An Act Implementing the Recommendations of the Task Force on Changes to the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Implementing Act
Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 1626
Committee Amendment CA_A_SA_A_S652 (Senate)

SENATE AMENDMENT" f} "to COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 1210, 
L.D. 1626, "An Act Implementing the Recommendations of the Task Force on Changes to 
the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Implementing Act" 
Amend the amendment by inserting after the title the following: 
'Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'Resolve, Directing Further Negotiations To Advance the Sovereignty of the 
Wabanaki Nations' ' 
Amend the amendment by striking out everything after the title and inserting the 
following: 
'Amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and inserting the following: 
'Preamble. Whereas, on June 10, 2019, the members of the 129th Legislature 
adopted Joint Resolution 2019, S.P. 622, recognizing that the federally recognized Indian 
tribes within the State of Maine, referred to in this resolve as "the Wabanaki Nations," 
should enjoy the same rights, privileges, powers and immunities as other federally 
recognized Indian tribes within the United States and supporting a collaborative process to 
develop amendments to An Act to Implement the Maine Indian Claims Settlement, referred 
to in this resolve as "the Maine Implementing Act," to clarify that the Wabanaki Nations 
enjoy the same rights, privileges, powers and immunities as other federally recognized 
Indian tribes within the United States; and 
Whereas, the 129th Legislature subsequently passed Joint Order 2019, H.P. 1307, 
recognizing that the Maine Implementing Act has hindered the Wabanaki Nations' ability 
to exercise tribal sovereignty for the benefit of their people and establishing the Task Force 
on Changes to the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Implementing Act, composed of 
members of the Legislature and the chiefs of the 4 federally recognized Indian tribes in the 
State or their designees as well as nonvoting representatives from the Office of the 
Governor, the Office of the Attorney General and the Maine Indian-Tribal State 
Commission, to review the Maine Implementing Act and to propose consensus 
recommendations for suggested changes to that Act; and 
Whereas, in January 2020, the Task Force on Changes to the Maine Indian Claims 
Settlement Implementing Act submitted a report to the Legislature setting forth 22 
SENATE AMENDMENT 
~os 
SENATE AMENDMENT "/JI "to COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 1210, L.D. 1626 L $- l.Q.SZ,) 
consensus recommendations for amending the Maine Implementing Act related to 
alternative dispute resolution, tribal-state collaboration and consultation, the allocation of 
criminal jurisdiction, regulation of fishing and hunting on tribal lands, regulation of natural 
resources and land use on tribal lands, taxation authority, the allocation of civil legislative 
and adjudicatory jurisdiction, the application in the State of federal laws enacted for the 
benefit of Indian country and tribal land acquisition; and 
Whereas, the members of the 130th Legislature are encouraged by the common 
ground identified during the discussions that took place over the past year between 
representatives of the Office of the Attorney General, the Office of the Governor and the 
Chiefs of the Passamaquoddy Tribe, the Penobscot Nation and the Houlton Band of 
Maliseet Indians. The discussions were convened by the Attorney General and led to 
legislation proposing a process for enhanced tribal-state collaboration, reforming the 
State's tax laws to provide economic and financial benefits to tribal governments, tribal 
members and tribal entities and providing the Wabanaki Nations the exclusive opportunity 
to engage in the new mobile sports betting market in this State as a mechanism of economic 
development; and 
Whereas, the members of the 130th Legislature continue to support a collaborative 
process to identify common ground and develop proposed legislation including 
amendments to the Maine Implementing Act to enhance the sovereignty of the Wabanaki 
Nations and to increase the degree to which the Wabanaki Nations enjoy the same rights, 
privileges, powers and immunities as other federally recognized Indian tribes within the 
United States; now, therefore, be it 
Sec. 1. Attorney General to invite interested parties to continue discussions 
of tribal sovereignty. Resolved: That the Attorney General shall invite the Chiefs of 
the Passamaquoddy Tribe, the Penobscot Nation and the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians 
as well as representatives of the Office of the Governor to improve relations between the 
Wabanaki Nations and state and local governments and to develop recommendations for 
proposed legislation including amendments to the Maine Implementing Act to enhance the 
sovereignty of the Wabanaki Nations. The recommendations may relate to: 
A. Application in this State of federal laws enacted for the benefit of Indian country; 
B. Tribal land acquisition; 
C. Jurisdiction over natural resources on tribal lands; 
D. Criminaljurisdiction; and 
E. Civil legislative and adjudicatory jurisdiction, including tribal sovereign immunity 
and state court recognition and enforcement of tribal court child support orders and 
other orders in family matters proceedings. 
