legislative efforts.
Pro-life advocacy.
Maine Right to Life actively engages in legislative advocacy to promote pro-life values. Our organization works closely with state legislators to draft, support, and advance bills that protect the sanctity of life at all stages. Through educational efforts, public awareness campaigns, and grassroots mobilization, we encourage citizens to voice their support for pro-life legislation.
We also monitor legislative developments to oppose measures that could expand access to abortion or legalize practices like assisted suicide. By providing expert testimony and educating policymakers, the organization seeks to influence state laws to align with its mission of preserving and defending human life.
legislative update.
RTL updates this page as needed during the Maine Legislative session and in the “off” season, we strive to update each Friday. Thank you for checking back often!
Update 04/17/26:
Legislative Update – 132nd Maine Legislature done?
The Maine Legislature was scheduled to adjourn on April 15. They actually closed on April 14th by cancelling the last day of session and then adjourning until April 29th. In fact April 29th is now on the maine.gov schedule.
After the Maine Legislature ends their business, they must give the Governor up to 10 days to consider the last business passed bills. The Governor can sign onto the bill and it passes into law, she can not sign on but also not attempt to stop the bill and after 10 days it becomes law or she can veto a bill during the 10 days in which case it will go back to the Maine Legislature on Veto Day (April 29th this year). The Legislature can reconsider any bill the governor vetoed and by voting again and gaining 75% or more of the votes in the House and in the Senate, it becomes law. If they do not get enough votes then the legislation dies due to the Governor’s Veto.
MAINE LEGISLATIVE NOTES
When does a New Law Take Affect?
Most Bills become law after passing, the Governor signing the bill and then 90 days after the session ends.
Emergency Bills take effect immediately after the Governor signs the Bill.
See individual bill updates in the columns below.
What is up next?
The Maine State House and Maine State Senate are currently scheduled to meet next on April 29th with 10:00 AM start times. This would complete their work if they are on task, it is “Veto Day.”
Maine News as Session Winds Down
Are you a “Policy Wonk” and wish to dive into the recently passed (and signed by Governor) Supplemental Budget?
Supplemental Budget Amendment Text – LD 2212 Amendment text C-A H-996: PDF Format, MS-Word Format Fiscal Note PDF, Fiscal Note Text Bill Tracking for LD 2212
Want to check on any and all Maine Legislation worked on in 2026 (or in past years)?
https://legislature.maine.gov/mrs-search/billtext.html
The Supplemental Budget, Continued….
The Supplemental Budget passed in the Maine House and Maine State Senate and then an enthusiastic Gov. Mills signed it into law. As a Maine citizen there is much legislative spending here to offend all Maine people but given this is Maine Right To Life we will mention:
*(Almost forgot) $6,000,000 in one time funding 2025 for Abortion Providers
$2,225,000 in one time funding for 2026 for Abortion Providers
$5,000,000 in all future years to be use if abortion providers have federal funding cuts.
*Maine’s Foster Care system, be clear, children in state custody are dying at the highest national rate and the legislature kicked the ball down the road, it would seem. LD 1893 was passed and signed. (MRTL supported LD 127 which appears to have not passed. We shall see what is different upon the passage of this bill that changes responsibilities and forms a new. high level, or restructured independent watchdog office focused on children’s services in Maine.
https://legislature.maine.gov/backend/App/services/getDocument.aspx?documentId=123795
Frustrated with This Majority Government and wish to send a message?
-Hey Mike? When can I expect to receive my check from $300. From the Governor?
Currently there is no timeline, our understanding is that the checks have been approved. History suggests that in previous events like this – it took a month to begin and then the checks were sent out in “waves,” not all at once.
