MAINE GOVERNMENT
Here are our Calls to Action, Guides, and Explainers on Maine legislation, policy, and issues. For contact information for your legislators, information on the legislative process, and to track bills in the current legislative session, visit our Legislature Roundup. Interested in helping us track state legislation and policy? Take action with us.
TAKE ACTION MAINE: Domestic Violence Awareness Month
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and communities around Maine are holding events to draw attention to intimate partner violence and violence prevention. QUICK ACTION: Attend an event near you.
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VICTORIES & GOOD NEWS ROUNDUP: Maine Legislature edition
Many bills we worked hard to pass go into effect today, and we’re taking stock of our many legislative victories. We didn’t win every battle, but Maine is in a far better position today than we have been in a long while, and we’re on our way to repairing the damage of the past 8 years. Read the latest Victories & Good News Report: Maine Legislature Edition and let your legislators know how you feel about their votes!
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DECLINE TO SIGN: Beware petitions to rollback critical legislation
Lawmakers passed a number of key bills this session that protect public health, curb environmental damage, ban conversion therapy and racial discrimination, expand abortion access, promote voter registration, and protect the rights of terminally ill patients. Efforts to repeal these laws via “people’s veto” are underway in Maine as petitioners race to collect the required signatures by Sept. 13. UPDATE 9/18: 11 of the 12 people’s veto efforts have failed. Unfortunately, anti-vaccine groups appear to have collected enough signatures to place a “people’s veto” on the ballot in March to repeal a law that strengthened childhood vaccine requirements. Click below for more details.
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FACT CHECK: Correcting Anti-Vaccine Testimony
While measles outbreaks are spreading across 22 states and Maine’s pertussis rate is the worst in the nation, our state’s non-medical vaccination opt-out rate is more than triple the national average. At the public hearing earlier this year for a law passed by the Maine Legislature to strengthen vaccination requirements for school children, false and misleading information was shared by anti-vaccination advocates. We decided to do some fact checking to set the record straight. Now that it appears a “people’s veto” will appear on the ballot in March to repeal this public health law, having these facts is more important than ever.
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MAINE LEGISLATURE ROUNDUP: That’s a wrap!
The first regular session of the 129th Maine Legislature was gaveled to a close just before dawn on June 20. Find out where the bills we’ve tracked since January ended up in this final version of the Legislature Roundup.
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GUN REFORM: Maine’s New Gun Safety Bills Need Your Support
All 11 of the new gun safety bills we tracked this session were defeated in the Maine legislature this session. QUICK ACTION: Find out how your state legislators voted, and hold them accountable for their opposition and continued inaction.
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SUPPORT ERPO BILL: Reduce Suicide & Domestic Violence Gun Deaths
Last year’s “ERPO” bill was vetoed by Gov. LePage, but a new bill, LD 1312, has just been introduced. Extreme Risk Protection Orders reduce gun-related suicides and domestic violence homicides by temporarily suspending access to firearms for people who are a danger to themselves or others.
QUICK ACTION: Submit testimony in support of the bill and contact your legislators and Gov. Mills!
CELEBRATE EARTH: Join an Earth Day action this week!
Earth Day is April 22 and communities around the state have planned events and actions all week. QUICK ACTION: Find an event near you and take action to celebrate Earth!
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How to Talk About Indian-Themed Mascots
Thanks to many years of outreach to Maine schools by tribal leaders, Maine’s LAST Indian-themed mascot has finally been retired. Know of a school in another state facing a similar issue? In collaboration with representatives from the Penobscot Nation, we’ve compiled the most common arguments made by those who want to keep these offensive mascots, with suggestions for ways to respond.
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MARCH FOR EQUALITY: Join a March or Rally January 18-19
Groups across Maine are planning marches and rallies Jan. 18-19 to speak out for gender, racial and social justice and equality. Join an event near you!
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Suit Up Maine is a statewide, all-volunteer, progressive, grassroots group of more than 5,400 Mainers that seeks to create and foster a more informed and engaged electorate. We raise awareness of and advocate for policies and legislation that promote equity and equality in civil rights, social justice, health care, the environment, education, the economy, and other areas that affect the lives of all people. We are beholden to issues and action, not parties or politicians, and we aren’t engaged in fundraising. Suit Up Maine fosters collaboration among our state’s progressive groups and organizations to collectively connect, educate, and motivate Mainers to rise in non-violent resistance to a regressive agenda.