131st Legislature Bill Tracker
Maine legislators will consider a number of bills during the 131st Legislature that involve issues related to the Wabanaki Nations. Our Bill Tracker has details on many of those bills and actions you can take to stand with the Wabanaki. Many bills we’ll follow haven’t been released yet, so check back often for updates!
Scroll down to see all of the bills added to the tracker so far or use the navigation sections below to jump to new bills in the tracker (☀️), bills with an upcoming public hearing or work session (🎙️) or bills with an upcoming vote (⚠️).
Learn how to submit testimony, contact your legislators, write an LTE and more in our Legislative Toolkit.
Wabanaki citizens and allies rallied at the Maine State House in April 2022.
⚠️ BILLS WITH UPCOMING VOTES
LD 25: An Act to Provide Indigenous Peoples Free Access to State Parks
Sponsor: Sen. Craig V. Hickman, D-Kennebec
The Wabanaki Alliance supports this bill. Read our testimony»
SUMMARY
This bill provides that a member of a federally recognized Indian nation, tribe or band is not required to pay a fee for admission to or use of any state-owned park or historic site managed by the state of Maine. An amendment to the bill proposed in committee also waives camping fees. Read the complete bill text»
⚠️ STATUS: Senate will vote soon
The Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry held a public hearing on Jan. 25. (Read the public testimony.) A work session was held Feb. 1 and the committee voted the bill Ought to Pass as amended. The bill goes to the Senate next for a vote.
TAKE ACTION
» Contact your legislators. Contact your legislators and ask them to vote YES on LD 25. Find your legislators and their contact info here»
LD 78: RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to Article X of the Constitution of Maine Regarding the Publication of Maine Indian Treaty Obligations
Sponsor: House Speaker Rachel Talbot Ross, D-Portland
The Wabanaki Alliance supports this bill. Read our testimony»
SUMMARY
This bill would restore language regarding Maine Indian treaty obligations to all printed copies of the Maine Constitution. In 1876, the state constitution was amended to remove certain sections of Article X from print. Article X incorporates most of the 1819 act that separated Maine from Massachusetts and includes a timeline for starting the new Maine government. Section 5 of the article, one of three affected by the 1876 amendment, clarifies Maine’s obligation to uphold and defend treaties made between Massachusetts and the Passamaquoddy and Penobscot Nations. While the three sections remain in force and can be read online, the 1876 amendment prohibits their inclusion in printed versions of the constitution. LD 78 is an amendment to the state constitution that would require that Section 5 be included in all printed copies of the constitution. Constitutional amendments require passage by two-thirds of each legislative chamber before advancing to the voters for approval. Learn more about the removal of section 5 in this report or watch REDACT, a recording of a Maine Historical Society panel discussion on the topic. Read the complete bill text»
⚠️ STATUS: Legislature will vote soon
The Committee on Judiciary held a public hearing on LD 78 Tuesday, March 7 (read the public testimony). At a March 16 work session, LD 78 was amended to stipulate that all provisions of Article X, not just Section 5, be included in printed version of the constitution. The committee voted that the bill Ought to Pass as Amended. The bill will go to the House next for a vote.
TAKE ACTION
» Contact your legislators. Contact your legislators and ask them to vote YES on LD 78. Find your legislators and their contact info here»
LD 229: An Act to Compensate Tribal Governments for Basic Training for a Law Enforcement Officer Hired by Another Government Agency
Sponsor: Rep. James F. Dill, D-Old Town
The Wabanaki Alliance supports this bill.
SUMMARY
This bill adds tribal governments to an existing state law regarding reimbursement for law enforcement training. That statute stipulates that a government must reimburse training costs whenever it hires a full-time law enforcement officer whose training was paid by another government entity. This requirement only applies within five years of the hired officer’s graduation from a police academy. LD 229 would add tribal governments and full-time law enforcement officers trained at the U.S. Indian Police Academy at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center to the list of governments eligible for reimbursement. Read the complete bill text»
⚠️ STATUS: House will vote soon
The Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety held a public hearing April 20. (Read the public testimony.) A work session was held April 26 and the committee voted unanimously that the bill Ought to Pass.
TAKE ACTION:
» Contact your legislators. Contact your legislators and ask them to vote YES on LD 229. Find your legislators and their contact info here»
🎙️ BILLS WITH PUBLIC HEARINGS OR WORK SESSIONS
LD 1958: An Act to Provide the Mi'kmaq Nation with Sales Tax Revenue for Sales Occurring on Mi'kmaq Nation Territory
Sponsor: Rep. Joseph C. Perry, D-Bangor
The Wabanaki Alliance supports this bill.
