An Act to Add Political Affiliation as a Protected Class to the Maine
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 0010
Sponsors: LIBBY
Amends: 5 MRSA §4552, 5 MRSA §4553, 5 MRSA §4571, 5 MRSA §4572, 5 MRSA §4581, 5 MRSA §4581-A, 5 MRSA §4583, 5 MRSA §4591, 5 MRSA §4592, 5 MRSA §4595, 5 MRSA §4596, 5 MRSA §4601, 5 MRSA §4602, 5 MRSA §4630

Legislative Document
No. 10
S.P. 23
In Senate, January 8, 2025
An Act to Add Political Affiliation as a Protected Class to the Maine 
Human Rights Act
Received by the Secretary of the Senate on January 6, 2025.  Referred to the Committee on 
Judiciary pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator LIBBY of Cumberland.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  5 MRSA §4552, as amended by PL 2021, c. 366, §1, is further amended to 
read:
§4552.  Policy
To protect the public health, safety and welfare, it is declared to be the policy of this 
State to keep continually in review all practices infringing on the basic human right to a 
life with dignity, and the causes of these practices, so that corrective measures may, where 
possible, be promptly recommended and implemented, and to prevent discrimination in 
employment, housing, education, extension of credit or access to public accommodations 
on account of an individual's actual or perceived race, color, sex, sexual orientation or 
gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, political affiliation, ancestry or 
national origin and in employment, extension of credit and access to public 
accommodations on the basis of age; and in employment and housing on the basis of 
familial status; and in employment because of the previous assertion of a claim or right 
against a prior employer under former Title 39 or Title 39‑A and because of protected 
activity under Title 26, chapter 7, subchapter 5‑B; and to prevent discrimination or 
retaliation on the basis of an assertion of rights under this Act or interference with an 
individual's right to be free from discrimination prohibited under this Act.
Sec. 2.  5 MRSA §4553, sub-§6-B is enacted to read:
6-B.  Party.  "Party" has the same meaning as in Title 21-A, section 1, subsection 28.
Sec. 3.  5 MRSA §4553, sub-§8-I is enacted to read:
8-I.  Political affiliation.  "Political affiliation" means belonging to or endorsing a 
party or a particular political philosophy, creed or ideal.
Sec. 4.  5 MRSA §4571, as amended by PL 2021, c. 366, §4, is further amended to 
read:
§4571.  Right to freedom from discrimination in employment
The opportunity for an individual to secure employment without discrimination 
because of race, color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental 
disability, religion, political affiliation, age, ancestry, national origin or familial status is 
recognized as and declared to be a civil right.  The provisions of this subchapter regarding 
political affiliation do not apply to an employer that is a party or is affiliated with, is an 
agent of or that performs services on behalf of a party.
Sec. 5.  5 MRSA §4572, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2021, c. 293, Pt. B, §2; c. 366, 
§5 and c. 476, §1, is further amended to read:
1.  Unlawful employment discrimination.  It is unlawful employment discrimination, 
in violation of this Act, except when based on a bona fide occupational qualification:
A.  For any employer to fail or refuse to hire or otherwise discriminate against any 
applicant for employment because of race or color, sex, sexual orientation or gender 
identity, physical or mental disability, religion, political affiliation, age, ancestry, 
national origin or familial status, because of the applicant's previous assertion of a 
claim or right under former Title 39 or Title 39‑A, because of previous actions taken 
by the applicant that are protected under Title 26, chapter 7, subchapter 5‑B or because 
the applicant sought and received an order of protection under Title 19‑A, former 
section 4007 or Title 19-A, section 4110; or, because of those reasons, to discharge an 
employee or discriminate with respect to hire, tenure, promotion, transfer, 
compensation, terms, conditions or privileges of employment or any other matter 
directly or indirectly related to employment; or, in recruiting of individuals for 
employment or in hiring them, to utilize any employment agency that the employer 
knows or has reasonable cause to know discriminates against individuals because of 
their race or color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental 
disability, religion, political affiliation, age, ancestry, national origin or familial status, 
because of their previous assertion of a claim or right under former Title 39 or Title 
39‑A, because of previous actions that are protected under Title 26, chapter 7, 
subchapter 5‑B or because the applicant sought and received an order of protection 
under Title 19‑A, former section 4007 or Title 19-A, section 4110.
