Thank you, Maine Legislators!

If passed, this resolution (LD 1953) would represent the best protection of parental rights of its kind in the nation! Please reach out to members of the Judiciary Committee today!

Ask them to support the amended version of LD 1953 and parental rights.

Find out more about LD 1953 under 2023 Maine Legislative Watch below.

Please share the downloadable message below from ParentalRights.org!

THANK YOU for your calls! Your voice matters! Watch the progress of LDs 1741, 1798, 1838, 1841, and 1860 in work sessions in the weeks ahead!

Language must be included that SPECIFICALLY EXCLUDES homeschoolers in order to preserve homeschool freedom. 

Find out more about the status of these bills under 2023 Maine Legislative Watch below.

Please read more on the dangers of ESAs. 

Each year, there are a number of legislative issues that require our attention. Always be prepared to take action on an issue of importance to homeschoolers! Read our Legislative Information page to become acquainted with the Maine Legislature and the legislative process in our state.

To stay informed of any threat to homeschool freedoms, sign up to receive HOME Email Updates!  Learn more about the importance of protecting homeschool freedom.

Be ready to contact current Maine Education and Cultural Affairs Committee Members, your area's Senators and Representatives, or other legislative committee members, as needed, on Maine legislative issues of importance to homeschoolers. 

• Members of the Maine Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs and their contact information are listed here.

• Submit testimony on a bill here. 

• Choose a committee and watch or listen to a public hearing here.

• The full Directory of Bills can be found here. (New bills are added as they are printed.)

• Stay alert, informed, and be ready to take action!

• Support the work and mission of HOME. DONATE TODAY to help us preserve and protect homeschool freedom. THANK YOU for standing with HOME! 

WATCH 

LD 51, An Act to Restore Religious and Philosophical Exemptions to Immunization Requirements

Public Law 2019, chapter 154 removed the exemption from immunization requirements based on religious or philosophical beliefs for students in elementary, secondary and postsecondary schools and employees of nursery schools and certain health care facilities.  This bill reinstates the religious and philosophical exemptions.

Follow the Status of this bill. 

DEAD

WATCH 

LD 52, An Act to Allow Certain School Employees to Carry Firearms on School Property

This bill exempts a school employee from the prohibition on possessing a firearm on public school property or the property of an approved private school or discharging a firearm within 500 feet of public school property or the property of an approved private school if the school employee has successfully completed certification and training prescribed by the Board of Trustees of the Maine Criminal Justice Academy and has been authorized by the school board to possess or discharge a firearm for the purpose of enhancing the safety and security of the school and in defense of students, staff and members of the public on the school premises. The bill provides that the school employee 

is not authorized to exercise law enforcement powers.

The bill allows a school board to establish a certification standard and a training program to arm and supervise certain school employees in a manner and according to protocols as the school board determines. The bill specifies that a school board may not arm a school employee without the employee's voluntary consent and a school employee may not be censured or discriminated against for unwillingness or refusal to carry a firearm.

Follow the Status of this bill. 

POSITION: HOME will be monitoring this bill. 

ACTION NEEDED: None at this time. 

WATCH 

LD 59, An Act to Prohibit Inclusion of the COVID-19 Vaccine in the Universal Childhood 

Immunization Program

This bill prohibits the inclusion of any vaccine for COVID-19 on the list of vaccines available through the Universal Childhood Immunization Program.

Follow the Status of this bill. 

POSITION: HOME will be monitoring this bill. 

ACTION NEEDED: None at this time. 

WATCH 

LD 98, An Act to Update the Special Education Laws

This bill clarifies that providing equal opportunities for education for children with disabilities means providing equal opportunities for an appropriate education. The bill changes the age of eligibility for special education and for participation in career and technical education courses by adults who are enrolled in special education from under 20 to under 22. The bill replaces the term "pupil evaluation team" with "individualized education program team" and updates references to deafness and blindness.

Follow the Status of this bill. 

POSITION: HOME will be monitoring this bill. 

ACTION NEEDED: None at this time. 

WATCH 

LD 241, An Act to Reform Education

This bill is a concept draft pursuant to Joint Rule 208. This bill would reform education.

