Restoring Tribal Sovereignty

LD 2007 would grant the Wabanaki some of the federal benefits afforded to every single other federally recognized tribe in the United States.

State and federal laws exclude federally recognized tribes in Maine from the same benefits extended to every single other federally recognized tribe in the United States. LD 2007 would support the Wabanaki by moving the four federally recognized tribes in Maine closer to the same footing as all others.

LD 2007 would also help all people in Maine – particularly in our rural communities. Tribal governments have proven for decades that when granted these federal benefits, they serve all communities, as outlined in a 2022 analysis by the Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development. When the Wabanaki prosper, all of Maine prospers.

This legislation is based on some of the consensus recommendations from the bipartisan Task Force on Changes to the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Implementing Act. LD 2007 states that the "purpose of the reconsideration and rewriting of the Maine Implementing Act would be to establish that the Passamaquoddy Tribe, the Penobscot Nation, the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians and the Mi'kmaq Nation have the same rights to self-determination as other federally recognized Indian tribes within the United States." LD 2007 would restore many of the "rights, privileges, powers, duties and immunities" granted to all other federally recognized tribes.

Wabanaki Alliance Toolkit to Take Action

The Wabanaki Alliance is leading the fight for LD 2007. Learn more about them and support their work. Learn more about tribal sovereignty here.

Bill Movement:

This bill originated in 2023 during the First Regular Session of the 131st Legislature as LD 2004. It was vetoed by the governor and was brought back in 2024 for reconsideration during the Second Regular Session of the 131st Legislature.

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

1. Bill printed: 5/30/2023
2. Referred to Joint Standing Committee on Judiciary: 5/30/2023
3. Public hearing in committee: 5/31/2023
4. Work session in committee: 6/6/2023
5. Work session and vote in committee: 6/15/2023 (DIVIDED REPORT)
   • Ought to pass: 10
   • Ought not to pass: 4
6. House vote: 6/21/2023 (PASSED)
   • Yes: 100
   • No: 47
   • Absent: 3
   • Excused: 1
7. Senate vote: 6/21/2023 (PASSED)
   • Yes: 26
   • No: 8
   • Absent: 0
   • Excused: 1
8. Veto by governor: 6/30/2023
9. Reconsideration by House: 7/6/2023 (VETO SUSTAINED – This bill failed at this step in the legislative process because two-thirds of the House did not vote to override the governor's veto.)
   • Yes: 84
   • No: 57
   • Absent: 10
   • Excused: 0

2024 (LD 2007, An Act to Advance Self-determination for Wabanaki Nations)

1. Bill printed: 6/1/2023

2. Referred to Joint Standing Committee on Judiciary: 6/1/2023

3. Carried over from 2023 to 2024: 7/25/2023
4. Public hearing in committee: 2/26/2024
5. Work session and vote in committee: N/A
6. House vote: N/A
7. Senate vote: N/A
8. Action by governor: N/A