Today we celebrate the life of Martin Luther King Jr., and the tireless efforts of the civil rights movement. Find a nearby event below, and read up on the incredible women who worked alongside Dr. King. 

This week, we are gearing up for two of our highest priority bills of the session:

LD 780, RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine to Protect Personal Reproductive Autonomy (Vitelli), would create a Constitutional Amendment in Maine explicitely protecting reproductive autonomy. Despite the gains we've made, laws can be repealed, and we have to face attacks session after session. A Constitutional Amendment is difficult to pass - as we know from all of our work on the Equal Rights Amendment! - and 2/3ds of the legislature must support it. But this is a powerful chance to send this issue to the voters, and seek to enshrine our freedoms into our foundational document. Join us Monday, January 22 at 9:30 for a press conference in the Hall of Flags. The hearing will follow.

LD 2084, An Act to Provide Funding for Essential Services for Victims of Crimes (Carney). Changes to the federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding mean that Maine's victim service providers are facing up to 60% cuts  across the board. This funding supports services from domestic violence and sexual assault helplines, forensic interviews for children who have experienced sexual abuse, legal supports for elder abuse and domestic violence victims, and much more. LD 2084 would seek state support to restore this funding and ensure that our victims services infrastructure in Maine remains intact. Join us Tuesday, January 23 at 11:30 for a press conference in the Hall of Flags. The hearing will follow.

Testimony on both of these bills is so important. If you haven't had a chance to check out our refreshed Take Action Toolkit, everything you need is in there - and of course, you can always reach out directly to us with your questions and comments. 

In solidarity,

Destie, Dania, Catie, and Brook

Martin Luther King Jr. Day Events in Maine

Martin Luther King Jr. Day Observance

January 14 + 15

Bates College, Lewiston

Schedule of Events

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast Celebration

January 15 | 8:30-10:30am

Co-hosted by UMaine and the Bangor NAACP

Wells Conference Center

UMaine, Munson Road, Orono

For more information and to purchase tickets.

Committed to Listen - A Reading from MLK's Autobiography

January 15 | 12:15pm

Virtual event co-hosted by Maine Council of Churches and the BTS Center

Register Here

Weekly Calendar

The weekly House Calendar is here. The weekly Senate Calendar is here. 

January 16

1:00 - LD 254 - WS - An Act to Update the Sex Education and Consent Curriculum (Daughtry)

1:00 - LD 1696 - WS - An Act to Create a Civil Cause of Action for Persons Suffering Damages Arising from the Sale of Abnormally Dangerous Firearms (Millett)

1:00 - LD 2032 - PH - An Act to Improve Maine's Labor Laws by Changing the Laws Governing Elections of Collective Bargaining Agents for Certain Public Employees (Tipping)

January 17

10:00 - LD 1735 - WS - An Act to Safeguard Gender-affirming Health Care (Osher)

10:01 - LD 1975 - PH - An Act to Implement a Statewide Public Health Response to Substance Use and Amend the Laws Governing Scheduled Drugs (Crafts)

The Governor's State of the State address has been scheduled for Tuesday, January 30 at 7:00pm.

**Not sure about the difference between a PH (public hearing) and a WS (work session)? Check out our How-To here!

1.29.2024 - 5.13.2024 - Advocacy & Action Cohort - 5:30pm - 7pm

 Join our feminist cohort to enhance your advocacy skills, connect with your community, and follow what is happening in Augusta!

This program kicked off at our Day at the State House last week, and meets once a month throughout the legislative session to connect feminists who want to dive into policy, advocacy, and grow skills together. Sign up and follow along, all session long! Click this link to register today!

1.24.2024 - Businesses for Wabanaki Sovereignty Launch - 6:30pm - 8:30pm at the Patagonia store 100 Main Street in Freeport. The newest branch of the Wabanaki Alliance Tribal Coalition  is dedicated to gathering the unique perspectives and voices of businesses from around the state as part of this growing movement to see the sovereignty of the Wabanaki Nations recognized and respected.  Learn more about the event and register here. 

1.25.2024 - Paid Family & Medical Leave Listening Session - 5:30pm - 7:00pm on Zoom. The Maine Department of Labor (MDOL) will host listening sessions regarding the new Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) Program. This is an opportunity for members of the public to raise questions clarifications. The first session focuses on contributions. To learn more visit https://www.maine.gov/labor/pfml/

Maine Feminist Events Calendar

Before the new year, we saw the establishment of the brand new bipartisan, bicameral (both chamber) working group on paid leave. On Monday, January 8, Co-chairs Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) and Stephanie Bice (R-OK) released their legislative framework.  The momentum at the federal level is great, but we are not there yet. We will continue to keep you up to date as this work progresses!

Maine Center for Economic Policy Releases Latest Research on State of Maine's Workforce

MeCEP has released its report on the State of Working Maine 2023: Boosting Maine's Workforce and the challenges facing Maine's economy. Read the report.

Respite for ME Grants Pilot - First Year Evaluation Report: This bill was a priority for us a couple of years ago - to help caregivers with the expense and emotional labor of caregiving. After receiving Respite for ME Grants services for 90 days, caregivers experienced a reduction in stress, depression, and financial strain, and an improvement in their health status. Read the report.