131st Legislature Second Session Priorities - MUUSAN Action Teams

Climate Action Team - Chair Jill Linzee

Priority Bill: LD 2077 An Act Regarding Customer Costs and the Environmental and Health Effects of Natural Gas 

Democracy Action Team - Co-chairs Betsy Williams & John Howard

Priority Bill: LD 1578 National Popular Vote

Postcard Template & NVP Summary

Gun Safety Action Team - Co-chairs Lynn Ellis & Deborah Crump

Priority Bill: LD 2086 An Act to Amend the Law Governing the Disposition of Forfeited Firearms (the “Bump Stock” bill)

Priority Bill: LD 2238 An Act to Address Gun Violence in Maine by Requiring a Waiting

Period for Certain Firearm Purchases (72 hour wait-period bill)

Housing & Homelessness Action Team - Co-chairs Naneen Chace-Ortiz & Jessica Glant

Priority Bill:  LD 1710 An  Act to Establish the Maine Rental Assistance and Guarantee Program and Amend the Laws Regarding Tenants and the Municipal General Assistance Program (also referred to as the HOME Act)

Please show your support of rental assistance for those renters most in need:

  1. Write (email is fine) or call your legislator - especially if they are on the Housing Committee! Make clear that you want to see a strong rental assistance program as close as possible to that proposed in LD 1710. To find your legislator.
  2. Write or call the Governor’s office.
  3. Send a Letter to the Editor of your local paper (find a guide here).

Wabanaki Sovereignty Ally Team - Chair Meret Bainbridge

Priority Bill: LD 2007 - An Act to Advance Self-determination for Wabanaki Nations

LD 2007, the sovereignty bill, had a work session on 3/12/24 at which time it had been pared down significantly in content to a consensus amendment between the bill sponsors, Speaker Talbot Ross & cosponsors, and the Governor’s office on negotiated agreements that focused on expanded criminal justice authority for Wabanaki Nations. The bill title was 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’. The bill was voted out of Judiciary Committee along party lines, but has not yet been reported out. It is expected to pass and be signed by the Governor.

Our secondary bill, LD 1642, An Act to Strengthen the Teaching of Wabanaki Studies in Maine Schools, was largely incorporated into LD 2001 (African American Studies bill) with amended language to form a joint council on Wabanaki and African American Studies. That bill is currently on the appropriations table awaiting funding. Last week, the WSAT launched a campaign to its members to contact the chairs of the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee asking them to make funding of this bill a priority in their report to the AFA, and to the AFA chairs to make the bill a funding priority.