for office
Our position: Support
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Official Bill Title: An Act to Increase Availability of Election Information on Local Government Websites
Summary: Not every town has a website, and some towns that do have websites fail to post timely or accurate info ahead of an election. This bill would beef up the website infrastructure for municipalities and counties and would be hosted through the Secretary of State's website.
Our position: Support
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House: Dies
Last Action in Senate
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Official Bill Title: An Act to Eliminate the Limits on Candidates' Speech at the Polls
Summary: Removes the restrictions on candidates' speech while engaging with voters at a voting place. As it stands now, candidates can talk to voters at a polling place, but they can't use any language that may try to sway the voter or ask for their vote. However, this bill would upset the balance between First Amendment rights and voter intimidation.
Our position: Oppose
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee: Killed in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Official Bill Title: An Act Regarding the Residence of Incarcerated Persons for Voting Purposes
Summary: Bill allows incarcerated voters to register in the municipality they are incarcerated in, if the voter has been incarcerated in that municipality for at least 6 months.
Our position: Support
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House: Dies
Last Action in Senate
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Official Bill Title: An Act to Authorize State Political Parties to Opt Out of Ranked-choice Voting for Primary Elections. From a practical standpoint, it’s better for voters and for election officials that primary elections be conducted on a consistent basis year after year.
Summary: Primary Ranked Choice Voting Opt-out for parties, if made by a vote at party convention and incorporated into the party rules.
Our position: Oppose
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee: Killed in Committee. RIP.
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Official Bill Title: An Act to Assist Clerks in Facilitating Elections and to Improve Access to In-person Absentee Voting for Working People by Increasing Time for Absentee Ballot Processing and In-person Voting
Summary: This bill would improve the accessibility of in-person absentee voting. It would expand Clerk's office hours to include Saturdays and Sundays for town populations 7,000+ and increase the absentee ballot processing time from 7-14 days, so that Clerks have more time to facilitate elections. We plan to testify in support – with some suggestions.
Our position: Support
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Official Bill Title: An Act to Allow Clerks to Issue Absentee Ballots After the 3rd Business Day Before Election Day to Voters Who Have a Nonphysical Disability and Voters Who Support a Person with a Disability
Summary: Bill expands absentee ballots after the 3rd business day before election day to voters who have non physical disabilities and people who support people with any disability.
Our position: Support
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee: Killed in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Official Bill Title: RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine to Specify the Qualifications of Electors
Summary: Constitutional Amendment to allow only U.S. citizens the right to vote in state, county, municipal or other local elections.
Our position: Neither For Nor Against
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate: Dies
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Official Bill Title: An Act to Reinstate Plurality Voting by Repealing the Ranked-choice Voting Laws
Summary: Bad bill alert! If enacted, it would repeal RCV. We oppose this bill. The bill received a flood of testimony in advance of the public hearing, and we're crossing our fingers that it dies during the work session.
Our position: Oppose
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee: Killed in Committee. RIP.
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Official Bill Title: An Act to Prohibit the Use of Ballot Drop Boxes
Summary: This unnecessary restriction would prevent people from returning their absentee ballots via a drop box. Drop boxes are secure and convenient and have been enormously popular with Maine voters.
Our position: Oppose
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee: Killed in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Official Bill Title: An Act to Provide Postage Prepaid Return Envelopes to Voters Who Send Absentee Ballots by Mail
Summary: RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine to Create Consistent Election Dates for Citizen-initiated Referenda in Even-numbered Election Years
Our position: Oppose
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate: Dies
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Official Bill Title: An Act to Make General Election Day a State Holiday and to Allow Certain Employees an Opportunity to Vote
Summary: Designates a State Election Day Holiday and requires employers allow 3 consecutive hours off to vote, if normal scheduled hours don't allow that, than paid time off to allow 3 hours to vote Also requiresemplouers to post 3 weeks before.an election.
Our position: Support
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate: Dies
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Official Bill Title: An Act to Improve the Security of Voting Places
Summary: Restricts dangerous weapons at polling places, except for on duty police and weapons in motor vehicles.
Our position: Support
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Official Bill Title: An Act to Improve the State's Election Laws by Amending the Laws Relating to Automatic Voter Registration
Summary: Amends "incoming voting list" law to remove requirement to be printed, changes dealing for source agency voter registration applications to 7 days, effective 1/11/2023.
Our position: Support
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House: Dies
Last Action in Senate
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Official Bill Title: An Act to Improve the Local Referendum Process by Increasing the Percentage of the Population Required to Submit a Local Referendum Question
Summary: Increases the needed signatures for a municipal written petition from 10% to 25% of votes cast for last governor election for that municipality.
Our position: Oppose
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate: Dies
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Official Bill Title: An Act to Require Photograph Identification for Voting
Summary: Bill requires photo ID if voting in person on election day or by absentee ballot. Student ID is not acceptable. SOS must provide free voter ID.
