Background
The Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs will hold a Public Hearing on Tuesday, April 15, 2025 at 2:00 PM at
📍 Cross Building, Room 208, 111 Sewall St., Augusta, to discuss LD 919 "An Act to Require Parental Permission for Certain Surveys and Questionnaires Administered to Minors in Schools," LD 1395 "An Act Regarding Human Trafficking Prevention Instruction and Dissemination of and Access to Obscene Material in Schools," and LD 1439 "An Act to Protect the Health and Welfare of Children in Public Schools by Requiring Parental Consent for Certain Tests, Analyses and Diagnoses."
If you want to read LD 919, click here: https://legislature.maine.gov/bills/display_ps.asp?snum=132&paper=HP0584&PID=1456
If you want to read LD 1395, click here: https://legislature.maine.gov/bills/display_ps.asp?snum=132&paper=HP0917&PID=1456
If you want to read LD 1439, click here: https://legislature.maine.gov/bills/display_ps.asp?snum=132&paper=HP0948&PID=1456
In lieu of personally testifying in support of this bill, you may testify via Zoom, or by online testimony using the following link: https://www.mainelegislature.org/testimony/. Do this prior to the public hearing.
See below for EVERYTHING you're going to need to get this done, including testimony!
🔹 Steps to submit testimony online:
1️⃣ Click: "Public Hearing".
2️⃣ Choose a committee: "Education and Cultural Affairs" - using the drop-down menu.
3️⃣ Choose date: April 15, 2025, 2:00 PM - using the drop-down menu.
4️⃣ Click: LD 660
5️⃣ Enter your testimony in the box (or click the checkbox if you want to testify via Zoom).
6️⃣ Complete your contact information.
7️⃣ Click: "I'm not a robot"
8️⃣ Click: "Submit/Register".
You can find a video tutorial on 'Submitting Testimony in Maine" here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYnhN4ZlpoQ
Action Time-Window
⚠️ Please consider taking action by April 15
Template
The below is a community member's testimony. Feel free to use it, something of your own (recommended), or something as simple as as ""I support LD 919, LD 1395, LD 1439 and they ought to pass."
I support LD 919, LD 1395, and LD 1439. Keep our kids safe at school!
LD 919 prohibits a school from making a student who is a minor, complete a survey or questionnaire that asks or identifies the student's full name without affirmative written permission from the student's parent.
LD 1395 requires that a digital or online library database resource offered to students in kindergarten to grade 12 must prevent a user from sending, receiving, viewing or downloading materials that are child pornography or obscene matter or that depict sexual exploitation of a minor.
LD 1439: Prohibits school from conducting student evaluations that include testing of intellectual, emotional, behavioral, psychological or physical development or are for the purpose of diagnosing an intellectual, emotional, behavioral, psychological or physical condition without first obtaining parental consent.
In the name of full transparency, why would schools object to this? Otherwise, why the secrecy?
I support LD 919, LD 1395, LD 1439, and they “ought to pass.”
Credit for the above goes to our community member Danny (@DannyEmerson61) from the South Berwick Republican Committee (@BerwickSouth).
Disclaimer
A community member has shared this personal template for those who wish to express their views on the bill(s) mentioned above. This template is not an official PTP position, and using it is entirely up to you. Pine Tree Patriots encourages civic participation but does not endorse or support specific actions or policies. Please remember this is an individual initiative.
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