Dear Friend,
There is an important bill (LD 124, An Act to Protect the Right to Food) being heard tomorrow, Feb. 11, 2025, before the Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry in the Maine legislature.
The first part of the bill, (3 MRSA) involves the expansion of edible landscaping, food forests, and community gardens.
The second part of the bill seeks to strengthen the Maine Food Sovereignty Act. While these changes are not legally necessary, the State Department of Health and Human Services has been interpreting the Maine Food Sovereignty Act incorrectly, and these changes may help.
You can be involved in the following ways:
(1) Listen to the public hearing,
(2) Submit written testimony,
(3) Present verbal testimony via ZOOM during the public hearing, or
(4) All of the above.
Live Stream Public Hearing
The committee chairs establish the order of the day so I cannot say for sure when exactly the hearing on LD 124 will begin.
Link to the live stream of all the committee proceedings.
Submit Testimony
When you find the Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee in the drop-down tab, look for Tuesday, February 11, 1:00 p.m. and LD 124. on the next screens. Follow the instructions for:
(1) Signing up to testify verbally via ZOOM (you do not have to submit written testimony to testify via Zoom);
(2) Submitting written testimony; or
(3) Both
Rules for Verbal Testimony (See script below)
When giving verbal testimony you are allowed up to 3 minutes, and no props or shared screens are allowed.
Rules for Written Testimony
When submitting written testimony, it can be as lengthy as you like, including any citations or links you wish to include.
When giving verbal testimony before the Maine Legislature, it is standard that you begin your testimony as follows...
Sample Script
Senator Talbot Ross, Representative Pluecker, and distinguished members of the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry, my name is _____________, I live in ___________ and I am a regular citizen/work as/represent the organization _________________. I am here to testify in support of LD 124, “An Act to Protect the Right to Food” presented by Senator Craig Hickman of Kennebec.
After opening your testimony and introducing yourself to the committee, let members know what moves you to support Right to Food and Food Sovereignty.
You may wish to include stories from your own experiences as to how home-kitchens, small-farms, and resilient community-based food systems are naturally enhanced and strengthened by Food sovereignty and Right to-Food. Let the committee hear your views on local control of the food system and the importance of local producer-to-consumer transactions.
