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How to Submit Testimony for a Public Hearing in Maine

HELP MAINE FAMILIES GET THE SUPPORT THEY NEED

Maine families are struggling. LD 1294 can help. This bill would double the Dependent Exemption Tax Credit (DETC) for kids under six, putting an extra $300 per child into the pockets of families who need it most.

Raising kids is expensive — and right now, 12.6% of Maine kids live in poverty. This credit helps with real needs for families like rent, groceries, and doctor visits. This bill wouldn’t cost the state a dime AND would get more money flowing in local communities. Studies show every $1 invested in tax credits returns $10 to the economy.

The Taxation Committee will hear public testimony for LD 1294 on Tuesday, April 8. What would an extra $300 per child mean for you? Diapers? Daycare? A break on bills? Tell lawmakers why Maine families need this boost — you can do it in writing anytime before the hearing, or on the day of the hearing in-person or remotely via Zoom.

Your story can help pass this bill and change lives. Let’s make Maine a better place for families and kids.

For more info, check out MECEP’s Child Tax Credit Explainer.

BILL SUMMARY

LD 1294, An Act to Expand the Dependent Exemption Tax Credit: The Dependent Exemption Tax Credit (DETC) is Maine’s version of the child tax credit, helping families afford essential expenses. Last session, the legislature corrected a flaw that excluded low-income families most in need. LD 1294 aims to expand the DETC further by doubling the credit and providing an additional $300 for dependents under six. This increase would target families with low and middle income without additional cost to the state.

WHY DOES IT MATTER?

Raising children is expensive, and the rising cost of living adds to the burden. Childcare alone for three children in Maine averaged over $30,000 in 2023, excluding essentials like diapers and food. In 2023, 12.6% of Maine’s children lived in poverty, struggling to afford basic needs such as food, housing, and childcare. The DETC provides parents with flexible financial support for essentials like doctor visits, rent, and groceries, fostering economic stability and benefiting Maine’s economy. Studies show every $1 spent on the federal child tax credit yields a $10 return to the economy.

Direct financial assistance leads to positive long-term outcomes for children, including higher birth weights, improved academic performance, lower juvenile crime rates, and reduced risks of major health issues in adulthood. Expanding the DETC is a sound investment in Maine’s future.

WHO SHOULD TESTIFY

Parents and caregivers of adult dependents who currently or previously claimed a dependent on their taxes, including children, stepchildren, foster or adopted children, siblings, grandchildren, nieces, or nephews.
Individuals who would benefit from this expansion, including those with children under six earning less than $100,000 (individual), $125,000 (head of household), or $150,000 (married/surviving spouses).
Professionals working with children or families in poverty who can attest to the benefits of direct financial assistance.

What’s the message?

Share your personal story:
- Do you have children, or have you experienced childhood poverty directly or indirectly?
- What made raising children under six particularly expensive?
- What challenges did you face making ends meet with children?
- How would an extra few hundred dollars help your family? What would you spend it on?
Support your story with 1-2 key facts:
- The high cost of raising young children.
- The long-term benefits of financial assistance for children.
- How economic support for families benefits society as a whole.

HOW TO SUBMIT PUBLIC TESTIMONY

Public testimony is a powerful way to advocate for issues you care about by speaking directly to lawmakers. Anyone can testify in person, remotely via Zoom, or submit written testimony. All testimony is broadcast online and becomes part of the public record.

Ways to Testify

In Person: Speak before a legislative committee at the Maine State House in Augusta.
Written: Submit testimony online any time before the hearing.
Remote: Deliver live testimony to the committee via Zoom.

Writing Your Testimony

Understand the Bill: Read the bill and consider how it would affect you.
Keep It Short: Testimony is limited to three minutes, and it goes by fast! Keep your written testimony under 300 words to avoid being cut off. Stick to 2-3 key points.
Structure Your Testimony:
- - Introduction: Your testimony should include a greeting to the committee chairs and members of the committee, your name, job title (if relevant) or your town, the bill you are there to testify about, and whether you support or oppose it.
  - Example: “Senator Grohoski, Representative Cloutier, and members of the Taxation Committee, my name is Joan Smith and I live in Bangor. I am here to testify in support of LD 1294, An Act to Expand the Dependent Exemption Tax Credit.”
- Tell Your Story: Share how the issue affects you, your work, family, or community.
- Use Data: When possible, reference at least one data point that supports your message. MECEP is available as a resource — check mecep.org or reach out to karin@mecep.org.
- Make Your Ask: Clearly state whether you want lawmakers to vote “yes” or “no.”
- Closing: Thank the committee and restate your position.
- Example: “Please vote ‘Ought to Pass’ on LD 1089 and make Maine’s tax structure fairer. Thank you for your time.”