(1)  This paragraph does not apply to discrimination governed by Title 39‑A, 
section 353;
B.  For any employment agency to fail or refuse to classify properly, refer for 
employment or otherwise discriminate against any individual because of race or color, 
sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, 
political affiliation, age, ancestry, national origin or familial status, because of the 
individual's previous assertion of a claim or right under former Title 39 or Title 39‑A, 
because of previous actions taken by the individual that are protected under Title 26, 
chapter 7, subchapter 5‑B or because the individual sought and received an order of 
protection under Title 19‑A, former section 4007 or Title 19-A, section 4110; or to 
comply with an employer's request for the referral of job applicants if a request 
indicates either directly or indirectly that the employer will not afford full and equal 
employment opportunities to individuals regardless of their race or color, sex, sexual 
orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, political 
affiliation, age, ancestry, national origin or familial status, because of previous 
assertion of a claim or right under former Title 39 or Title 39‑A, because of previous 
actions that are protected under Title 26, chapter 7, subchapter 5‑B or because the 
individual sought and received an order of protection under Title 19‑A, former section 
4007 or Title 19-A, section 4110;
C.  For any labor organization to exclude from apprenticeship or membership or to 
deny full and equal membership rights to any applicant for membership because of race 
or color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, 
religion, political affiliation, age, ancestry, national origin or familial status, because 
of the applicant's previous assertion of a claim or right under former Title 39 or Title 
39‑A, because of previous actions taken by the applicant that are protected under Title 
26, chapter 7, subchapter 5‑B or because the applicant sought and received an order of 
protection under Title 19‑A, former section 4007 or Title 19-A, section 4110; or, 
because of those reasons, to deny a member full and equal membership rights, expel 
from membership, penalize or otherwise discriminate with respect to hire, tenure, 
promotion, transfer, compensation, terms, conditions or privileges of employment, 
representation, grievances or any other matter directly or indirectly related to 
membership or employment, whether or not authorized or required by the constitution 
or bylaws of that labor organization or by a collective labor agreement or other 
contract; to fail or refuse to classify properly or refer for employment or otherwise 
discriminate against any member because of race or color, sex, sexual orientation or 
gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, political affiliation, age, 
ancestry, national origin or familial status, because of the member's previous assertion 
of a claim or right under former Title 39 or Title 39‑A, because of previous actions 
taken by the member that are protected under Title 26, chapter 7, subchapter 5‑B or 
because the applicant sought and received an order of protection under Title 19‑A, 
former section 4007 or Title 19-A, section 4110; or to cause or attempt to cause an 
employer to discriminate against an individual in violation of this section, except that 
it is lawful for labor organizations and employers to adopt a maximum age limitation 
in apprenticeship programs, if the employer or labor organization obtains prior 
approval from the Maine Human Rights Commission of any maximum age limitation 
employed in an apprenticeship program.  The commission shall approve the age 
limitation if a reasonable relationship exists between the maximum age limitation 
employed and a legitimate expectation of the employer in receiving a reasonable return 
upon the employer's investment in an apprenticeship program.  The employer or labor 
organization bears the burden of demonstrating that such a relationship exists;
D.  For any employer, employment agency or labor organization, prior to employment 
or admission to membership of any individual, to:
(1)  Elicit or attempt to elicit information directly or indirectly pertaining to race 
or color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, 
religion, political affiliation, age, ancestry, national origin or familial status, any 
previous assertion of a claim or right under former Title 39 or Title 39‑A, any 
previous actions that are protected under Title 26, chapter 7, subchapter 5‑B or any 
previous actions seeking and receiving an order of protection under Title 19‑A, 
former section 4007 or Title 19-A, section 4110;
(2)  Make or keep a record of race or color, sex, sexual orientation or gender 
identity, physical or mental disability, religion, political affiliation, age, ancestry, 
national origin or familial status, any previous assertion of a claim or right under 
former Title 39 or Title 39‑A, any previous actions that are protected under Title 
26, chapter 7, subchapter 5‑B or any previous actions seeking and receiving an 
order of protection under Title 19‑A, former section 4007 or Title 19-A, section 
4110, except that, in relation to physical or mental disability, when an employer 