Sec. 2. Facilitation and consultation. Resolved: That representatives of the 
Office of the Attorney General shall facilitate the discussions between the Office of the 
Governor and the Chiefs of the Wabanaki Nations that participate in the discussions 
pursuant to section 1 and shall seek the advice and consultation of representatives of 
affected state agencies, as necessary. 
Sec. 3. Updating the Legislature. Resolved: That the chairs of the Joint Standing 
Committee on Judiciary shall request periodic updates on the progress of the discussions 
SENATE AMENDMENT 
~o'=' 
SENATEAMENDMENT" A "toCOMMITTEEAMENDMENT"A"toH.P.1210,L.D.1626 (5-/.o60 
pursuant to section 1 from the Attorney General, the Office of the Governor and the Chiefs 
of the Wabanaki Nations. 
Sec. 4. Report. Resolved: That the Attorney General, the Governor and the Chiefs 
of the Passamaquoddy Tribe, the Penobscot Nation and the Houlton Band of Maliseet 
Indians may individually or together submit a report summarizing the progress of the 
discussions pursuant to section 1, along with any recommended legislation, to the joint 
standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over judiciary matters no later 
than February 1, 2023. The committee is authorized to submit legislation to any session of 
the 131 st Legislature related to the report or reports.' ' 
Amend the amendment by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or 
section number to read consecutively. 
SUMMARY 
This amendment amends Committee Amendment "A" to replace the bill with a resolve 
directing the Attorney General to invite the Chiefs of the Passamaquoddy Tribe, the 
Penobscot Nation and the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians as well as representatives of 
the Office of the Governor to improve relations between the federally recognized Indian 
tribes within the State and state and local governments and to develop recommendations 
for proposed legislation including amendments to An Act To Implement the Maine Indian 
Claims Settlement to enhance the sovereignty of the federally recognized Indian tribes 
within the State related to the application in this State of federal laws enacted for the benefit 
oflndian country; tribal land acquisition; jurisdiction over natural resources on tribal lands; 
criminal jurisdiction; and civil legislative 
djudicatory jurisdiction, including tribal 
sovereign immuni 
a d state court rec gniti n and enforcement of tribal court child 
support orders an oth r orders • family 
atte s proceedings. 
SPONSORED~YXY.'.: ~~_::__:::__.!__~:::=:::::::::::=:==--..._ 
(Senator BREEN, C.) 
COUNTY: Cumberland 
~ 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
SENATE AMENDMENT 
Revised: 04/25/22 feac:,. 
LD 1626 
LR 1341(05) 
An Act Implementing the Recommendations of the Task Force on Changes to the Maine Indian 
Claims Settlement Implementing Act 
Fiscal Note for Senate Amendment ',4'' to Committee Amendment "A" ($-{QS-f;) 
Sponsor: Sen. Breen of Cumberland 
Net Cost (Savings) 
General Fund 
Appropriations/ Allocations 
General Fund 
Other Special Revenue Funds 
Revenue 
General Fund 
Other Special Revenue Funds 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
FY 2021-22 
$0 
$0 
$0 
$0 
$0 
FY 2022-23 
($44,650) 
$0 
($1,000) 
$44,650 
$2,350 
Projections 
FY2023-24 
($218,000) 
($66,000) 
($1,000) 
$152,000 
$59,500 
Projections 
FY2024-25 
($201,400) 
$0 
($1,000) 
$201,400 
$62,100 
This amendment replaces the bill, eliminating the General Fund revenue loss and costs in the bill. Any additional costs 
resulting from the amendment are assumed to be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. 
LR1341(05) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1