SUMMARY
This bill provides the Mi’kmaq Nation with sales tax revenue for sales occurring on Mi’kmaq Nation territory. The legislation is modeled after a similar bill passed last year that provided for sales tax revenue for the Passamaquoddy Tribe, the Penobscot Nation and the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians. Read the complete bill text»
🎙️ STATUS: Public hearing May 24
The Committee on Taxation will hold a public hearing at 10 am Wednesday, May 24 in room 127 of the State House.
TAKE ACTION
» Contact your legislators. If your legislators sit on this committee, contact them and ask them to vote Ought to Pass on LD 1958. Find your legislators and their contact info here»
LD 1642: An Act to Strengthen the Teaching of Wabanaki Studies in Maine Schools
Sponsor: Rep. Laurie Osher, D-Orono
The Wabanaki Alliance supports this bill.
SUMMARY
This bill aims to strengthen the Wabanaki Studies Law, landmark legislation passed in 2001 that requires Maine schools to teach K-12 students about Wabanaki history, culture and economic and government systems, as well as the Wabanaki Nations’ relationships with other governments. A report released on Indigenous Peoples’ Day in 2022 found that many Maine schools have failed to include Wabanaki Studies consistently and appropriately in their curriculum and that the law is not being meaningfully enforced. LD 1642 establishes the Wabanaki Studies Commission to ensure Wabanaki studies are included in education curricula. The bill also provides permanent funding for resources, materials and continuing education for teachers and encourages teachers to acquire Wabanaki studies content knowledge and instructional skills to enhance their ability to teach Wabanaki studies curricula. Read the complete bill text»
STATUS: Public hearing May 25
The Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs will hold a work session on May 25.
TAKE ACTION
»Contact your legislators. If your legislators sit on this committee, contact them and ask them to vote Ought to Pass on LD 1642. Find your legislators and their contact info here»
LD 336: An Act Regarding State Recognition of Native American Tribes
Sponsor: Rep. Jennifer L. Poirier, R-Skowhegan
The Wabanaki Alliance opposes this bill.
SUMMARY
This bill would create a Commission on Native American Affairs, a five-member panel appointed by the governor to review and make recommendations on applications for state recognition of Native American Indian tribes in the state. The ultimate decision whether to confer state recognition would rest with the Legislature. The bill also proposes that state-recognized Native American Indian tribes and their members “remain subject to all of the laws of the state and recognition may not be construed to grant the recognized Native American Indian tribe or its members any right or claim to land or real estate in the state or the right to conduct any gambling activities otherwise prohibited by law.” LD 336 is the latest attempt to bypass the federal recognition process established by the Office of Federal Acknowledgment within the Office of the Assistant Secretary–Indian Affairs. The four Wabanaki Nations believe that this federal process should be the one to determine whether a group merits recognition. Read the complete bill text»
STATUS: Work session May 25
The Committee on Judiciary held a public hearing on March 15. (Read the public testimony.) A work session will be held Thursday, May 25.
TAKE ACTION
» Contact your legislators. If your legislators sit on this committee, contact them and ask them to vote Ought Not to Pass on LD 336. Find your legislators and their contact info here»
LD 1970: An Act to Enact the Maine Indian Child Welfare Act
Sponsor: Sen. Donna Bailey, D-York
The Wabanaki Alliance supports this bill.
SUMMARY
This bill establishes procedures and standards for cases involving Wabanaki children that concern custody proceedings, foster care placements, termination of parental rights and adoptions. The legislation seeks to codify in state law protections currently guaranteed under the 1978 Indian Child Welfare Act, which sought to address the alarmingly high number of American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) children who were forcibly removed from their families by state and private agencies and placed outside their communities. Four cases currently before the U.S. Supreme Court seek to weaken or even overturn the law. Oral arguments on the cases, which were heard together, were held in November 2022 and a decision is expected this year. LD 1970 would preserve and strengthen Penobscot, Passamaquoddy, Mi’kmaq and Maliseet families in Maine by preventing out-of-home placement whenever possible. Its goals are to maintain family ties, reunify families and provide kinship/tribal permanency plans for children who cannot return home. The bill also spells out guidelines to ensure that Wabanaki children in custody are able to access culturally appropriate services that help them grow up safe and healthy. If enacted, Maine will join 12 other states that have codified ICWA protections on the state level. Read the complete bill text»
STATUS: Public hearing May 31
The Committee on Judiciary will hold a public hearing at 9 am Wednesday, May 31 in Room 438 of the State House.