requires a physical or mental examination prior to employment, a privileged record 
of that examination is permissible if made and kept in compliance with this Act;
(3)  Use any form of application for employment, or personnel or membership 
blank containing questions or entries directly or indirectly pertaining to race or 
color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, 
religion, political affiliation, age, ancestry, national origin or familial status, any 
previous assertion of a claim or right under former Title 39 or Title 39‑A, any 
previous actions that are protected under Title 26, chapter 7, subchapter 5‑B or any 
previous actions seeking and receiving an order of protection under Title 19‑A, 
former section 4007 or Title 19-A, section 4110.  This section does not prohibit 
any officially recognized government agency from keeping records permitted to be 
kept under this Act in order to provide free services to individuals requesting 
rehabilitation or employment assistance;
(4)  Print, publish or cause to be printed or published any notice or advertisement 
relating to employment or membership indicating any preference, limitation, 
specification or discrimination based upon race or color, sex, sexual orientation or 
gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, political affiliation, age, 
ancestry, national origin or familial status, any previous assertion of a claim or 
right under former Title 39 or Title 39‑A, any previous actions that are protected 
under Title 26, chapter 7, subchapter 5‑B or any previous actions seeking and 
receiving an order of protection under Title 19‑A, former section 4007 or Title 
19-A, section 4110; or
(5)  Establish, announce or follow a policy of denying or limiting, through a quota 
system or otherwise, employment or membership opportunities of any group 
because of the race or color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or 
mental disability, religion, political affiliation, age, ancestry, national origin or 
familial status, because of the previous assertion of a claim or right under former 
Title 39 or Title 39‑A, because of previous actions that are protected under Title 
26, chapter 7, subchapter 5‑B or because of any previous actions seeking and 
receiving an order of protection under Title 19‑A, former section 4007 or Title 
19-A, section 4110, of that group; or
E.  For an employer, employment agency or labor organization to discriminate in any 
manner against individuals because they have opposed a practice that would be a 
violation of this Act or because they have made a charge, testified or assisted in any 
investigation, proceeding or hearing under this Act.  This paragraph does not limit the 
liability of persons pursuant to section 4633.
Sec. 6.  5 MRSA §4581, first ¶, as amended by PL 2021, c. 366, §7 and c. 476, §2, 
is further amended to read:
The opportunity for an individual to secure housing in accordance with the individual's 
ability to pay, and without discrimination because of race, color, sex, sexual orientation or 
gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, political affiliation, ancestry, 
national origin or familial status or because the individual has sought and received an order 
of protection under Title 19‑A, former section 4007 or Title 19-A, section 4110, is hereby 
recognized as and declared to be a civil right.
Sec. 7.  5 MRSA §4581-A, as amended by PL 2021, c. 366, §§8 to 10 and c. 476, 
§3, is further amended to read:
§4581-A.  Unlawful housing discrimination
It is unlawful housing discrimination, in violation of this Act:
1.  Sale or rental of housing and other prohibited practices.  For any owner, lessee, 
sublessee, managing agent or other person having the right to sell or rent or manage a 
housing accommodation, or any agent of these, to:
A.  Make or cause to be made any written or oral inquiry concerning the race or color, 
sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, 
political affiliation, ancestry, national origin, familial status or any previous actions 
seeking and receiving an order of protection under Title 19‑A, former section 4007 or 
Title 19-A, section 4110 of any prospective purchaser, occupant or tenant of the 
housing accommodation;
B.  Refuse to show or refuse to sell, rent, lease, let or otherwise deny to or withhold 
from any person the housing accommodation because of race or color, sex, sexual 
orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, political 
affiliation, ancestry, national origin or familial status or because the person sought and 
received an order of protection under Title 19‑A, former section 4007 or Title 19-A, 
section 4110;
C.  Make, print or publish or cause to be made, printed or published any notice, 
statement or advertisement relating to the sale, rental or lease of the housing 
accommodation that indicates any preference, limitation or discrimination based upon 
race or color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, 
religion, political affiliation, ancestry, national origin, familial status or any previous 
actions seeking and receiving an order of protection under Title 19‑A, former section 
4007 or Title 19-A, section 4110 or an intention to make any such preference, limitation 
or discrimination;
