LD 52 – Guns in Schools

An Act to Allow Certain School Employees to Carry Firearms on School Property

This bill proposed to allow school boards to authorize school employees to possess firearms while at school.

The MEA opposed this legislation.

This bill failed passage. House Roll Call: Roll Call 203, 7/13/2023 Roll-call Details (maine.gov) Senate Roll Call: Roll Call 323, 7/14/23 Roll-call Details (maine.gov)

LD 123 – Prosecuting Teachers Under Obscenity Laws

An Act to Eliminate the Educational Purposes Exception to the Prohibition on the Dissemination of Obscene Matter to Minors

This bill would have removed the obscenity exemption for educational institutions, but provided no definition of obscenity and could have led to cases of teachers or other school employees being prosecuted for teaching certain material.

The MEA opposed this legislation.

This bill failed passage. House Roll Call: Roll Call 192, 7/13/2023 Roll-call Details (maine.gov) Senate Roll Call: 288, 7/12/23 Roll-call Details (maine.gov)

LD 559 – Relaxing Child Labor Laws

An Act to Increase the Number of Hours Certain Minor Students May Work Under Certain Circumstances

This bill proposed to lift the number of hours a student (ages 16-18) can work while school is in session to 32 hour per week.  The MEA understands many students must work but we oppose further expansion of working hours, especially when school is in session. 

The MEA opposed this legislation.

This bill failed passage.

House Roll Call: Roll Call 63 5/9/2023:  Roll-call Details (maine.gov)

Senate Roll Call: Roll Call 136 5/11/2023: Roll-call Details (maine.gov)

LD 678 – Anti LGBTQ+ Pronoun Bill

An Act to Require Parental Approval for Public School Employees to Use a Name or Pronoun Other than a Child’s Given Name or Pronoun Corresponding to the Gender on the Child’s Birth Certificate

This bill proposed a ban on using a name/pronoun for any student unless authorized by the parent. 

The MEA opposed this legislation.

This bill failed passage.

House Roll Call: Roll Call 326 6/23/2023 Roll-call Details (maine.gov)

Senate Roll Call:  Roll Call 458 6/23/2023 Roll-call Details (maine.gov)

LD 841 – Cutting the Minimum Wage

An Act to Permit a Short-term Waiver from the Minimum Wage for Chronically Unemployed Individuals

This bill was a half-baked idea but proposed to allow certain unemployed individuals to attain a waiver from the Dept of Labor to authorize them to work for less than the state minimum wage. 

The MEA opposed this legislation.

This bill failed passage.

Senate Roll Call: Roll Call 118 5/2023 Roll-call Details (maine.gov)

No House Roll Call

LD 1410 – School Employees Liable

An Act to Hold School Employees Civilly Liable for Failure to Notify Parents Regarding Medical Issues of Students Under 18 Years of Age

This bill proposed to hold school employees civilly liable for failing to disclose “medical information” to parents.  The intent of the bill was to interfere with interactions students may have with counselors, social workers and other licensed professionals in our schools and to threaten then with civil litigation.

The MEA opposed this legislation.

This bill failed passage.

House Roll Call: Roll Call 209 6/13/2023 Roll-call Details (maine.gov)

Senate Roll Call: Roll Call 329 6/14/2023 Roll-call Details (maine.gov)

LD 1557 – Concealed Handguns in Schools

An Act to Increase and Enhance School Safety by Allowing Individuals with Concealed Carry Permits to Possess Handguns on School Property

This legislation proposed to allow a person with a permit to carry concealed handguns to possess a firearm on public school property or the property of an approved private school.

The MEA opposed this legislation.

This bill failed passage.

House Roll Call: Roll Call 143 6/12/2023 Roll-call Details (maine.gov)

Senate Roll Call: Roll Call 266 6/12/2023 Roll-call Details (maine.gov)

LD 1588 – Info for Bargaining Agent Members

An Act to Provide Public Sector Labor Unions Reasonable Access to Information Regarding Employees

This bill was passed and provides unions like the MEA with better information about the employees we are required to represent.

The MEA supported this legislation.

This bill was passed by the House and Senate and signed into law by Governor Janet Mills.  The new law will be in effect beginning October 26, 2023.

House Roll Call: Roll Call 153 6/8/2023 Roll-call Details (maine.gov)

Senate Roll Call: Roll Call 276 6/12/2023 Roll-call Details (maine.gov)

LD 1636 – No Fees or Dues to a Union

An Act to Ensure the Right to Work Without Payment of Dues or Fees to a Labor Union

This bill is a so-called “right to work” bill but is designed to make it harder for unions like the MEA to represent members and employees we are required to represent. 

The MEA opposed this legislation.

This bill failed passage.

House Roll Call: Roll Call 138 6/8/2023 Roll-call Details (maine.gov)

Senate Roll Call: Roll Call 218 6/6/2023 Roll-call Details (maine.gov)

LD 1741 – Charter Expansion, Vaccine Repeal

An Act to Promote Educational Opportunity Through the Educational Choice Tax Credit Program, Eliminating Certain Restrictions on Charter Schools and Virtual Public Charter Schools, Allowing More Entities to Authorize Charter Schools and Clarifying Educational Policy on Immunization Requirements

While there were many bills this year to initiate a school voucher program or expand charter schools or remove/relax immunization requirements for students, this bill did all three. 

The MEA opposed this legislation.

This bill failed passage.

House Roll Call: Roll Call 284 6/20/2023 Roll-call Details (maine.gov)

Senate Roll Call: Roll Call 419 6/21/2023 Roll-call Details (maine.gov)

LD 1756 – Employee Free Speech

An Act to Protect Employee Freedom of Speech

This bill was passed and became law and will prohibit employers from subjecting employees to anti-union meetings. 

The MEA supported this legislation.

This bill was passed by the House and Senate and signed into law by Governor Janet Mills. The new law will be in effect beginning October 26, 2023.

House Roll Call: Roll Call 354 7/6/2023 Roll-call Details (maine.gov)

Senate Roll Call: Roll Call 482 7/6/2023 Roll-call Details (maine.gov)

LD 1898 – Protecting Educator from Dangerous Behavior

This bill builds on the law passed by MEA four years ago to provide greater protections for educators whey they are subject to dangerous behaviors while at school.  The law requires administration to investigate such matters and develop plans to prevent such behaviors in the future.  This bill made this section of law subject to your local grievance process so local associations have options to hold administrators accountable to the safety and protection of employees. 

The MEA supported this legislation.

This bill was passed by the House and Senate and is being “held” by Governor Janet Mills.  Governor Mills will have until early January to sign or veto the bill.  If she takes no action, the bill will pass and will become effective 90 days following the final adjournment of the legislative session set to begin in January.

House Roll Call: No Roll Call

Senate Roll Call: Roll Call 333 6/14/2023 Roll-call Details (maine.gov)