The 130th Legislative Session is underway. We are back at work advancing legislation to protect and expand the rights of all Mainers.
We are approaching the session with a racial equity lens, and have prioritized supporting legislation to end the failed war on drugs and reform the bail code, to achieve this larger goal of racial justice.
Learn more about our priority bills and how to get engaged in the legislative process.
We need to change our drug laws to save lives. Maine recorded its highest number of overdose deaths last year. More than 500 people died. Decades of experience have shown we cannot arrest and punish our way out of drug use and overdose deaths.
The bail system is supposed to ensure people most people can be free awaiting trial. But it’s not working: today, the majority of people in Maine jails haven’t been convicted of a crime.
To undo systemic racism, lawmakers need to know whether a bill may create racial disparities before it becomes law. Racial impact statements are a tool to help legislators do this.
Children should not be in prison – it is a failed system that harms young people and wastes the state’s resources. LD 320 would ensure fewer children are incarcerated, shorter periods of incarceration for those who are imprisoned, and access to an attorney throughout a child's juvenile court case.
LD 1585 would create a statewide ban on public officials and public employees' use of facial recognition technolgy, with limited exceptions.
Throughout the legislative session testifying on bills and writing letters to the editor are tried and true ways to make your voice heard. We've put together these guides to help you get started.