Follow the Status of this bill. 

DEAD

WATCH 

LD 309, An Act to Ensure Equitable Access to All Higher Education Institutions

This bill is a concept draft pursuant to Joint Rule 208. This bill would ensure equitable access to all institutions of higher education in the State.

Follow the Status of this bill. 

DEAD

WATCH 

LD 338, An Act to Allow Education Funding to Follow the Student

This bill is a concept draft pursuant to Joint Rule 208. This bill would require the state share of education funding for a student to follow the student to a charter school, private school or homeschool instruction program.

Follow the Status of this bill. 

DEAD

WATCH 

LD 345, An Act Regarding Educational Policies and Programs

This bill is a concept draft pursuant to Joint Rule 208. This bill proposes to direct the Department of Education to develop policies and programs to assist all Maine students to succeed.

Follow the Status of this bill. 

POSITION: HOME will be monitoring this bill. 

ACTION NEEDED: None at this time. 

SUPPORT 

LD 383, An Act to Restore Legislative Oversight of Rulemaking

This bill changes the designation of all rules adopted pursuant to the Maine Administrative Procedure Act to major substantive rules. 

This bill guarantees that agency rules adopted through MAPA rulemaking process be submitted to the legislature for a second hearing and a vote. This bill provides an added layer of protection to homeschoolers for any agency rules that affect homeschoolers. 

Follow the Status of this bill. 

POSITION: HOME will be monitoring this bill. 

ACTION NEEDED: None at this time. 

WATCH 

LD 436, An Act to Provide Career and Technical Education Students with Credit Toward High School Graduation for Work Completed in Career and Technical Education Centers and Regions

This bill requires school administrative units and career and technical education centers and regions to propose equivalency agreements that allow a secondary school student to gain core credit toward a high school diploma through career and technical education credit with approval from the Commissioner of Education. It also amends the high school diploma requirements to include core credit gained through equivalency agreements. 

Follow the Status of this bill. 

POSITION: HOME will be monitoring this bill. 

ACTION NEEDED: None at this time. 

WATCH 

LD 471, An Act to Make Necessary Changes to State Law

This bill is a concept draft pursuant to Joint Rule 208. This bill proposes to make necessary changes to state law.

Follow the Status of this bill. 

POSITION: HOME will be monitoring this bill. 

ACTION NEEDED: None at this time. 

WATCH

LD 535, An Act to Increase Access to Necessary Medical Care for Certain Minors

This bill is a concept draft pursuant to Joint Rule 208. This bill proposes to increase access to necessary medical care for certain minors.

Follow the Status of this bill.  

DEAD

WATCH

LD 559, An Act to Increase the Number of Hours Certain Minor Students May Work Under Certain Circumstances

This bill allows a minor 16 years of age or older and under 18 years of age enrolled in school to work up to 32 hours per week if the minor participates in an equivalent instruction program or home instruction program or is absent from school for more than 2 days in any given school week due to an alternative schedule approved by a school administrative unit superintendent.

Follow the Status of this bill. 

DEAD

WATCH

LD 631, An Act to Change the Notification Law for School 

Current law provides that a superintendent must serve or cause to be served upon the parent in hand or by registered mail a written notice that attendance of the parent's child at school is required by law.  This bill provides that the superintendent is required to make 2 documented attempts to serve the required notice upon the parent.

Follow the Status of this bill. 

PUBLIC LAW 

WATCH

LD 715, An Act to Strengthen Child Protection

This bill is a concept draft pursuant to Joint Rule 208. This bill would strengthen child protection.

Follow the Status of this bill. 

POSITION: HOME will be monitoring this bill. 

ACTION NEEDED: None at this time. 

WATCH

LD 837, An Act to Ensure College Credit Classes Taken in Secondary School Are Credited at the University Level

This bill requires an eligible institution of higher education to grant full credit to a secondary school student who successfully completes a postsecondary course at an eligible institution of higher education.

Follow the Status of this bill. 

DEAD

WATCH

LD 878, An Act to Improve Children Welfare

This bill is a concept draft pursuant to Joint Rule 208. This bill would improve child welfare by making changes to the child welfare system.