If you plan, like I do, to donate the $300. To Maine Right To Life and then send Gov. Mills a card thanking her for supporting Life! (Ask and we will send you a MRTL Note Card to use)
Maine Right To Life
PO Box 257
Auburn, ME 04212-0257
(or use our website to donate as well! https://mainerighttolife.org/donate/)
Governor Janet Mills
1 State House Station
Augusta, Maine 04333
207-287-3531
In National News
National Right To Life: This is the front page of the National Right To Life Webpage. They are seeking people to sign a petition to support the Apple Act, which would allow women to seek justice against Big Abortion. The Abortion Pill Provider Liability and Education Act (APPLE Act) empowers women to hold abortion pill manufacturers, distributors, prescribers, and facilitators legally accountable for death, trauma, or injuries caused by these dangerous drugs. It also ensures that women are fully informed, before taking abortion pills, of their right to seek justice if they are harmed. Help us get the APPLE Act passed in your state by reading the information below and signing the petition. Now is the time to act! https://nrlc.org/
Also,
The Trump Administration defunded Planned parenthood for 1 year last year, this ends on July 4th. Congress has rules and limits, our understanding is that Congress can do this for a 10 year period, the votes were not there to do so this round and thus…1 year. We will hear some future plans later today and let you know what our allies are doing to ensure this defunding continues.
FYI
National Right To Life 55th Annual Conference–Arlington, Virginia–June 12 and 13, 2026–MRTL will be there! https://nrlconvention.com/
LifeNews: A Much Different Reception in this Administration https://www.lifenews.com/2026/04/17/trump-admin-hosts-pro-life-advocates-at-white-house-after-biden-caught-targeting-them/
Thank you for standing with us. Together, we remain committed, vigilant, and ready
to act for the dignity and value of every human life.
concept draft bills.
This means the intent of the bill is not being presented at this point. We do not yet know if we will support or oppose the content/intent of the bill.
LD 426-An Act to Protect the Human Rights of Individuals in the State
Sponsor: Rep. Kuhn
Committee: Judiciary
Committee Vote: Ought to Pass and will move to the House and State Senate.
LD 1119-An Act Regarding Reproductive Health Care
Sponsor: Rep. Mooney
Committee: Committee: Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services
Update: We are hearing the bill sponsor will be “killing” this bill (ending it).
LD 1418-An Act to Protect Access to Reproductive Health Care, Including Fertility Treatments and Contraceptives
Sponsor: Sen Nangle
Committee: Health and Human Services
Committee Voted: Ought Not to Pass-Bill Terminated
bills we support.
LD 127 An Act to Strengthen Legislative Oversight of Government Agencies and Programs by Reaffirming the Legislature’s Access to Confidential Records
This bill was carried over from 2025. With the recent announcements of 2 more child deaths, it is past time to shed integrity on the issue that shows Maine is the leading state for deaths of children connected to the state DHHS in the past few years. The bill summary states: This bill provides that the Government Oversight Committee may receive information and records that are privileged and confidential and that that information and those records are exempt from public disclosure.
Sponsor: Sen. Hickman
Committee: Judiciary
Committee Vote: Ought to pass will move to the House and State Senate.
bills we oppose.
LD 335-An Act to Safeguard Reproductive Rights
Update: One source tells me since there is money in the budget for Big Abortion, LD 335 will be left to “die”.
LD 355 would create a Maine funding stream in future years to protect Big Abortion in Maine when the Federal Government follows the law and denies taxpayer funding for abortion. An amount of $5,000,000 per year was suggested by the sponsor.
New SUMMARY
Sponsor: Rep. Kuhn
Committee: Health and Human Services
Work Session: 01/06/26
Public Hearing: February 25, 2026 @ 1:30pm
Work Session: Tuesday March 10, 2026 at 1pm
Committee Vote: Ought to Pass in a split vote and will move to the House and State Senate.
LD 2212 (Supplemental Budget) An Act Making Supplemental Appropriations and Allocations from the General Fund and Other Funds for the Expenditures of State Government and Changing Certain Provisions of the Law Necessary to the Proper Operations of State Government for the Fiscal Years Ending June 30, 2026 and June 30, 2027 –
A one-time funding of $2.25 Million has been added to the supplemental budget for Maine’s Big Abortion.