D.  Discriminate against any person because of race or color, sex, sexual orientation or 
gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, political affiliation, ancestry, 
national origin or familial status or because the person sought and received an order of 
protection under Title 19‑A, former section 4007 or Title 19-A, section 4110 in the 
price, terms, conditions or privileges of the sale, rental or lease of any housing 
accommodations or in the furnishing of facilities or services in connection with any 
housing accommodations; or
E.  Evict or attempt to evict any tenant of any housing accommodation because of the 
race or color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, 
religion, political affiliation, ancestry, national origin or familial status of the tenant or 
because the tenant sought and received an order of protection under Title 19‑A, former 
section 4007 or Title 19-A, section 4110;
2.  Selling, brokering or appraising of housing.  For any real estate broker or real 
estate salesperson, or any agent of these, to:
A.  Fail or refuse to show any person a housing accommodation listed for sale, lease or 
rent because of race or color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or 
mental disability, religion, political affiliation, ancestry, national origin or familial 
status or because the person sought and received an order of protection under Title 
19‑A, former section 4007 or Title 19-A, section 4110;
B.  Misrepresent, for the purpose of discriminating because of race or color, sex, sexual 
orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, political 
affiliation, ancestry, national origin, familial status or any previous actions seeking and 
receiving an order of protection under Title 19‑A, former section 4007 or Title 19-A, 
section 4110, the availability or asking price of a housing accommodation listed for 
sale, lease or rent or for such reason to fail to communicate to the person having the 
right to sell, rent or lease the housing accommodation any offer for the same made by 
any applicant;
C.  In any other manner to discriminate against any applicant for a housing 
accommodation because of race or color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, 
physical or mental disability, religion, political affiliation, ancestry, national origin or 
familial status or because the applicant sought and received an order of protection under 
Title 19‑A, former section 4007 or Title 19-A, section 4110;
D.  Make or cause to be made any written or oral inquiry or record concerning the race 
or color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, 
religion, political affiliation, ancestry, national origin, familial status or any previous 
actions seeking and receiving an order of protection under Title 19‑A, former section 
4007 or Title 19-A, section 4110 of any applicant for or intended occupant of a housing 
accommodation; or
E.  Accept for listing any housing accommodation when the person having the right to 
sell, rent or lease the housing accommodation has directly or indirectly indicated an 
intention of discriminating among prospective tenants or purchasers on the ground of 
race or color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, 
religion, political affiliation, ancestry, national origin, familial status or any previous 
actions seeking and receiving an order of protection under Title 19‑A,  former section 
4007 or Title 19-A, section 4110, or when the broker or salesperson knows or has 
reason to know that the person having the right to sell, rent or lease the housing 
accommodation has made a practice of discrimination since July 1, 1972;
3.  Making of loans; other financial assistance.  For any person to whom application 
is made for a loan or other form of financial assistance for the acquisition, construction, 
rehabilitation, repair or maintenance of any housing accommodation, whether secured or 
unsecured, or agent of the person, to:
A.  Make or cause to be made any oral or written inquiry concerning the race or color, 
sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, 
political affiliation, ancestry, national origin, familial status or any previous actions 
seeking and receiving an order of protection under Title 19‑A, former section 4007 or 
Title 19-A, section 4110 of any applicant for financial assistance or of existing or 
prospective occupants or tenants of housing accommodations; or
B.  Discriminate in the granting of financial assistance, or in the terms, conditions or 
privileges relating to obtaining or the use of any financial assistance, against any 
applicant because of race or color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical 
or mental disability, religion, political affiliation, ancestry, national origin, familial 
status or any previous actions seeking and receiving an order of protection under Title 
19‑A, former section 4007 or Title 19-A, section 4110; or
4.  Receipt of public assistance.  For any person furnishing rental premises or public 
accommodations to refuse to rent or impose different terms of tenancy to any individual 
who is a recipient of federal, state or local public assistance, including medical assistance 
and housing subsidies, primarily because of the individual's status as recipient.
