Rebuilding the State of Maine and Tribes' Relationship
- Established Indigenous Peoples' Day: Governor Mills signed "An Act to Replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples' Day" into law.
- Signed Unprecedented Tribal Legislation: Governor Mills wrote and signed into law LD 585, the most significant Tribal legislation enacted in Maine in more than 40 years, addressing economic and financial issues, while also making institutional changes in how state government interacts with the Wabanaki Nations. The law made Maine one of only a few states to put into law a formal State-Tribal collaboration process for policy making; deliver important tax relief to Tribal members and Tribal businesses; and give the Tribes the opportunity to benefit from online sports wagering, providing a meaningful way for Tribes to participate in the gaming industry in Maine from which they have been historically excluded.
- Delivered Parity for the Mi'kmaq Nation: Governor Mills wrote and signed historic legislation to extend the same rights and benefits to the Mi'kmaq Nation that are enjoyed by the other Wabanaki Nations in Maine.
- Enshrined the Indian Child Welfare Act into State Law: Governor Mills signed legislation enshrining the Indian Child Welfare Act into Maine State law to ensure important rights and safeguards for custody and child welfare proceedings involving Indian children and families.
- Extended Time for Maine's Tribal Nations to Acquire Land in Trust: Governor Mills signed legislation providing more time for Maine's Tribal Nations to be able to acquire land in trust under the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act.
- Strengthened Water Quality Standards for Sustenance Fishing: Governor Mills signed into law LD 1775, "An Act to Protect Sustenance Fishing", which put into place the nation's strictest water quality standards to protect sustenance fishing in certain tribally significant waters.
- Expanded Tribal Jurisdiction in Domestic Violence Cases: Governor Mills negotiated and signed into law legislation to expand tribal jurisdiction in domestic violence cases against non-Tribal people.
- Returned Culturally Important Land: Governor Mills signed into law a resolve transferring ownership of a culturally significant parcel of land in Meddybemps from the State of Maine back to the Passamaquoddy.
- Improved Passamaquoddy Drinking Water: Governor Mills signed LD 906, "An Act to Provide Passamaquoddy Tribal Members Access to Clean Drinking Water", which enables the Passamaquoddy Tribe to seek alternative sources of groundwater on Passamaquoddy Indian territory without State approval.
- Increased Representation: Governor Mills has appointed Tribal members to Boards and Commissions such as the Maine Criminal Justice Academy and the University of Maine Board of Trustees to enhance Tribal representation.
- Prohibited Native American Mascots in Maine Public Schools: Governor Mills signed into law "An Act To Ban Native American Mascots in All Public Schools", which prohibits Native American mascots in all Maine public schools.
- Established the Permanent Commission on the Status of Racial, Indigenous and Maine Tribal Populations: Governor Mills signed into law legislation establishing the Permanent Commission on the Status of Racial, Indigenous and Maine Tribal Populations to promote, implement and coordinate programs that create and improve opportunities and eliminate disparities for historically disadvantaged racial, indigenous and tribal populations in Maine.
- Established Racial Impact Statements for Legislation: Governor Mills signed into law "An Act To Require the Inclusion of Racial Impact Statements in the Legislative Process" that creates a process to review all legislation for potential impacts on historically disadvantaged populations.
- Righted Past Wrongs: Granted a posthumous pardon, believed to be the first in Maine history, for Donald C. Gellers, a deceased former attorney and advocate for the Passamaquoddy Tribe.
- Expanded Tribal Rights to Prosecute Crimes: Governor Mills signed into law LD 2007, "An Act Regarding the Criminal Jurisdiction of Tribal Courts and to Extend the Time for the Penobscot Nation to Certify Its Agreement to Public Law."