Our concern here is this would even more funding for them when you consider the LD 335 funding that is pending.
Sponsor: Rep. Drew Gattine of Westbrook
Committee: Appropriations & Financial Affairs
Vote: This bill passed and Gov. Mills has signed it into law.
support pro-life legislation & legislators.
Maine Right to Life’s statewide structure is uniquely and ideally suited for coordinating support for
pro-life legislation as well as blocking legislation harmful to the protection of life.
Maine Legislator Voting Records
2026 Maine Elections
Primary Election June 2026
General Election November 3, 2026
Convention Season Approaches
You can attend either political convention. Towns and cities have a number of delegates according to population. Contact the political party you affiliate with to see if there are still delegate spots or alternate delegate spots, typically these do not all get used. Maine Right To Life and The Knights Of Columbus will be at the Republican Convention, both days with a “Life” table set up.
Maine Democratic Convention May 1–2 | Thompson’s Point, Portland https://www.mainedems.org/convention
Maine Republican Convention April 24–25 | Augusta Civic Center https://mainegop.com/convention-2026/
What to know for both:
ID is required for entry
Delegates are selected by local town/city committees
Delegates can vote on party business
Registration fees increase closer to the event
Non-delegates may attend with limited access (no voting)
Food and special events are available for purchase
Exhibits and informational tables will be present
*In the coming weeks/months -Local Party Caucuses
*June 9, 2026 – Maine Primary Day
*June 9, 20226 – Maine House #29 Special Election to fill vacant seat
*November 3, 2026 – US and Maine Election Day
Are you registered to Vote in Maine? https://www.maine.gov/sos/elections-voting/registering-to-vote
Maine US Senate 2026 announced candidates
- Sen. Susan Collins (R)
- David Costello (D)
- Graham Platner (D)
- Janet Mills (D)
- Tim Rich (I)
Maine Governor 2026 announced candidates
- Robert J. Wessels (R)
- Robert (Bobby) Charles (R)
- David Jones (R)
- Owen McCarthy (R)
- Ben Midgley (R)
- Jonathan Bush (R)
- Garrett Mason (R)
- Shenna Bellows (D)
- Troy Jackson (D)
- Angus King, III (D)
- Hannah Pingree (D)
- Nirav Shah (D)
- Rick Bennett (I)
- Alexander Murchison (I)
- John Glowa Sr (I)
- Edward Crockett (I)
- Derek Levasseur (I)
get involved by attending and/or Providing testimony at a public hearing.
Visit Maine.gov for explanations and instructions for testifying.
Visit the Legislative Committee’s on-line calendar.
- Be prepared for the day. Depending on the number of people testifying, it could go for many hours.
- Testimony is usually 1-3 minutes long per person.
- Personal short stories or experiences related to the bill are especially impactful.
- Bring 20 paper copies of your testimony with you to give the committee
- See example below on how to address the committee in verbal and written testimonies.
- Submit testimony online directly on www.mainelegislature.org/testimony/
- Personal short stories or experiences related to the bill are especially impactful
- Know the LD# and committee
- See the example below on how to address the committee in verbal and written testimonies.
(Note: start with addressing the Senator and Representative leads of the committee and the committee itself, state who you are and where you are from, state if you support/oppose, and the LD# and title of the bill and sponsor.)
Judiciary Committee example:
Senator Carney and Representative Kuhn and distinguished members of the Maine Judiciary Committee. My name is __________ from __(town)___. I am here to testify in _____support of/opposition of_____
______LD# and bill title and sponsor_____.
Health and Human Services Committee example:
Senator Ingwersen and Representative Meyer and distinguished members of the Maine Health and Human Services Committee. My name is __________ from __(town)___. I am here to testify in _____support of/opposition of_______LD# and bill title and sponsor_____.
Maine State and Local Government Committee example:
Senator Baldacci and Representative Salisbury and distinguished members of the Maine State and Local Government Committee. My name is _________, from ___(town)___. I am here to testify in ____support/opposition of____ ____LD# and bill title and sponsor____.