Follow the Status of this bill. 

POSITION: HOME will be monitoring this bill. 

ACTION NEEDED: None at this time. 

WATCH

LD 910, An Act to Amend the Laws of Maine

This bill is a concept draft pursuant to Joint Rule 208. This bill proposes to amend the laws of Maine.

Follow the Status of this bill. 

POSITION: HOME will be monitoring this bill. 

ACTION NEEDED: None at this time. 

WATCH

LD 1079, An Act Regarding Visitation Rights of Grandparents

This bill amends the Grandparents and Great-grandparents Visitation Act and other provisions of law concerning grandparents, including great-grandparents, by:

1. Removing the provision that terminates a grandparent's right to visitation with and access to a grandchild when that grandchild has been adopted;

2. Amending the provisions regarding standing for a grandparent to petition the court for visitation with and access to a grandchild by requiring mediation before the petition is filed, if possible;

3. Amending the provisions regarding standing for a grandparent to petition the court for visitation with and access to a grandchild when the parties are unable to accomplish mediation; and

4. Including, in the criteria included in the best interests of the child for the court to consider when ruling on a grandparent visitation petition, the effect on a grieving child who has lost a parent of being denied visitation with and access to a grandparent and any evidence that a parent or legal guardian of a child is not considering or acting in the best interests of the child.

Follow the Status of this bill. 

DEAD

SUPPORT AMENDED VERSION

LD 1332, An Act to Strengthen Work Equity Regarding Employment of Minors and Unemployment Benefits 

This bill:

1.  Establishes new minimum wages, separate from current minimum wages, for persons 14 to 17 years of age.  For persons who are 14 or 15 years of age, the minimum wage is $7.75.  For persons 16 or 17 years of age, the minimum wage is $8.50;

2.  Provides that a person who is homeschooled may work during school hours.  It also provides that a school may authorize a student to work during school hours under an agreement with the student’s parent or guardian; and

3.  Requires an individual seeking unemployment benefits to provide evidence that the individual has applied in person or through an online application portal for available work openings. 

Follow the Status of this bill. 

POSITION: Amendment needed to clarify wording. There are no longer “approved home instruction programs.” Bill wording must be amended to read, “Notice of Intent home instruction programs." HOME will be monitoring this bill. 

ACTION NEEDED: None at this time.  

WATCH

LD 1518, An Act Regarding the Rights of Parents to Withdraw Their Children from Public School Classes or Activities That Include Certain Controversial Viewpoints 

This bill allows a parent to remove the parent's child temporarily from a class or other school activity if the class or school activity conflicts with the parent's religious or moral beliefs or if the parent considers the class or school activity to espouse, promote, advance or compel the parent's child to adopt controversial viewpoints as defined in the bill."

Follow the Status of this bill. 

POSITION: HOME will be monitoring this bill. 

ACTION NEEDED: None at this time.  

AMEND OR OPPOSE

LD 1741, 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 

This bill clarifies that a school administrative unit must make suitable provisions for the education of every person within the age limits prescribed by law who reside in the school administrative unit. [Emphasis added.] The bill repeals provisions setting a limit on the total enrollment of virtual public charter schools, a limit on the number of public charter schools and a limit on the expansion of virtual public charter schools. The bill adds 2 categories of authorizers of public charter schools. The bill creates the educational choice tax credit program to allow for tax credits for donations made to certain scholarship organizations. The bill also provides an exception to school immunization requirements for students of virtual public charter schools or private schools.

Follow the Status of this bill. 

POSITION: HOME will oppose this bill unless it is amended and the dangerous wording is removed. A mandate on public schools to “make provision” for the education of every child in their school district is a broad (and vague) grant of power that is a danger to homeschool freedom.

ACTION NEEDED: Contact Education Committee Members.  

