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Maine Indian Claims Settlement
Updated through the 130th Legislature

Introduction

In the early 1970s, the Passamaquoddy Tribe declared their intention to claim nearly twelve million acres of Maine. The Tribe petitioned the Department of the Interior to act as their agent to enforce their claim against the State. The Interior Department denied their request. The Tribe filed suit in federal district court to establish a trust relationship between the United States and the Tribe. In Joint Tribal Council of the Passamaquoddy Tribe v. Morton, 388 F. Supp. 649, the Tribe won a declaratory judgment that affirmed their claim. This decision was affirmed on appeal to the United States Court of Appeals in Joint Tribal Council of the Passamaquoddy Tribe v. Morton, 528 F. 2d 370.

The U.S. Department of Justice initiated talks to reach a settlement agreement between the Tribe and the State of Maine, which failed. The State sent a proposed draft settlement agreement to Congress. It was amended and became the basis for the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act of 1980 (PL 1979, c. 732). The federal act, PL 96-420, was signed by President Carter on October 10, 1980.

The 1980 legislation recognized the Passamaquoddy Tribe, the Penobscot Nation, and the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians. The Aroostook Band of Micmacs was recognized in 1989.

The Maine Indian Claims Settlement is codified in 30 MRS §§6201-6214. This legislative history includes session laws affecting these statutes.

Browse by Session Law:  

Year LD Amendments Session Law MRS
Sections
Affected		 Legislative Record
Debate & Remarks		 Other Documents & News Clips Full LD
History
1980 LD 2037

An Act to Provide for Implementation of the Settlement of Claims by Indians in the State of Maine and to Create the Passamaquoddy Indian Territory and Penobscot Indian Territory

 Enacted with
amendment:

S-536

 PL 1979, c. 732

 Enacted:
30 MRS §§6201-6214		 House, April 2, 1980
p. 710-716

Senate, April 2, 1980
p. 717-722

Senate, April 2, 1980

p. 722-723

House, April 3, 1980
p. 725-727

Senate, April 3, 1980
p. 735-739		 Other:  Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act of 1980. Pub. L. 96-420. 94 Stat. 1785.

Other:  Report, Hearing Transcript and Related Memoranda of the Joint Select Committee on Indian Land Claims (Part 1)

Other:  Report, Hearing Transcript and Related Memoranda of the Joint Select Committee on Indian Land Claims (Part 2)

News Clips:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.		 N/A
1982 LD 2076

An Act to Amend the Maine Implementing Act with Respect to the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians


 Enacted with
amendment:

S-463		 PL 1981, c. 675

 Enacted:
30 MRS §6203(2-A)
30 MRS §6205-A
30 MRS §6206-A
30 MRS §6208-A

Amended:
30 MRS §6208(2), (3)		 House, April 7, 1982
p. 598-601

House, April 7, 1982
p. 604-605

Senate, April 7,  1982
p. 614-616

Senate, April 13, 1982
p. 632-633		 Other:  Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians Supplementary Claims Settlement Act of 1986. Pub. L. 99-566. 100 Stat. 3184. Yes
1983 LD 192

An Act Relating to Training Penobscot Law Enforcement Officers



 Enacted with
amendments:

S-186
S-211		 PL 1983, c. 498

 Amended:
30 MRS §6210(4)		 No debate. Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.

News Clips:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.		 Yes
1983 LD 193

An Act Relating to Penobscot Nation Trust Land Designation

OTP-ND:
LD 1713
 Enacted with
amendment:

S-189
 PL 1983, c. 494

 Amended:
30 MRS §6205(2)(B)		 Senate, May 31, 1983
p. 1062

Senate, June 6, 1983
p. 1146		 Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
1983 LD 1016

An Act to Establish New Selection Procedures for the Maine Indian Tribal-State Commission Chairmanship
 Enacted with
amendments:

S-76
S-187

 PL 1983, c. 492

 Repealed and Replaced:
30 MRS §6212(2)		 Senate, April 29, 1983
p. 691-692

House, May 10, 1983
p. 800		 Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
1983 LD 1136

An Act to Extend the Time for Acquiring those Areas which have been Designated Potential Passamaquoddy Indian Territory and to Designate Certain other Areas as Potential Passamaquoddy Indian Territory

OTP-ND:
LD 1712		 Enacted with
amendment:

S-188		 PL 1983, c. 493

 Amended:
30 MRS §6205(1)(B)		 Senate, June 6, 1983
p. 1146

House, June 15, 1983
p. 1298-1299		 Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.