Our position: Oppose
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate: Carried over
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Official Bill Title: RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine Establishing That All Maine Residents Have Equal Rights Under the Law
Summary: Constitutional amendment to prohibit the denial of equal rights based on the actual or perceived race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, physical or mental disability, ancestry or national origin of an individual.
Our position: Supports
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate: Dies
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Official Bill Title: RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine to Increase the Percentage of the Population Required to Submit a State Referendum Question
Summary: Constitutional amendment to increase needed signatures for direct initiatives and people's veto from 10% to 25% of votes cast for last governor election.
Our position: Oppose
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate: Dies
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Official Bill Title: An Act to Strengthen Maine's Elections by Requiring Video Monitoring of Drop Boxes and Amending the Laws Regarding Voter Rolls and Absentee Voting Envelopes
Summary:Provides for: 1) Registrar to cancel a voter's registration if determined voter moved from the municipality, 2) cancel a voter's registration if determined the voter is deceased, 3) Prohibits any party designation on outside return EPS of absentee ballots, 4) Requires periodic monitoring and recorded camera surveillance of drop boxes during absentee voting period and retention of tapes for 1 year.
Our position: Oppose
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate: Dies
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Official Bill Title: An Act to Provide Consistency of Process for Maine's Electoral Votes by Prohibiting Enactment of the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact
Summary: Prohibits enacting the National Popular Vote as long as Ranked Choice Voting is used in any election in the state.
Our position: Oppose
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate
Last Governor Action: Becomes law without the Governor's signature
Signed into Law
This bill has been carried over into the second half of the session in 2024.
Official Bill Title: An Act to Adopt an Interstate Compact to Elect the President of the United States by National Popular Vote
Summary: This bill would add Maine to the NPV Interstate Compact. NPV becomes effective when states representing 270 Electoral College votes sign on to the agreement.
Our position: Support
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate: Dies
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Official Bill Title: An Act to Provide for Voters Expressing Preferences in Ranked-choice Voting
Summary: Amends ranked choice voting law to read "preferences" instead of "votes" for voters' rankings.
Our position: Support
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Official Bill Title: An Act Regarding Ongoing Absentee Voting and Tracking of Absentee Ballots
Summary: This bill would establish ongoing absentee voting, where a voter can sign up to be automatically sent an absentee ballot for eligible elections, for all Mainers. An ongoing absentee mailing list will increase access to the ballot, especially for voters in rural areas, voters with disabilities, and others who struggle to access polling places. It will also increase participation in local and special elections.
Our position: Support
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Official Bill Title: An Act Regarding Incarcerated Individuals and Legislative Apportionment
Summary: Prison gerrymandering is the practice of counting incarcerated individuals as part of the district where they're detained — and not by their home address, which is where they lived before and where they vote. This distorts legislative apportionment, beefing up the numbers in the prison district, and under-representing their home community. Redistricting (or apportionment) occurs after the Census count takes place every 10 years. For Census purposes, people are counted where they reside on Census Day, but this doesn’t work for redistricting, resulting in what some people call prison gerrymandering — it leads to false representations of district size. This bill puts an end to that. Districts should represent the actual communities that people call home.
Our position: Support
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee: Killed in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Official Bill Title: An Act Regarding Gubernatorial Primary Elections
Summary: This bill would alter primary elections for governor to be nonpartisan and require top-two Ranked Choice Voting (RCV), where the top two candidates with the most votes advance to the general election. We had reservations. All of us would love to avoid the spoiler effect, but we testified that we think there’s a better way.
Our position: Oppose
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee:
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Official Bill Title: An Act to Make Supplemental Appropriations and Allocations for the Expenditures of State Government, General Fund and Other Funds and to Change Certain Provisions of the Law Necessary to the Proper Operations of State Government for the Fiscal Years Ending June 30, 2024 and June 30, 2025
Summary: This bill is to provide funding for bills passed by the legislature that await final action on the Special Appropriations Table. We support the additional positions for the Secretary of State included in the supplemental budget, and to include funding for LD 577, An Act to Increase Availability of Election Information on Local Government Websites.
Our position: Support
Racial Justice Testimony
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law: Constitutional Law
Official Bill Title: RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to Article X of the Constitution of Maine Regarding the Publication of Maine Indian Treaty Obligations
Summary: Constitutional Amendment to require text pertaining to Maine Indian treaty obligations be included in any printing of the Constitution.
Our position: Support
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Official Bill Title: An Act to Address Legislative Salaries
Summary: Beginning in the 132nd session, legislator's salary increasing to $25,000 (current $10,815) in the first session and $20,000 (current $7,725) in the second session.
Our position: Support
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate: Dies
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Official Bill Title:An Act to Eliminate Critical Race Theory, Social and Emotional Learning and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion from School Curricula
Summary: Prohibits, in any curriculum, study of Critical Race Theory, social and emotional learning and diversity, and equity and inclusion.
