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MaineLD 1900132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026)House

An Act to Bring Parity to the State's Recognition of the Wabanaki Nations' Authority to Provide Electric Power Districts and Child Support Enforcement

Sponsored By: Aaron Dana (T)

Signed by Governor

NATIVE AMERICANSNATIVE AMERICANS - WABANAKI PEOPLE

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Tribal child support tied to state licenses

The law lets the Penobscot Nation and the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians use state licensing pressure to collect child support. If you get a notice, you have 20 days to ask for a hearing in the tribal court; that request pauses certification. If you still do not comply 21 days after service, or a final tribal‑court order finds noncompliance, the tribe can certify you to state boards. Boards can deny, not renew, or revoke professional or recreational licenses and registrations until the tribe confirms you are back in compliance. You may enter a written payment plan, but you must share full financial records and keep current payments. Once you comply, boards can restore your license and may waive some reissue steps in the public interest. State boards and the fish and wildlife agency must share, at least yearly, machine‑readable license and watercraft, snowmobile, and ATV registration data (including SSN or FEIN) with these tribes to help locate obligors.

Tribes can form electric power districts

The law lets the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, Mi'kmaq Nation, Penobscot Nation, and Passamaquoddy Tribe create electric power districts on their trust lands or Indian territory. A district has powers like a town utility. It can make electricity inside the district and buy or sell it for use there without commission approval. To run transmission, distribution, or supply service, the district must get Public Utilities Commission approval for the service area. The district can issue revenue bonds, its property is exempt from property tax, and with commission approval it can use eminent domain.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Aaron Dana

    T • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 95 • No: 79

Senate vote • 6/5/2025

ACCEPT MAJORITY OUGHT TO PASS REPORT

Yes: 20 • No: 12

House vote • 6/4/2025

ACC MAJ OUGHT TO PASS REP

Yes: 75 • No: 67

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by Governor, ACTPUB Chapter 303

    6/12/2025

  2. PASSED TO BE ENACTED, in concurrence.

    6/9/2025Senate

  3. PASSED TO BE ENACTED. Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    6/9/2025House

  4. Reports ReadOn motion by Senator CARNEY of Cumberland the Majority Ought to Pass Report ACCEPTED. PREVAILED Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 374 Yeas 20 - Nays 12 - Excused 3 - Absent 0 Bill READ ONCE. Under suspension of the Rules, READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED in concurrence.

    6/5/2025Senate

  5. Reports READ.On motion of Representative KUHN of Falmouth, the Majority Ought to Pass Report was ACCEPTED.ROLL CALL NO. 328(Yeas 75 - Nays 67 - Absent 9 - Excused 0)The Bill was READ ONCE.Under suspension of the rules, the Bill was given its SECOND READING without REFERENCE to the Committee on Bills in the Second Reading.The Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED.Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    6/4/2025House

  6. Received by the Clerk of the House on May 1, 2025.The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on JUDICIARY pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to Joint Rule 401.

    5/1/2025House

Bill Text

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