AMEND OR OPPOSE

LD 1798, An Act to Support School Choice by Establishing Empowerment Scholarship Accounts 

This bill directs the Treasurer of State to establish and the Department of Education to administer individual empowerment scholarship accounts, based on similar accounts established in the state of Arizona, which may be used by parents to pay for the education of their children outside of the public school system, including private schools, online schools or home instruction. The funding for these empowerment scholarship accounts comes from shifting 90% of the essential programs and services funding that would otherwise be provided by the State and by the school administrative unit for each child into an empowerment scholarship account. The bill specifies what educational expenditures are 

permitted, including additional expenditures for children with disabilities, and provides for 

review of spending from the accounts. 

Follow the Status of this bill. 

POSITION: HOME will oppose this bill unless it is amended to include specific language that excludes homeschoolers. Please read more on the dangers of ESAs.

ACTION NEEDED: Contact Education Committe Members!  

WATCH

LD 1838, An Act to Create the Empowerment Scholarship Account Program 

This bill establishes a program in the Department of Education to create empowerment scholarship accounts for participating students to be funded by the State and used to pay expenses for private school. 

Follow the Status of this bill. 

POSITION: HOME will be monitoring this bill. Please read more on the dangers of ESAs.

ACTION NEEDED: None at this time.  

WATCH

LD 1841, An Act to Establish the Hope and Inclusion Scholarship Program 

This bill establishes the Hope and Inclusion Scholarship Program administered by the Hope and Inclusion Scholarship Board. The board is directed to establish hope accounts that may be used by the parents or legal guardians of qualified students to pay for the education of those students enrolled in private schools. The funding for these hope accounts comes from shifting 90% of the essential programs and services funding that would otherwise be provided by the State and by the school administrative unit for each qualified student into a hope account. The bill specifies which educational expenditures are permitted and provides for review of spending from the accounts.

Follow the Status of this bill. 

POSITION: HOME will be monitoring this bill. Please read more on the dangers of ESAs.

ACTION NEEDED: None at this time.  

OPPOSE

LD 1860, An Act to Create the Educational Opportunity Account Program

This bill establishes a program in the Department of Education to create educational opportunity accounts for participating students to be funded by the State and used to pay certain educational expenses, including expenses paid to education service providers. 

Follow the Status of this bill. 

POSITION: HOME will oppose this bill unless it is amended to include specific language that excludes homeschoolers. Please read more on the dangers of ESAs.

ACTION NEEDED: Contact Education Committee Members.  

WATCH

LD 1861, An Act to Reduce Chronic Student Absenteeism

This bill requires school administrative units to establish attendance review teams or committees to address chronic absenteeism if chronic absenteeism rates exceed certain levels. An attendance review team may consist of school administrators, guidance counselors, school counselors, school social workers, teachers and representatives from community-based programs who address issues related to student attendance by providing programs and services to students who are truant and chronically absent students and their parents or guardians.

Follow the Status of this bill. 

POSITION: HOME will be monitoring this bill. 

ACTION NEEDED: None at this time.  

SUPPORT AMENDED VERSION

LD 1953, RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of 

Maine to Establish a Parental Bill of Rights 

This resolution proposes to amend the Constitution of Maine to provide that the State, any of its political subdivisions, including, but not limited to, a school board, school district or school administrative unit, or any other governmental entity may not infringe on the fundamental rights of a parent to direct the upbringing and education of that parent's minor child without demonstrating that such action is reasonable and necessary to achieve a compelling state interest and that each action is narrowly tailored and cannot be achieved by less restrictive means. It describes parental rights that are reserved to the parent of a minor child without obstruction or interference from the State, any of its political subdivisions, including, but not limited to, a school board, school district or school administrative unit, or any other governmental entity. It requires a school board, school district or school administrative unit, in consultation with parents, teachers and administrators, to develop and publicly adopt a policy to promote parental involvement in the public school system. A parent claiming a violation of these provisions may bring an action for declaratory relief, injunctive relief and money damages against the State, any of its political subdivisions, including, but not limited to, any school board, school district or school administrative unit, or any other governmental entity that the parent claims has violated these provisions.

Follow the Status of this bill. 

POSITION: HOME support's the resolution with the agreed upon amendment. 

ACTION NEEDED: None at this time.  

For more information on current federal issues of concern, please visit HSLDA.