Improving Racial Impact Statements

Many laws, even those that may appear neutral on their face, have disparate impacts on people of color in Maine. Adding a data-driven analysis to proposed legislation would allow lawmakers to fully understand the potential effects legislation could have on Mainers of color.

The racial disparities we see in housing, employment, education, health care, wealth, poverty, and interactions with the criminal legal system — and in every other aspect of life — are not an accident.

For the most part, we have moved past lawmaking that specifically targets racial and ethnic minorities for worse treatment. But as our experience with drug enforcement has shown us, it doesn’t matter if our laws are “race-neutral.” All lawmaking interacts with historical racial inequities that persist today.

Just as lawmakers should consider the potential fiscal impacts of a bill, they should also know if a bill may have unequal effects on historically disadvantaged racial and ethnic groups. Racial impact statements will help lawmakers gather this data so they can have all the information they need to legislate fairly and justly.

LD 1432 would create a four-year, limited-time position in the legislature’s Office of Policy and Legal Analysis (OPLA) to track and provide information about the demographic impacts of legislation.

LD 1948 would, among other things, generate a statewide plan to fulfill the mandate of the 130th Legislature’s LD 1610, which established a data governance program and required each state agency to designate one employee to ensure compliance. LD 1948 would facilitate this by directing the Department of Administrative and Financial Services (DAFS) to work with the Permanent Commission on the Status of Racial, Indigenous and Tribal Populations.

Bill Movement:

These bills originated in 2023 during the First Regular Session of the 131st Legislature. They were not passed in 2023 and were carried over into 2024 to be considered during the Second Regular Session of the 131st Legislature. See more information about LD 1432 and LD 1948 on the legislature's website.

LD 1432 Bill Movement:

1. Bill printed: 3/30/2023
2. Referred to Joint Standing Committee on State and Local Government: 3/30/2023
3. Public hearing in committee: 4/25/2023
4. Work session: 5/19/2023
5. Carried over from 2023 to 2024: 7/25/2023
6. Public hearing in committee: 2/6/2024
7. Work session and vote in committee: 2/13/24 (DIVIDED REPORT)
   • Ought to pass as amended: 9
   • Ought not to pass: 4
8. House vote: N/A
9. Senate vote: N/A
10. Action by governor: N/A

LD 1948 Bill Movement:

1. Bill printed: 5/16/2023
2. Referred to Joint Standing Committee on State and Local Government: 5/16/2023
3. Public hearing in committee: 5/19/2023
4. Carried over from 2023 to 2024: 7/25/2023
5. Public hearing in committee: 2/6/2024
6. Work session and vote in committee: 2/13/24 (DIVIDED REPORT)
   • Ought to pass as amended: 11
   • Ought not to pass: 2
7. House vote: N/A
8. Senate vote: N/A
9. Action by governor: N/A