News Clips:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.		 Yes
1984 LD 1821

An Act Relating to Penobscot Nation Trust Land Designation		 Enacted with
amendments:

H-498
H-523		 PL 1983, c. 676

 Amended:
30 MRS §6205(2)(B)		 House, March 20, 1984
p. 297-298		 N/A Yes
1984 LD 1822

An Act Relating to the Time of Penobscot Nation Trust Land Designation

OTP-ND:
LD 2163
 N/A

 PL 1983, c. 660

 Amended:
30 MRS §6205(1)(B)		 House, March 20, 1984
p. 298		 N/A Yes
1984 LD 2081

An Act to Establish Standards and a Policy for the Compensation of Members of Boards, Commissions and Similar Organizations

OTP-ND:
LD 2389		 Enacted with
amendment:

S-385		 PL 1983, c. 812, §§186, 187

 Amended:
30 MRS §6212(1), (4)		 Senate, April 6, 1984
p. 512

House, April 10, 1984
p. 585-587

Senate, April 10, 1984
p. 593-595

House, April 12, 1984
p. 647		 Report:  Standards for the Compensation of Boards and Similar Organizations: Report of a Study by the Joint Standing Committee on State Government to the 111th Maine Legislature (Jan. 1984) Yes
1985 LD 297

An Act Relating to the Time of Penobscot Nation Trust Land Acquisition
 Enacted with
amendment:

S-23		 PL 1985, c. 69

 Amended:
30 MRS §6205(2)(B)		 No debate. Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.

News Clips:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.		 Yes
1985 LD 973

An Act to Clarify and Make Technical Changes in the Law Governing Boards and Commissions

OTP-ND:
LD 1560
 N/A

 PL 1985, c. 295, §§ 46, 47

 Amended:
30 MRS §6212(1), (4)		 No debate. Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
1986 LD 1680

An Act Relating to the Time of Passamaquoddy Tribe Trust Land Designation
 Enacted with
amendments:

H-565
S-411		 PL 1985, c. 637

 Amended:
30 MRS §6205(1)(B)		 Senate, March 12, 1986
p. 626-627		 Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
1986 LD 1717

An Act Relating to the Passamaquoddy Indian Reservation
 Enacted with
amendment:

S-500
 PL 1985, c. 747

 Amended:
30 MRS §6203(5)
30 MRS §6205(1)(B)		 Senate, April 12, 1986
p. 1372		 Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
1986 LD 1844

An Act to Extend the Trust Land Designation of the Penobscot Nation		 Enacted with
amendments:

S-402
S-412		 PL 1985, c. 639

 Amended:
30 MRS §6205(2)(B)		 Senate, March 12, 1986
p. 627

Senate, March 20, 1986
p. 813

House, March 27, 1986
p. 910		 Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
1986 LD 2007

An Act to Amend the Maine Implementing Act with Respect to the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians
 Enacted with
amendment:

H-607		 PL 1985, c. 672

 Amended:
30 MRS §6208(2), (3)		 Senate, April 1, 1986
p. 994

Senate, April 1, 1986
p. 1011		 Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
1987 LD 488

AN Act to Extend the Trust Land Designation of the Penobscot Nation

OTP-ND:
LD 1511
 Enacted with
amendment:

S-60		 PL 1987, c. 153

 Amended:
30 MRS §6205(1)(B)
30 MRS §6205(2)(B)		 No debate. Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
1988 LD 2248

An Act Relating to the Penobscot Indian Reservation		 Enacted with
amendment:

S-373		 PL 1987, c. 712

 Amended:
30 MRS §6203(8)		 No debate. Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
1988 LD 2440

AN Act Concerning Tribal Courts
 Enacted with
amendment:

S-482		 PL 1987, c. 756

 Amended:
30 MRS §6209(1)(A)		 No debate. Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
1989 LD 885

An Act Concerning The Passamaquoddy Tribal Court		 Enacted with amendment:

H-118		 PL 1989, c. 169 Amended:
30 MRS §6209(1)(A)		 No debate. Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
1991 LD 1843

An Act to Improve Implementation of the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Laws		 Enacted with
amendment:

H-509		 PL 1991, c. 484

 Amended:
30 MRS §6209(2)		 No debate. Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
1992 LD 2045

An Act Concerning Funding of Indian Schools under the Act to Implement the Maine Indian Claims Settlement		 Enacted with
amendment:

H-1022		 PL 1991, c. 705

 Enacted:
30 MRS §6211(2-A)

Amended:
30 MRS §6211(2)		 No debate. Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
1992 LD 2081

An Act Concerning Passamaquoddy Indian Territory		 N/A

 PL 1991, c. 720

 Amended:
30 MRS §6205(1)(B)		 No debate. Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.

News Clips:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.		 Yes
1992 LD 2084

An Act Concerning Penobscot Nation Trust Land Designation		 N/A

 PL 1991, c. 721

 Amended:
30 MRS §6205(2)(B)		 No debate. Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.