Sec. 8.  5 MRSA §4583, as amended by PL 2021, c. 366, §11, is further amended to 
read:
§4583.  Application
Nothing in this Act may be construed to prohibit or limit the exercise of the privilege 
of every person and the agent of any person having the right to sell, rent, lease or manage 
a housing accommodation to set up and enforce specifications in the selling, renting, 
leasing or letting or in the furnishings of facilities or services in connection with the 
facilities that are consistent with business necessity and are not based on the race, color, 
sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, country of 
ancestral political affiliation, ancestry, national origin or familial status of or the receipt of 
public assistance payments by any prospective or actual purchaser, lessee, tenant or 
occupant.  Nothing in this Act may be construed to prohibit or limit the exercise of the 
privilege of every person and the agent of any person making loans for or offering financial 
assistance in the acquisition, construction, rehabilitation, repair or maintenance of housing 
accommodations to set standards and preferences, terms, conditions, limitations or 
specifications for the granting of loans or financial assistance that are consistent with 
business necessity and are not based on the race, color, sex, sexual orientation or gender 
identity, physical or mental disability, religion, country of ancestral political affiliation, 
ancestry, national origin or familial status of or the receipt of public assistance payments 
by the applicant for a loan or financial assistance or of any existing or prospective owner, 
lessee, tenant or occupant of a housing accommodation.
Sec. 9.  5 MRSA §4591, as amended by PL 2021, c. 366, §12, is further amended to 
read:
§4591.  Equal access to public accommodations
The opportunity for every individual to have equal access to places of public 
accommodation without discrimination because of race, color, sex, sexual orientation or 
gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, religion, political affiliation, ancestry or 
national origin is recognized as and declared to be a civil right.
Sec. 10.  5 MRSA §4592, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2023, c. 489, §§7 to 9, is 
further amended to read:
1.  Denial of public accommodations.  For any public accommodation or any person 
who is the owner, lessor, lessee, proprietor, operator, manager, superintendent, agent or 
employee of any place of public accommodation to directly or indirectly refuse, 
discriminate against or in any manner withhold from or deny the full and equal enjoyment 
to any person, on account of race or color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, age, 
physical or mental disability, religion, political affiliation, ancestry or national origin, any 
of the accommodations, advantages, facilities, goods, services or privileges of public 
accommodation, or in any manner discriminate against any person in the price, terms or 
conditions upon which access to accommodations, advantages, facilities, goods, services 
and privileges may depend.
For purposes of this subsection, unlawful discrimination also includes, but is not limited 
to:
A.  The imposition or application of eligibility criteria that screen out or tend to screen 
out an individual with a disability or any class of individuals with disabilities from fully 
and equally enjoying any goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages or 
accommodations, unless the criteria can be shown to be necessary for the provision of 
the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages or accommodations being offered;
B.  A failure to make reasonable modifications in policies, practices or procedures, 
when modifications are necessary to afford the goods, services, facilities, privileges, 
advantages or accommodations to individuals with disabilities, unless, in the case of a 
private entity, the private entity can demonstrate that making the modifications would 
fundamentally alter the nature of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages 
or accommodations;
C.  A failure to take steps that may be necessary to ensure that no individual with a 
disability is excluded, denied services, segregated or otherwise treated differently than 
other individuals because of the absence of auxiliary aids and services, unless, in the 
case of a private entity, the private entity can demonstrate that taking those steps would 
fundamentally alter the nature of the good, service, facility, privilege, advantage or 
accommodation being offered or would result in an undue burden; and
D.  A private entity's failure to remove architectural barriers and communication 
barriers that are structural in nature in existing facilities and transportation barriers in 
existing vehicles and rail passenger cars used by an establishment for transporting 
individuals, not including barriers that can be removed only through the retrofitting of 
vehicles or rail passenger cars by the installation of a hydraulic or other lift, where the 
removal is readily achievable.
