How to Overcome the Intimidation of Maine’s Legislative Process: A Guide
Getting involved in state politics can be daunting, especially when you face overwhelming amounts of information and legal jargon (and yes, run-on sentences are a thing when it comes to law). For example, in Maine, we currently have 660 bills in the 132nd Legislature alone—think about how easy it is to feel lost in all the legalese! Recently, I dove into a bill—LD 92, which is about solar energy waste management upon decommissioning—and I quickly realized how much deeper one needs to go to understand its implications fully. Here's my journey through the legislative maze and what I learned about overcoming the intimidation of political involvement.
My Journey Through Maine’s Legislation: A Case Study of LD 92
When I first looked at LD 92, which is titled 'An Act Regarding the Management of the Waste Components of a Solar Energy Development upon Decommissioning,' it seemed straightforward. But as I read through the bill, I had questions: Why did it only focus on adding verbiage around a 90-day timeline? If it's an emergency-related bill focusing on "the preservation of the public peace, health and safety," why did it not discuss soil testing requirements for impacted farmland where solar panels might be installed and accountability in case of adverse impacts?
It dawned on me that this might be captured in the full statute, so I googled "Sec. 1. 35-A MRSA §3491, sub-§1" and began exploring the legal text through the Maine Legislature website. Soon, I found myself clicking through various paragraphs and links as I navigated different laws and regulations regarding waste management and hazardous materials. The screenshot below gives you an idea about the journey I took.
The data I reviewed while diving into LD 92
From Chapter 34-D of Solar Energy Development Decommissioning to Chapter 13 of Waste Management and even the Maine Department of Environmental Protection's website on hazardous waste, I felt like I was opening Pandora's box of legal frameworks that didn't quite connect. Eventually, I discovered that what I would want to add to the bill might actually need its own separate bill since it dealt with a different section of Maine law.
But the deeper I went, the more I realized how unclear the system was. For instance, why did the waste management of solar panels involve the Waters and Navigation section of the law? It seemed like a mismatch that left me frustrated. At this point, I felt defeated and ready to call it a day.
Navigating the Maze: How to Make Sense of Complex Bills
It's so easy to feel overwhelmed and confused by the legislative process, especially when it feels like you're lost in a maze of statutes and rules spread across multiple sources with no clear guidance. But here's how you can make sense of it and turn that intimidation into action:
Start Small and Focused: Remember how I mentioned that there are currently 660 bill texts for the current legislature? Don't try to read them all at once. Pick one bill or issue that interests you, just like I did with LD 92. Narrow your focus before diving deeper.
Use Available Resources: When researching, use the resources provided by the Maine Legislature's website. A good starting point is to google the section and paragraph mentioned in the bill. Navigating to the respective legislature page allows you to see the law in its current form. But if things still seem unclear, check out other resources like, in my case, the Department of Environmental Protection's website, testimony from earlier hearings, or community forums, which can provide insights or even guide you to the right sections.
Ask for Help: I don't know about you, but I always hesitate to ask for help. However, there is no need to be afraid to reach out to experts, advocacy groups, or even your local representative to clarify what's unclear. They're there to help you understand the process and how you can be involved. For more tips on how to find those you can ask for help and some templates on how to frame your request, please check out my upcoming blog post, ‘How to Navigate Maine's Legislative Process: A Step-by-Step Guide to Getting the Help You Need.’
Take Notes and Stay Organized: Last but not least, document what you find and organize it in a way that makes sense to you. I can't tell you how many times I found myself looking for a website that I wanted to revisit but couldn't find again, not until I started making use of Firefox's 'Recent Browsing' feature, but keeping track of websites and their respective URLs makes it even faster. Bookmark websites you visit during your research and categorize them by using your browser's bookmark feature (tip: create a bookmark folder for 'bill research' and sub-folders within for each bill you are researching) or copying and pasting the URLs into a Word document or any other file format you are comfortable with. Doing this will save you time and help you keep track of where you are in the process.
How to Drive Change in Maine’s Legislation: Feedback and Community Involvement
As you become more comfortable in this environment, consider ways to drive change or offer constructive feedback. Drawing from my experience, here are some practical steps to help you navigate this process:
Propose Clearer Legislation: For example, one thing that stood out to me when researching LD 92 was how existing laws may not always be as clearly structured as one might hope. While LD 92 itself focuses on solar energy waste management, the underlying law—Maine's Title 38 (which governs Waste Management)—intertwines waste management with water and navigation regulations, making the process harder to navigate and understand. This overlap can confuse anyone trying to understand the full scope of a particular bill. In this case, the mishmash of waste management and water navigation laws can obscure the bill's intent and application, especially concerning solar energy projects, which might involve land, soil, and environmental concerns that don't directly relate to water or navigation. A possible change could be to propose a separate subchapter that addresses different types of waste management—solar, hazardous, and general—each with its own set of rules and scenarios.
Provide Constructive Feedback: If you have specific concerns or suggestions, don't hesitate to submit comments or feedback to the committee overseeing the bill. Legislative hearings often provide opportunities for public testimony and even offer you access to testimony others provided, in case you need some food for thought to draft your own. Always remember that providing feedback as part of the legislative process is a way to get your voice heard.
Engage Your Community: Sometimes change begins with conversations. Share your findings and thoughts with others, whether through social media or community groups. If enough people voice their support for a clearer, more comprehensive approach, it can have an impact. Consider sharing the testimony you provided to encourage others in your community to do the same!
Stay Involved Long-Term: Political involvement doesn't end with one bill or the submission of your testimony. Stay engaged and track the progress of bills that matter to you. Most importantly, don't get discouraged if the legislature votes in opposition to your testimony—keep conversations and actions such as reaching out to your representatives and submitting testimony.
While it may feel like a daunting task at first, getting involved in your state's politics is an achievable goal. You can make a difference by breaking down the overwhelming legal language and using the right resources! So, don't let the maze of legislation intimidate you—take small steps, stay curious, and soon enough, you'll see how your voice can make a real impact.
Let me know your thoughts. Did I miss something? Do you have additional tips? Please feel free to share them in the Comments section below.
