LD 785 Maine Senate · 132nd Legislature (2025-2026)

An Act To Enact The Remaining Recommendations Of The Task Force On Changes To The Maine Indian Claims Settlement Implementing Act

LD 785 clarifies and updates Maine's Indian Claims Settlement Act by defining "sustenance use" for tribal members as noncommercial consumption within specific tribal territories (Passamaquoddy, Penobscot, Mi'kmaq, or Houlton Band lands) or within tribal households, excluding commercial sales. It removes an outdated paragraph from the law (Sec. 1) and updates the act's official name (Sec. 3). The bill also preserves the legislative findings about resolving tribal land claims (Sec. 4) but does not alter jurisdictional or land ownership arrangements. This directly affects tribal members accessing resources within designated territories under the settlement framework.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2026
House Passage
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
Apr 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Mar 4, 2025 Signed Apr 15, 2026
Floor votes · Senate Apr 13, 2026 · House Apr 13, 2026

How they voted

207
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 28
Apr 13, 2026
D Democratic18
17 Yea 1
94% Yea
I Independent1
1 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican9
2 Yea 7 Nay
77% Nay
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
31
Key actions
8
Committee
5
Apr 15, 2026
Signed into law
Signed by Governor
executive
Apr 14, 2026
Upper · Passed
Subsequently, PASSED TO BE ENACTED in concurrence.
upper
Apr 13, 2026
Legislature · Passed
Reported Out - OTP-AM/OTP-AM/OTP-AM
legislature
Apr 13, 2026
Lower · Passed
PASSED TO BE ENACTED.
lower
Apr 13, 2026
Lower · Passed
Committee Amendment "A" (S-694) was READ and ADOPTED.
lower
Apr 13, 2026
Lower · Passed
On motion of Representative KUHN of Falmouth, REPORT A Ought to Pass as Amended was ACCEPTED.
lower
Apr 13, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee Amendment "A" (S-694) READ and ADOPTED
upper
Apr 13, 2026
Upper · Passed
On motion by Senator CARNEY of Cumberland The Report A Ought to Pass As Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (S-694) Report ACCEPTED.
upper
1 primary · 8 co-sponsors

Sponsors