Our position: Oppose
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Official Bill Title:An Act to Strengthen the Teaching of Wabanaki Studies in Maine Schools
Summary: This bill will ensure the inclusion of Wabanaki studies in Maine curricula. Pieces of this bill were wrapped up into LD 2001.
Our position: Support
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Official Bill Title:An Act to Amend the State's Data Governance Program
Summary: Legislators need to know how a bill will impact historically disadvantaged racial populations. LD 1948 creates additional resources so that legislators have the data and information they need to make decisions on whether or not a bill will indirectly harm certain racial populations.
Our position: Supports
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate: Placed on the Appropriations Table
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Official Bill Title: An Act to Advance Self-determination for Wabanaki Nations
Summary: This bill has been reworked to include pieces from LD 1642. This bill will establish an advisory council, provide professional development opportunities, and include resources to educators so that they can develop appropriate curricula for Maine schools.
Our position: Supports
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House: Dies
Last Action in Senate
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Official Bill Title: An Act to Restore Access to Federal Laws Beneficial to the Wabanaki Nations
Summary:This bill would allow Wabanaki peoples to benefit from future federal legislation for tribes. Unlike every other federally recognized tribe in the United States, Wabanaki tribes are currently excluded from such legislation unless they are explicitly written into it. LD 2004 would rectify this unequal treatment by changing a provision of the 1980 Settlement Act.
Our position: Supports
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Official Bill Title: An Act to Advance Self-determination for Wabanaki Nations
Summary: This bill has been pared down from full tribal sovereignty to just several crucial rights. The bill's amendment does three things: 1) It makes specific changes to the criminal jurisdiction provisions of the 1980 Maine Implementing Act and the Mi’kmaq Nation Restoration Act, 2) It recognizes the exclusive authority of the Penobscot Nation to regulate drinking water, and 3) It provides the Penobscot Nation with additional time to consider whether the tribe approves of provisions in an existing state law pertaining to criminal jurisdiction.
Our position: Supports
Data Privacy Testimony
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate: Dies
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Official Bill Title: An Act to Protect Personal Health Data
Summary: This bill establishes consumer rights with regard to consumer health data and defines obligations of regulated entities that collect, use and share consumer health data. The bill prohibits selling consumer health data and implementing a geofence around certain health care entities. The bill provides a private right of action for a consumer against a regulated entity for a violation of the provisions as well as civil penalties and enforcement by the Attorney General. The bill also makes violations enforceable under the Maine Unfair Trade Practices Act. The bill's requirements do not apply to government agencies and healthcare information subject to federal and state law related to confidentiality of healthcare information.
Our position: Support
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate: Dies
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Official Bill Title: An Act to Create the Data Privacy and Protection Act
Summary: This bill enacts the Data Privacy and Protection Act, which: 1. Governs the collection, processing and transfer of certain personal data, including imposing requirements for consent to use the data, the use of personal data in targeted advertising and the use of the personal data of minors; 2. Requires policies, practices and procedures for data privacy; and 3. Prohibits retaliation for the exercise of a right relating to personal data and prohibits discriminatory practices in the collection, processing or transfer of personal data.
Our position: Support
Gun Safety Testimony
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate
Last Governor Action: Vetoed by the Governor
Signed into Law
Official Bill Title: An Act to Amend the Law Governing the Disposition of Forfeited Firearms
Summary:This bill's amendment bans the sale of bump stocks and other devices that increase the rate of fire of semi-automatic guns to the rate of fire of machine guns. The bill does not include banning assault weapons.
Our position: Support
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Official Bill Title: An Act to Strengthen Public Safety by Improving Maine's Firearm Laws and Mental Health System
Summary:This is the Governor's bill that includes an expansion of background checks for gun sales, strengthens Maine's yellow-flag laws, and establishes an Injury and Violence Prevention Program at the Maine CDC.
Our position: Support
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Official Bill Title: An Act to Strengthen Public Safety, Health and Well-being by Expanding Services and Coordinating Violence Prevention Resources
Summary:Strengthening public safety by expanding resources for those experiencing a mental health crisis and establishing an Office of Violence Prevention to promote effective means to reduce gun violence.
Our position: Support
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law: Goes into law without the Governor's signature
Official Bill Title: An Act to Address Gun Violence in Maine by Requiring a Waiting Period for Certain Firearm Purchases
Summary:Those who purchase a new firearm have to wait 72 hours before they can receive it.
Our position: Support
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House: Dies before receiving a vote
Last Action in Senate
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Official Bill Title: An Act to Enact the Crisis Intervention Order Act to Protect the Safety of the Public
Summary:This bill enacts the Crisis Intervention Order Act. It would permit family members to seek a court order to remove firearms if another family member is a risk to themselves or others. Twenty-one states, including Florida, Indiana, Colorado, Michigan, and other states with strong traditions of gun ownership, have ERPO laws.
Our position: Support