SUPPORTING POLICY

Of the six pieces of legislation MCAN supported, housing and tribal sovereignty legislation (LD 1710 and LD 2007) showed hopeful steps in the right direction.

Office of New Americans funding in the budget is a great sign that the program will continue despite the legislation itself being carried over to the next legislative session.

We also noticed the many pitfalls for legislation: amendments, the study table, the appropriations table, legislative deadlines, and the Governor’s veto power all prevented forward progress during the 2024 legislative session.

Every piece of legislation we supported passed both the House and State Senate, but, due to these many hurdles, none became law while maintaining the full systemic climate justice changes we hoped for.

Final Breakdown

LD 373 (labor harmony for clean energy projects)

Passed both chambers, vetoed

LD 1349 (return lands and waters to Wabanaki)

Passed both chambers, died on appropriations table

LD 1667 (place names)

Passed both chambers, died after it was not signed by Mills on “veto day”

LD 1710 (HOME act)

Amended to become a study, then passed both chambers

LD 2007 (Tribal sovereignty)

Amended to focus on criminal jurisdiction, then became law

LD 2167 (Office of New Americans)

Passed both chambers, then was carried over (but program received funding)

LD 2261 (Legislative approval requirement for zero-emissions vehicle rules)

Became law (we opposed)

Tribal Sovereignty

Background

For more than 40 years, the state of Maine has used legislation passed in 1980 to deny the Wabanaki Nations’ inherent tribal sovereignty, excluding them from many rights and protections guaranteed by Federal Indian Law. This has resulted in decades of social and economic barriers for the Wabanaki and surrounding communities.

Both chambers of Maine’s legislature passed tribal sovereignty bills in 2022 and in 2023. Despite overwhelming public and overwhelming and bipartisan legislative support, Gov. Janet Mills has vetoed each of these attempts. In 2024, Wabanaki tribal leadership and the Mills Administration reached a compromise agreement expanding criminal jurisdiction

Housing

Background

Maine has the oldest average housing stock in the United States. Cold winters, a high energy burden, and the ongoing countrywide housing affordability crisis combine to leave many Mainers underserved. MCAN supports weatherization and efficiency programs, transitioning homes to renewable heating sources, and ensuring new buildings are net-zero. MCAN recognizes we don’t have to choose between affordable and climate friendly housing and is excited to work with housing organizations to combat both problems simultaneously.

Intersectional Climate Justice

Background

Climate justice examines how a transition away from an extractive, fossil fuel-based economy can be done in a way where no one is left behind. Concepts that may not seem connected at first glance (social and antiracist justice, transportation, education, energy efficiency, food sovereignty, tribal sovereignty, economic justice, and more) are all tied to the climate crisis and intertwined with each other. You can visit MCAN’s Climate Justice Crash Course to learn more.

ONGOING CLIMATE JUSTICE ADVOCACY

Tribal Sovereignty

For more than 40 years, the state of Maine has used legislation passed in 1980 to deny the Wabanaki Nations’ inherent tribal sovereignty, excluding them from many rights and protections guaranteed by Federal Indian Law. This has resulted in decades of social and economic barriers for the Wabanaki and surrounding communities.

Both chambers of Maine’s legislature passed tribal sovereignty bills in 2022 and in 2023. Despite overwhelming public and overwhelming and bipartisan legislative support, Gov. Janet Mills has vetoed each of these attempts. In 2024, Wabanaki tribal leadership and the Mills Administration reached a compromise agreement expanding criminal jurisdiction rather than implementing the full task force recommendations.

Transportation

Join with allies to focus on increasing public transportation and reducing transportation emissions by transitioning away from gas-powered vehicles.

Nearly half of Maine’s climate emissions come from the transportation sector. MCAN recognizes increasing public transit is a large part of the solution to reducing our emissions as well as bringing community benefits statewide, especially to rural Mainers. MCAN looks forward to working with public transportation advocates to simultaneously help the state curb its transportation emissions and reduce the sense of isolation many Mainers feel across this geographically large state.

Related legislation: MCAN testimony on LD 401 (2023) An Act to Improve Transportation in Maine

Immigrant Rights

In summer 2025, the legislature passed LD 1971, which limits Maine police cooperation with federal immigration agents. Although Mills did not sign the legislation, she allowed it to become law without her signature in December of last year. And although this legislation will not officially take effect until mid-July of this year (30 days after the current legislative session ends), Maine’s Public Safety Commissioner has already directed Maine State Police to avoid cooperation with Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Housing

Maine has the oldest average housing stock in the United States. Cold winters, a high energy burden, and the ongoing countrywide housing affordability crisis combine to leave many Mainers underserved. MCAN supports weatherization and efficiency programs, transitioning homes to renewable heating sources, and ensuring new buildings are net-zero. MCAN recognizes we don’t have to choose between affordable and climate friendly housing and is excited to work with housing organizations to combat both problems simultaneously.

