Bill proposals would assert rights of tribe

Legislation that would further assert the rights of tribes in Maine, including the right for tribal representatives to vote in the legislature and for the tribes to cooperatively manage the elver fishery with the state, is being proposed by the Passamaquoddy representative. While specific language of the bills has not yet been released, all of the titles of bills being requested during the current legislative session are now available.
Rep. Matt Dana of Indian Township has submitted 12 bill requests, including a resolution that proposes to amend the Maine Constitution to allow tribal members to vote in the House of Representatives. While tribal representatives now can sponsor legislation, they are not allowed to vote. Since their constituents are already represented by their House district representatives, the one-person-one-vote rule would prohibit dual representation. However, the reservations could withdraw from voting in the Maine legislative districts and then the tribally elected legislative representatives could have the right to vote in the legislature.
Dana also has requested a bill to change the Columbus Day holiday to Native American Appreciation Day. Other states, cities and tribes in the U.S. have renamed Columbus Day with names ranging from Native American Day to Indigenous Peoples' Day to Discoverers' Day.
Two bill requests focus on the relationship between the state and the tribes, which has been rocky at times. LR 1285 is a resolve concerning cooperative tribal‑state management of the elver fishery, which has been contentious during the past two years, and LR 1284 is a bill that would seek to improve tribal‑state relations.
Other bill requests submitted by Dana are: LR 1286, Resolve, To Direct Action on Health Disparities of the Passamaquoddy Tribe and Washington County; LR 1281, An Act To Create a Permanent Wabanaki Law Enforcement Seat on the Board of Trustees of the Maine Criminal Justice Academy; LR 1283, An Act To Establish a Wabanaki Veterans License Plate; LR 1282, An Act To Amend the Laws Governing the Membership of the Maine Commission on Domestic and Sexual Abuse; LR 1731, An Act To Allow a Federally Recognized Indian Tribe To Conduct a Pilot Project in Hemp Cultivation; LR 1729, An Act To Create a License Plate for the Wabanaki Tribal Chiefs; LR 1289, Resolve, Directing the Department of Public Safety To Establish a Public Safety Answering Point for the Passamaquoddy Indian Township Reservation; and LR 1288, An Act To Implement Certain Provisions of Title IX, Safety for Indian Women in the Federal Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013.

Bill requests by Senator Burns
More details concerning the 26 bill requests by Senator David Burns of Whiting also have been released. Along with the bill requests that were detailed previously, Burns has submitted LR 1262, An Act to Increase Transparency of Entities Receiving Substantial Amounts of Public Funding. The bill proposes measures designed to increase transparency by requiring that organizations that receive a certain percentage of their funding from the state disclose the sources of their funding and the names of their donors on a publicly accessible website within 30 days of receipt of the donation. If the donation is associated with a specific exhibit or program, the name of the donor would have to be prominently displayed at the exhibit or before or after the program.
According to Burns, LR 1266, An Act to Modify the Ocean Energy Act, would expand the definition of tidal energy demonstration projects, require the Maine Public Utilities Commission to solicit competitive proposals for tidal energy projects and increase capacity derived from tidal energy demonstration projects to 30 megawatts and a total capacity contracted by the commission to 45 megawatts.
LR 762, An Act To Increase Economic Development in Rural Communities, would allow limited Sunday hunting during November on public lands of more than 10 acres or private lands of more than 10 acres, with specific landowner permission. Another hunting bill, LR 1265, An Act to Enhance the Male Deer Population, also has been requested by Burns.
Two bill requests, LR 772, An Act to Spur Economic Growth in Washington County, and LR 1259, An Act to Ensure Economic Stability in Washington County, address economic issues in the county. The details have not yet been released.
Burns also has reintroduced An Act to Protect Religious Freedom, which was turned down last year in the legislature.
Other bills he has requested that have only titles so far are LR 1676 and 1677, which would create a crime of and a civil cause of action for intentional interference with business operations; LR 1756, Resolve to Study the Tax Exemption Provided to Nonprofit Entities; LR 957, An Act To Ensure Access to Public Health Nursing Care and Child and Maternal Health Nursing Care in Washington County; LR 1258, An Act to Require Labeling of All Genetically Modified Foods and Seeds; and LR 1261, An Act to Create Fair and Equitable Fees for Closed Solid Waste Sites.