News Clips:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.		 Yes
1992 LD 2106

An Act Concerning Tribal Courts

 Enacted with
amendments:

H-1065
S-622		 PL 1991, c. 766

 Amended:
30-A MRS §6209(1)(A)		 Senate, March 12, 1992
p. S-286-S-287		 Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
1994 LD 1851

An Act Related to Periodic Justification of Departments and Agencies of State Government Under the Maine Sunset Act		 Enacted with
amendments:

H-801
H-817
S-506
 PL 1993, c. 600, §A-24

 Amended:
30 MRS §6212		 Senate, March 25, 1994
p. S-1697-S-1698		 N/A Yes
1994 LD 2010

An Act Relating to the Definition of Passamaquoddy Indian Territory
 Enacted with
amendment:

H-1098

 PL 1993, c. 713

 Amended:
30 MRS §6205(1)		 House, April 12, 1984
p. H-2201-H-2213

Senate, April 12, 1994
p. S-2006-S-2007		 News Clips:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
1995 LD 1333

An Act to Clarify the Jurisdiction of the Passamaquoddy Tribal Court
 Enacted with
amendment:

H-589		 PL 1995, c. 388

 Enacted:
30 MRS §6209-A
30 MRS §6209-B

Amended:
30 MRS §6210

Repealed:
30 MRS §6209		 House, June 27, 1995
p. H-1368		 Court Opinion:  Duro v. Reina, 495 U.S. 676 (1990)

Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.

News Clips:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.		 Yes
1996 LD 1787

An Act to Place Penobscot Land in Trust
 Enacted with
amendment:

S-524		 PL 1995, c. 601

 Amended:
30 MRS §6205(2)(B)		 Senate, March 25, 1996
p. S-1962

Senate, March 26, 1996
p. S-1977-S-1978		 Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
1998 LD 1730

An Act to Implement the Recommendations of the Great Pond Task Force
 Enacted with
amendments:

S-600
S-686
S-691		 PL 1997, c. 739, §12

 Enacted:
30 MRS §6207(3-A)		 Senate, April 1, 1998
p. S-2221-S-2236

House, April 2, 1998
p. H-2139-H-2158

Senate, April 2, 1998
p. S-2261-S-2263

Senate, April 2, 1998
p. S-2265-S-2268

House, April 3, 1998
p. H-2197-H-2199		 Report:  Final recommendations of the Great Pond Task Force (Feb. 25, 1997)

Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.

News Clips:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.		 Yes
1998 LD 2001

An Act to Amend the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act Regarding Education Funding		 Enacted with
amendment:

H-918		 PL 1997, c. 626

 Amended:
30 MRS §6211(2)

Repealed:
30 MRS §6211(2-A)		 No debate. Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
1998 LD 2036

An Act to Amend the Act to Implement the Maine Indian Claims Settlement		 N/A

 PL 1997, c. 595

 Amended:
30 MRS §6209-B(1)(A)		 No debate. Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
2000 LD 2499

An Act Concerning the Date by Which Land Must be Acquired by the Penobscot Nation		 N/A

 PL 1999, c. 625

 Amended:
30 MRS §6205(2)(B)		 No debate. Report:  Maine Indian Tribal-State Commission. A Report to Governors, Chiefs, and Tribal Legislative Representatives (Nov. 22, 2000)

Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.
 Yes
2001 LD 1171

An Act to Authorize the Maine Indian Tribal-State Commission to Introduce Legislation and to Organize Assemblies of State and Tribal Leaders		 Enacted with amendments:

H-284
H-311		 PL 2001, c. 173 Amended:
30 MRS §6212(3)		 No debate. Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
2001 LD 1658

An Act Regarding Passamaquoddy Land in Township 19, M.D.		 N/A PL 2001, c. 251

 Enacted:
30 MRS §6205(1)(D)

Amended:
30 MRS §6205(1)(B)
30 MRS §6205(1)(C)		 No debate. Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
2005 LD 693

An Act to Increase Public Safety through the Enhancement of Law Enforcement for the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians
 Enacted with
amendment:

S-229		 PL 2005, c. 310

 Enacted:
30 MRS §6206-B		 No debate. Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
2007 LD 73

An Act To Place Land in Centerville in Trust		 Enacted with
amendment:

H-239
 PL 2007, c. 221

 Enacted:
30 MRS §6205(1)(D-1)

Amended:
30 MRS §6205(1)(C)
30 MRS §6205(1)(D)		 No debate. Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
2007 LD 169

An Act To Place Land in Township 21 in Trust		 Enacted with
amendment:

H-241		 PL 2007, c. 223

 Enacted:
30 MRS §6205(1)(E)

Amended:
30 MRS §6205(1)(C)
30 MRS §6205(1)(D)		 No debate. Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
2007 LD 373

An Act To Change the Membership of the Maine Indian Tribal-State Commission To Add Seats for the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians and the State		 Enacted with
amendment:

S-77		 PL 2007, c. 149

 Amended:
30 MRS §6212(1), (2), (3)		 No debate. Report:  Report of the Tribal-State Work Group to Study Issues Associated with the Maine Implementing Act: Created by Executive Order 19 FY 06/07 (Dec. 6, 2006)

Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.