Just Transition

Offshore Wind

Work in coalition to bring the offshore wind and port process and education to Maine stakeholders through educational events and community conversations.
Offshore wind has the power to transition our state away from fossil fuel dependency. Our proximity to the Gulf of Maine provides much potential for the state to construct, maintain, and benefit from floating offshore wind power.
In 2023, Maine’s Legislature passed a bill to develop offshore wind and ports with strong environmental and labor standards. This legislation also incentivizes wind developers to build outside Lobster Management Area 1, where most lobstering takes place in the Gulf of Maine.

Divestment

MCAN collaborates as part of the intergenerational team urging the Maine Public Employee Retirement System to divest its holdings from fossil fuels in accordance with signed law (LD99).
In 2021, Maine passed legislation that requires its public employee retirement fund (MainePERS) to divest the 1.2 billion of pension funds currently tied up in industries which directly fuel the climate crisis.
MainePERS has not listened. They are taking an overly cautious approach to divestment that conflicts with the timeline that science and justice require. To make matters worse, they are using vague language and not explicitly committing to forgoing new fossil fuel investments.

Pine Tree Amendment

The Pine Tree Amendment (PTA) adds language to the Bill of Rights in the Maine Constitution that will protect the rights of all people in the state, including present and future generations, to a clean and healthy environment and to the preservation of the natural, cultural and healthful qualities of the environment.
The PTA serves as a check on government authority and makes clear the government's duty to protect the state’s natural resources.
MCAN continues to support this amendment and is looking forward to working with a coalition in the upcoming years to continue our support of this goal.

Intersectional Climate Justice

Climate justice examines how a transition away from an extractive, fossil fuel-based economy can be done in a way where no one is left behind. Concepts that may not seem connected at first glance (social and antiracist justice, transportation, education, energy efficiency, food sovereignty, tribal sovereignty, economic justice, and more) are all tied to the climate crisis and intertwined with each other. You can visit MCAN’s Climate Justice Crash Course to learn more.

PAST LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS

2025

Tribal Sovereignty

LD 958 (Prohibiting eminent domain on Tribal lands)

Passed both chambers, but vetoed by Governor Mills

Energy Democracy

LD 32, LD 257, LD 1321 (Changing and/or eliminating net energy billing –

we opposed all three).

LD 32 was carried over, LD 257 failed out of committee, LD 1321 failed in House/State Senate

LD 601 (Remove referendum requirements for nuclear power – we opposed)

Failed out of committee

LD 861 (Preventing Public Utilities Commissioners and Public Advocate from being hired by companies they regulated)

Became law

LD 946 (Increasing access and funding for low-income heating and electricity programs)

Became law

LD 1700 (Expanding EMT Green Bank to finance renewable energy)

Became law

LD 1868 (Updating renewable/clean resource procurement timeline)

Became law

LD 1963 (Protecting and compensating public utility whistleblowers)

Failed in House/Senate

Just Transition

LD 1073 (Strengthening mining laws)

Failed out of committee

LD 1543 (Establishing the Green Schools Network)

Became law

LD 1674 (Requiring insurers to address climate risk)

Failed out of committee

LD 1940 (Revising Growth Management Program laws)

Failed in House/Senate

Transportation

LD 487 (Planning rail corridor connecting Maine’s metro areas)

Failed in House/State Senate

LD 1138 (Reducing transportation-related pollution in alignment with Maine's Climate Action Plan)

Failed in House/State Senate

2024

LD 373 planned to require companies leasing state-owned land for clean energy projects to negotiate with unions and ensure strong labor standards for these projects. The immediate applicability for this legislation would be for the construction and operation of an offshore wind port. MCAN Testimony.

Passed both chambers, then was vetoed.

LD 1349 planned to initiate land return to the Wabanaki and identify co-management opportunities between the State of Maine and Wabanaki tribes. After passing both chambers, the legislation landed on the appropriations table. It was still on the table when the legislature adjourned, effectively killing the legislation. MCAN testimony on LD 1349

Passed both chambers, died on appropriations table.

LD 2261 defined future rules adopted by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) regarding new motor vehicle emission standards (including rules to establish zero-emission requirements) as major substantive rules. MCAN opposed this bill.

Passed and became law.

LD 1710 planned to help increase the supply of affordable housing by requiring landlords with over ten units to make at least 10% are affordable housing. This legislation was substantially amended, instead creating a 14-person commission to uncover income-based housing discrimination and incentivize landlords to rent to tenants reliant on vouchers or other forms of income-based assistance. MIRC testimony on LD 1710

Amended to become a study, then passed both chambers.