How to Submit Written Testimony

Go to: mainelegislature.org/testimony
Select “Public Hearing” and choose the committee.
Select the hearing date and bill.
Upload your testimony (Word, PDF, or plain text) or paste it into the provided box.
Enter your name, town, and email, then click submit.

How to Testify in Person

Write your testimony in advance.
Print 20 copies to give to the committee clerk.
Sign up on the sheet outside (or just inside) the hearing room.
When it is your turn, stand at the podium, read your testimony, and remain for possible questions. Most testimony is limited to three minutes.
Be respectful — address the committee, not the audience, avoid reactions like applause while others are testifying, and remember to silence your phone!

How to Testify Remotely

Register at mainelegislature.org/testimony up to 30 minutes before the hearing.
Select the committee, hearing date, and bill.
Check the Zoom testimony box and upload your testimony.
Enter your name, town, and email, then submit.
You will receive a Zoom link via email.

What to Expect at the Hearing

The committee chair calls the hearing to order.
The bill sponsor testifies first, followed by co-sponsors and other legislators.
Public testimony is then invited by the committee chair, in order of the sign-up sheet. Listen for your name to be called.
The schedule may change, and hearings can last for hours.
Missing legislators may serve on multiple committees and be double booked, but they will receive all written testimony and the hearings are recorded.

Attending a Hearing at the State House

Location: Most committee hearings are held in the State House (7 State House Drive) or on the second floor of the Cross Office Building (111 Sewall Street) in Augusta, ME. Visit legislature.maine.gov/committee/#Committees to find the hearing room for the bill you’re testifying on.
Parking: Available behind the Cross Office Building and in nearby lots.
Accessibility: Visit legislature.maine.gov/lio/special-accommodations for accommodations.
Security: All visitors pass through screening; personal belongings are scanned.
For questions or assistance, contact karin@mecep.org.

Final Tip: Your testimony is valuable. Be clear, concise, and personal. Lawmakers need to hear your perspective!

Download a PDF version of this guide here.

SUPPORT EQUAL RIGHTS FOR FARMWORKERS

Farmworkers have been excluded from fundamental labor laws for as long as those laws have existed.

Maine lawmakers will hear public testimony for 3 bills to correct this historic exclusion on Wed, April 2nd at 10am in the Committee on Labor. Support the people who power Maine’s agricultural sector by testifying in support of LD 357, LD 588, and LD 589 — in writing, in person, or remotely via Zoom!

Pro tip: Combine your support for all 3 bills into a single piece of testimony! Submit your testimony here.

For more info, check out MECEP’s Farmworker Rights Explainer.

BILL SUMMARIES

LD 357, An Act to Establish a State Minimum Hourly Wage for Agricultural Workers: Sponsored by Senator Rick Bennett, this bipartisan bill requires that agricultural workers be paid no less than Maine’s minimum wage and that employers keep records of workers’ hours and wages paid. The bill also provides remedies for workers and penalties for employers if minimum wage laws are violated.

LD 588, An Act to Enact the Agricultural Employees Concerted Activity Protection Act: Sponsored by Senator Rachel Talbot Ross, this bill would extend to agricultural workers the right to engage in concerted activity, such as talking to coworkers or employer about wages or working conditions without fear of retaliation.

LD 589, An Act to Make Agricultural Workers and Other Related Workers Employees Under the Wage and Hour Laws: Sponsored by Senator Rachel Talbot Ross, this bipartisan bill ensures that agricultural workers have the same wage and hour protections as all other Maine employees, including minimum wage protections and limits on mandatory overtime.

WHAT RIGHTS ARE FARM WORKERS DENIED?

Under current Maine law, farmworkers are denied many basic rights most workers take for granted. These include the right to:

Be paid no less than the state minimum wage
Receive a pay stub
Take unpaid rest breaks
Receive protection from excessive mandatory overtime hours
Receive overtime pay
Organize and collectively bargain with their employers
Engage in concerted activity with coworkers to improve their working conditions

Farmworkers across the US have been excluded from fundamental labor laws for as long as those laws have existed. New Deal legislation passed in the 1930s, including the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which mandates minimum wage and overtime pay, and the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), which established federal labor law, excluded agricultural and domestic workers. These exclusions were enshrined in law as a way to secure the necessary votes from Southern Democrats at a time when more than half of Black workers were employed in those sectors, a legacy of slavery.

Since then, the Fair Labor Standards Act was amended to require farmworkers be paid at least the federal minimum wage. The federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour is less than half of Maine’s. Partly as a result of these unequal labor standards, Maine farmworkers are roughly 3.4 times as likely as other workers to live in poverty.