TAKE ACTION
» Contact your legislators. If your legislators sit on this committee, contact them and ask them to vote Ought to Pass on LD 1970. Find your legislators and their contact info here»
OTHER BILLS WE’RE TRACKING
LD 294, An Act to Include a Tribal Member in the Baxter State Park Authority
Sponsor: Rep. Benjamin T. Collings, D-Portland
The Wabanaki Alliance supports this bill. Read our testimony»
SUMMARY
This bill would add a Wabanaki citizen to the Baxter State Park Authority, which has full power in the control and management of Baxter State Park. The nominee would be appointed by the governor based on a joint recommendation by tribal governments of the Mi’kmaq Nation, the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Motahkomikuk, the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Sipayik and the Penobscot Nation.
Read the complete bill text»
STATUS: Tabled
The Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry held a public hearing on Feb. 13. (Read the public testimony.) The bill was tabled during a May 22 work session and no additional meetings have been scheduled.
TAKE ACTION
» Contact your legislators. If your legislators sit on this committee, contact them and ask them to vote Ought to Pass on LD 294. Find your legislators and their contact info here»
LD 1115: An Act Regarding Economic Development Funds for Federally Recognized Indian Tribes
Sponsor: Rep. Benjamin T. Collings, D-Portland
The Wabanaki Alliance supports this bill. Read our testimony»
SUMMARY
This bill requires the Department of Economic and Community Development to allocate 10% of the available economic development funds in the Community Development Block Grant Program, funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, on an equitable basis to federally recognized Indian tribes in Maine. This would dedicate a stable source of revenue to Wabanaki Nations for economic development, benefiting them and the surrounding Maine communities. The legislation also requires the department to work with federally recognized Indian tribes in Maine to develop a plan to ensure those tribes have equitable access to the New Markets Tax Credit Program administered through the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund. Read the complete bill text»
STATUS: Bill voted ought not to pass. No further action this legislative session.
The Committee on Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business held a public hearing March 28. (Read the public testimony.) A work session was held April 14 and the committee voted ought not to pass, ending any consideration of the bill this legislative session.
Legislative Toolkit
Find your legislators
Not sure who your legislators are? Find a list of all your state and federal elected officials HERE. Or visit the Legislature website to find a full list of all Maine Senators and Maine Representatives.
Contact your legislators
Emails and phone calls from constituents are particularly persuasive. Use the link above to find your legislators and their contact info. Call or email them and let them know why you support or oppose a specific piece of legislation. Once you’ve submitted your testimony for a bill (see below), send your legislators a copy!
On the day of a bill vote, call the 1-800 numbers listed below and leave messages with your name and town, your legislators’ names, the bill number you’re calling about, and how you’d like them to vote. Messages are transcribed and delivered to legislators’ desks throughout the day.
Maine House:
1-800-423-2900
Maine Senate:
1-800-423-6900
TTY: Use Maine Relay 711
Submit public testimony
All bills and state agency commissioner nominees are assigned to one of 19 standing joint committees and receive a public hearing. Members of the public can offer testimony in support or opposition to a bill in person or via Zoom during the public hearing or in writing. If you want to testify during the hearing via Zoom, you must register at least 30 minutes before the hearing begins. You do not need to register to testify in person.
To register for Zoom or to submit your testimony in writing, follow these steps:
- Visit the legislative testimony page HERE.
- Select Public hearing
- Select the committee that is hearing the bill
- Select the date and time of the hearing
- Select the appropriate bill number
- To register for Zoom, select “I would like to testify electronically over Zoom.”
- To submit written testimony, upload your file or enter the testimony in the field.
- If you plan to testify in person, you are asked to bring 20 copies of your testimony to distribute to committee members.
You can find committee assignments and public hearing dates and times on the bill’s website. While you can submit testimony at any time and it will be shared with committee members and become part of the public record, only testimony submitted online by midnight on the day of the bill’s public hearing will be included on the bill’s web page.
People with special needs who require accommodations to participate in a hearing should contact the Legislative Information Office as soon as possible by phone (207) 287-1692 or email lio@legislature.maine.gov.
Read our legislative testimony
The Wabanaki Alliance often submits legislative testimony in support of or opposition to bills before the Maine Legislature and the U.S. Congress. Read our testimony on our Legislative Testimony page.
Write a letter to the editor
Once you’ve written your testimony, turn it into a letter to the editor! Find tips on writing letters and a list of newspaper contact info in our LTE Guide.
Legislative Scorecards
See how your legislators ranked on Wabanaki Alliance priority issues during the most recent legislative session in the 130th Maine Legislature Legislative Scorecard.
Other calls to action
Find actions on Wabanaki Alliance priority federal and state legislation and other issues on our Take Action page.