When the entity can demonstrate that the removal of a barrier under this paragraph is 
not readily achievable, a failure to make the goods, services, facilities, privileges, 
advantages or accommodations available through alternative methods if alternative 
methods are readily achievable;
Sec. 11.  5 MRSA §4592, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2021, c. 366, §14, is further 
amended to read:
2.  Communication, notice or advertisement.  For any person to directly or indirectly 
publish, display or communicate any notice or advertisement to the effect that any of the 
accommodations, advantages, facilities and privileges of any place of public 
accommodation are refused, withheld from or denied to any person on account of race or 
color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, religion, 
political affiliation, ancestry or national origin, or that the patronage or custom of any 
person belonging to or purporting to be of any particular race or color, sex, sexual 
orientation or gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, religion, political 
affiliation, ancestry or national origin is unwelcome, objectionable or not acceptable, 
desired or solicited, or that the clientele is restricted to any particular race or color, sex, 
sexual orientation or gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, religion, political 
affiliation, ancestry or national origin.  The production of any communication, notice or 
advertisement purporting to relate to any place of accommodation is presumptive evidence 
in any action that the action was authorized by its owner, manager or proprietor;
Sec. 12.  5 MRSA §4595, as amended by PL 2021, c. 366, §16, is further amended 
to read:
§4595.  Right to freedom from discrimination solely on basis of age, race, color, sex, 
sexual orientation or gender identity, marital status, ancestry, religion, 
political affiliation or national origin in any credit transaction
The opportunity for every individual to be extended credit without discrimination 
solely because of any one or more of the following factors: age; race; color; sex; sexual 
orientation or gender identity; marital status; ancestry; religion; political affiliation; or 
national origin is recognized as and declared to be a civil right.
Sec. 13.  5 MRSA §4596, as corrected by RR 2023, c. 2, Pt. B, §65, is amended to 
read:
§4596.  Unlawful credit extension discrimination
It is unlawful credit discrimination for any creditor to refuse the extension of credit to 
any person solely on the basis of any one or more of the following factors: age, race, color, 
sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, marital status, ancestry, religion, political 
affiliation or national origin in any credit transaction. It is not unlawful credit 
discrimination to comply with the terms and conditions of any bona fide group credit life, 
accident and health insurance plan, for a financial institution extending credit to a married 
person to require both spouses to sign a note and a mortgage and to deny credit to persons 
under 18 years of age or to consider a person's age in determining the terms upon which 
credit will be extended.
Sec. 14.  5 MRSA §4601, as amended by PL 2021, c. 366, §18, is further amended 
to read:
§4601.  Right to freedom from discrimination in education
The opportunity for an individual at an educational institution to participate in all 
educational, counseling and vocational guidance programs, all apprenticeship and on-the-
job training programs and all extracurricular activities without discrimination because of 
sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, a physical or mental disability, ancestry, national 
origin, race, color or, religion or political affiliation is recognized and declared to be a civil 
right.
Sec. 15.  5 MRSA §4602, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2021, c. 366, §19, is further 
amended to read:
1.  Unlawful educational discrimination.  It is unlawful educational discrimination 
in violation of this Act, on the basis of sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical 
or mental disability, ancestry, national origin, race, color or, religion or political affiliation, 
to:
A.  Exclude a person from participation in, deny a person the benefits of, or subject a 
person to, discrimination in any academic, extracurricular, research, occupational 
training or other program or activity;
B.  Deny a person equal opportunity in athletic programs;
C.  Apply any rule concerning the actual or potential familial status or marital status of 
a person or to exclude any person from any program or activity because of pregnancy 
or related conditions or because of sex or sexual orientation or gender identity;
D.  Deny a person admission to the institution or program or to fail to provide equal 
access to and information about an institution or program through recruitment; or
E.  Deny a person financial assistance availability and opportunity.
Sec. 16.  5 MRSA §4630, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 2023, c. 489, §10, is amended 
to read:
1.  Unlawful discrimination.  A public entity may not discriminate against an 
individual, exclude an individual from participation in a service, program or activity of that 
public entity or otherwise deny to an individual the benefits of a service, program or activity 
of that public entity by reason of the individual's race or color, sex, sexual orientation or 
gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, religion, political affiliation, ancestry or 
national origin.
SUMMARY
This bill adds political affiliation as a protected class under the Maine Human Rights 
Act.  It also corrects a repealed cross-reference with respect to protection orders.