Wabanaki Alliance
Maine legislators will consider a number of bills during the 131st Legislature that involve issues related to the Wabanaki Nations. The Wabanaki Alliance has put together a bill tracker which provides details on many of those bills and actions you can take to stand with the Wabanaki. Follow the tracker here.
In June of 2020 the tribes in Maine (Mi’kmaq Nation, Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, Passamaquoddy Tribe and Penobscot Nation) formed the Wabanaki Alliance. The Wabanaki Alliance was formed to educate people of Maine about the need for securing sovereignty of the tribes in Maine.
KEY:
= top priority bill
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: 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.
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