LD 1540 planned to invest $15 million in a rental assistant pilot program that would provide $300 per month of aid to struggling tenants. LD 1540 was still on the appropriations table after being carried over from 2023 and unfortunately remained on the table when the legislature adjourned this year, effectively killing the legislation.

LD 2007, compromise legislation between Wabanaki leaders and the Mills Administration on some aspects of tribal sovereignty. MCAN testimony on LD 2007

Passed both chambers earlier this month and became law.

LD 1667 planned to create a process where Maine citizens could address problematic, harmful, racist, and/or derogatory place names in their communities. This bill planned to create a Maine Board on Place Names with the responsibility to make recommendations about renaming Maine features. MCAN testimony on LD 1667.

Passed both chambers, then vetoed with 34 other bills.

LD 2167 planned to support New Mainers by strengthening English-language learning opportunities, building workforce pathways and entrepreneur support, streamlining the work already being done to support immigrants and refugees, and improving Maine’s data about these populations. Governor Mills had created Maine’s Office of New Americans through executive action in 2023. MCAN and MIRC supported this program through legislative testimony.

Passed both chambers, then was carried over (but program received funding).

LD 2261 (Legislative approval requirement for zero-emissions vehicle rules)

Became law (MCAN opposed).

2023

MCAN Testimony on LD 78 (2023), RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine to Require All Provisions in the Constitution to Be Included in the Official Printing

Voters passed LD 78 in November 2023.

MCAN testimony on LD 2004 (2023) An Act to Restore Access to Federal Laws Beneficial to the Wabanaki Nations

Passed both chambers of the Legislature, but failed after Gov. Mills vetoed and the House did not reach the ⅔ majority threshold needed to override.

MCAN Testimony on LD 2, An Act to Address Chronic Homelessness by Creating the Housing First Fund

LD 2 Passed but did not receive funding.

MCAN Testimony on LD 3, An Act to Establish the Winter Energy Relief Payment Program to Aid Residents with High Heating Costs

LD 3 Passed

MCAN Testimony on LD 1559, An Act to Advance the State's Public Transit Systems by Reinvigorating the Public Transit Advisory Council

LD 1559 Passed and became law.

MCAN Testimony on LD 259 An Act Making Unified Allocations from the Highway Fund … (support for public transit)

LD 259 Passed

MCAN Testimony on LD 258, An Act Making Unified Appropriations and Allocations from the General Fund (in support of funding rural rental program)

LD 258 Passed

MCAN testimony on LD 1895, An Act Regarding the Procurement of Energy from Offshore

Wind Resources

LD 1895 Passed and became law.

LD 1708, An Act To Create the Pine Tree Power Company, a Nonprofit Utility, To Deliver Lower Rates, Reliability and Local Control for Maine Energy Independence, passed both the House and Senate in 2021 but was vetoed by Governor Mills. MCAN supported the Pine Tree Power campaign and helped gather enough signatures to put a referendum on the ballot.

Unfortunately, Maine voters rejected the referendum, allowing CMP and Versant to remain in power. We will continue to educate Mainers on the benefits of a consumer-owned utility and work towards justice and transparency for ratepayers.

MCAN Testimony for LD 1611, An Act to Create the Pine Tree Power Company, a Nonprofit, Customer-owned Utility.

Did not pass.

MCAN Testimony on LD 1562, An Act to Protect the Retirement of State Employees and Teachers by Establishing Standards for Fiduciary Responsibility (would have undermined LD 99 Divestment law - MCAN testified Ought Not to Pass)

LD 1562 was defeated.

2022

MCAN's testimony on LD 906, An Act to Provide Passamaquoddy Tribal Members Access to Clean Water

Signed into law, 2022.

MCAN's testimony on LD 1902, Resolve, to Establish a Pilot Program to Encourage Climate Education in Maine Public Schools

Signed into law, 2022.

LD 1639, An Act to Protect the Health and Welfare of Maine Communities and Reduce Harmful Solid Waste. Read MCAN Director, Amy’s 350 Maine testimony here (not submitted through MCAN)

Signed into law, 2022.

2021

LD 1659, An Act to Create the Maine Clean Energy and Sustainability Accelerator

Signed into law, 2021.

LD 99, An Act to Require the State to Divest Itself of Assets in the Fossil Fuel Industry.

Read Cassie’s 350 Maine + MYCJ testimony here. (Not submitted through MCAN)

Signed into law, 2021.

LD 437, An Act to Establish the Maine Healthy Soils Program

Signed into law, 2021.