An Act to Establish the Maine Nonprofit Security Grant Program
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 2107
Committee: Judiciary
Sponsors: BRENNAN
Amends: 5 MRSA §200-O

Legislative Document
No. 2107
H.P. 1422
House of Representatives, January 7, 2026
An Act to Establish the Maine Nonprofit Security Grant Program
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
203.
Reference to the Committee on Judiciary suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative BRENNAN of Portland.
Cosponsored by Representatives: DHALAC of South Portland, GATTINE of Westbrook, 
STOVER of Boothbay, Senators: DUSON of Cumberland, RENY of Lincoln, ROTUNDO of 
Androscoggin.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  5 MRSA §200-O is enacted to read:
§200-O.  Maine Nonprofit Security Grant Program
1.  Definitions.  As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the 
following terms have the following meanings.
A.  "Hate crime" means a crime in which the perpetrator selected the victim or the 
property that was damaged or otherwise affected by the crime because of the race, 
color, religion, sex, ancestry, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual 
orientation, gender identity or homelessness of the victim or of the owner or occupant 
of that property.
B.  "Program" means the Maine Nonprofit Security Grant Program established in 
subsection 2.
C.  "Serious bodily injury" has the same meaning as in Title 17-A, section 2, subsection 
23.
D.  "Terror attack" means an attack that causes serious bodily injury or death to multiple 
persons or causes substantial damage to a structure and is made for the purpose of 
intimidating or coercing a civilian population or to affect the conduct of government.
2.  Program established.  The Maine Nonprofit Security Grant Program is established 
in the Office of the Attorney General to provide grants to assist nonprofit organizations to 
improve security at property owned or occupied by those nonprofit organizations to protect 
against hate crimes and terror attacks.
3.  Eligibility.  To be eligible for a grant from the program, a nonprofit organization 
must:
A.  Be a tax-exempt organization under 26 United States Code, Section 501(c)(3); and
B.  Demonstrate that the organization or the organization's facilities are at high risk of 
a hate crime or terror attack.
4.  Use of grants.  A nonprofit organization awarded a grant from the program shall 
use that grant for:
A.  Physical security enhancements;
B.  The cost of security personnel; or
C.  The development or enhancement of security plans and protocols.
5.  Administration.  The Office of the Attorney General shall administer the program 
and shall develop guidelines and criteria to award grants to eligible nonprofit organizations 
under subsection 3 using a request for proposals process.
6.  Rules.  The Office of the Attorney General may adopt routine technical rules as 
described in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A to implement this section.
Sec. 2.  Appropriations and allocations.  The following appropriations and 
allocations are made.
ATTORNEY GENERAL, DEPARTMENT OF THE
Maine Nonprofit Security Grant Program N561
Initiative: Provides one-time funding to provide grants to assist nonprofit organizations in 
improving security to protect against hate crimes and terror attacks.
GENERAL FUND
2025-26
2026-27
All Other
$0
$2,000,000
__________
__________
GENERAL FUND TOTAL
$0
$2,000,000
SUMMARY
This bill establishes the Maine Nonprofit Security Grant Program in the Office of the 
Attorney General to provide grants to assist nonprofit organizations to improve security at 
property owned or occupied by those nonprofit organizations to protect against hate crimes 
and terror attacks. The office administers the program and must develop guidelines and 
criteria to award grants to nonprofit organizations using a request for proposals process.