L.D. 2007 has been amended and the title changed to “An Act Regarding the Criminal Jurisdiction of Tribal Courts and to Extend the Time for the Penobscot Nation to Certify Its Agreement to Public Law 2023, Chapter 369.” On April 2nd, the bill passed the House of Representatives with bipartisan support, with a vote of 82-62. It heads to the Senate next week!

From the Wabanaki Alliance: "This bill would implement much from the criminal justice recommendations from the 2019 bipartisan Task Force on Changes to the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Implementing Act. In doing so, it would strengthen tribal courts, a crucial and central step in seeing Wabanaki self-determination recognized in the State of Maine. The bill also extends the period for the Penobscot Nation to approve previous changes that would allow the tribe a greater role in the management of its drinking water. [...]

LD 2007 represents the latest effort to address the flawed Maine Indian Claims Settlement Implementing Act, recognized as unjustly restricting powers of Wabanaki Nations to self-govern and impeding economic development both within Wabanaki communities and the surrounding areas. Passage of LD 2007 would represent the most substantive changes to the Maine Implementing Act since it was signed by Governor Brennan in April 1980."

“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.” —from the Wabanaki Alliance

The Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs held a public hearing January 9. Work sessions were held January 25th and 30th.

L.D. 1642 was combined with L.D. 2001 to become L.D. 2001 “A Resolve, to Establish the African American and Wabanaki Studies Advisory Council and Provide Funding to Support African American Studies and Wabanaki Studies” passed both the House and the Senate and now sits on the Appropriations table with a $3M fiscal note.

Requires the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to develop and implement procedures to ensure that environmental justice communities have full and complete opportunity to engage in environmental permitting, licensing and enforcement. The goal this year is to get the bill funded - it was passed by House and Senate but did not move off the Appropriations Committee table at the end of last session.

We are awaiting a public hearing date for this bill.

This bill is sponsored by Senator Hickman, who is a farmer himself. It encourages the expansion of farmable land, food forests and community gardens. It has specific language about a food forest in Capitol Park, but moreover it allows the DACF and the Maine Parks Bureau to lease land to people for farming, with an emphasis on prioritizing leasing that land to historically marginalized people. It also has language about allowing gardening in "public spaces, including municipally owned properties, right-of-ways, school grounds, parks and parking lots." So- a lot more land could potentially be opened up for farming and gardening!

L.D. 1823 received a divided committee report out of the Work Session with the majority vote being "Ought to Pass As Amended." It has yet to be voted on by the House or the Senate.

“The expansion and indefinite operation of Maine’s fracked gas distribution system is inconsistent with Maine’s climate and clean energy goals, poses immediate and ongoing threats to human health, and creates significant long-term risks to ratepayers. This bill seeks to prohibit gas utility expansion, study health and ratepayer costs of gas infrastructure, and investigate future use and costs.” —Environmental Priorities Coalition

There was a Public Hearing on 01/23/24 and a Work Session on 02/01/24. It was amended and the title changed to Resolve, to Study the Role of Natural Gas in an Equitable Clean Energy Transition for Maine, it passed the House and Senate last week. This effectively turns it into an inquiry for the future of natural gas at the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) - which is valuable but not as good as the initial proposal of a moratorium.

“There are currently no limits on bulk water extraction contract lengths in Maine. There are extremely few industries where contracts of 45 year length are seen as acceptable, let alone normal. Where Poland Spring’s facade of being a local good neighbor crumbles is the reality that they are part of a multi-billion dollar network of brands distributing Maine water as a luxury and convenience item across the Northeast. […] there is a clear imbalance in power between an industry with millions of dollars at its disposal for lobbyists and lawyers to promote and defend its interests, and the rural communities it operates in.

A 10 year limit on these contracts would allow communities to reassess local conditions and reconsider terms on a shorter basis. It will also ensure that the younger generations of a community’s leadership will not be bound to a contract that they had no say or role in. —Community Water Justice

Overwhelmingly failed in a House vote on 2/6/24. On Thursday February 8th, the motion to accept the majority report of Ought Not To Pass was accepted by the Senate. The bill is officially defeated due to extensive lobbying efforts by Poland Springs.