 Yes
2008 LD 2221

An Act To Implement the Recommendations of the Tribal-State Work Group		 Enacted with amendment:

H-1043		 PL 2007, c. 697 Enacted:
30 MRS §6203(2-B)
30 MRS §6205(2-A)
30 MRS §6205(6)
30 MRS §6208(2-A)
30 MRS §6209-C

Amended:
30 MRS §6202
30 MRS §6206
30 MRS §6206-B
30 MRS §6207
30 MRS §6210
30 MRS §6211
30 MRS §6212(1)-(3)
30 MRS §6214

Repealed:
30 MRS §6206-A		 No debate. Report:  Final Report of the Tribal-State Work Group Created by Res. 2007, c. 142, 123rd Maine State Legislature, Resolve, to Continue the Tribal-State Work Group (Jan. 2008)

Report:  A Summary of the Activities of the Maine Indian Tribal-State Commission July 1, 2007 - June 30, 2008 (Oct. 2008)

Executive Order:  19 FY 06/07

Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.

News Clips:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.		 Yes
2009 LD 793

An Act To Improve Juvenile Correctional Services
 Enacted with
amendment:

H-80		 PL 2009, c. 93

 Amended:
30 MRS §6209-A(1)(B) 		No debate. Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
2009 LD 1377

An Act To Amend the 1980 Maine Implementing Act To Authorize the Establishment of a Tribal Court for the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians and Related Matters
 Enacted with
amendment:

H-561		 PL 2009, c. 384

 Enacted:
30 MRS §6208(2-A)
30 MRS §6209-C
30 MRS §6209-C(1-A)
30 MRS §6209-D

Amended:
30 MRS §6209-A(1)
30 MRS §6211
30 MRS §6212(1), (2), (3)

Repealed:
30 MRS §6206-B(6)		 No debate. Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
2010 LD 445

An Act to Improve Tribal-State Relations		 Enacted with
amendment:

H-714		 PL 2009, c. 636

 Amended:
30 MRS §6203(8)
30 MRS §6212(6)		 No debate. Report:  A Summary of the Activities of the Maine Indian Tribal-State Commission July 1, 2009 - June 30, 2012 (July 2013)

Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.

News Clips:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.		 Yes
2013 LD 64

An Act To Place Land in Centerville in Trust for the Passamaquoddy Tribe		 N/A

 PL 2013, c. 91

 Enacted:
30 MRS §6205(1)(D-2)

Amended:
30 MRS §6205(1)(D-1)		 No debate. Report:  A Summary of the Activities of the Maine Indian Tribal-State Commission (July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2013) (Feb. 2014)

Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.

 Yes
2013 LD 394

An Act To Add Members of the Aroostook Band of Micmacs to the Maine Indian Tribal-State Commission and Add Corresponding Members for the State		 N/A

 PL 2013, c. 81

 Enacted:
30 MRS §6212(6)(D)

Amended:
30 MRS §6212(1), (2), (3)
30 MRS §6212(6)(B), (C)		 No debate. Report:  A Summary of the Activities of the Maine Indian Tribal-State Commission (July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2013) (Feb. 2014)

Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.

 		 Yes
2019 LD 766

An Act Regarding the Penobscot Nation's and Passamaquoddy Tribe's Authority To Exercise Jurisdiction under the Federal Tribal Law and Order Act of 2010 and the Federal Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013		 Enacted with amendments:

H-763		 PL 2019, c. 621, Parts A-D Enacted:
30 MRS §6210(5)
30 MRS §6210(4-A)
30 MRS §6209-B(1-A)
30 MRS §6209-B(2-A)
30 MRS §6209-A(1-A)
30 MRS §6209-A(2-A)
30 MRS §6209-A(4)

Amended:
30 MRS §6206(3)
30 MRS §6209-B(4)
30 MRS §6209-A(1)(A)		 House, March 17, 2020
p. H-1348-H-1349		 Report:  Report of the Task Force on Changes to the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Implementing Act (Jan. 2020)

Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.

News Clips:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.		 Yes
2021 LD 159

An Act To Eliminate Time Limits for Placing Land in Trust Status under the Maine Indian Claims Settlement		 Enacted with amendment:

H-176		 PL 2021, c. 139 Amended:
30 MRS §6205(1)
30 MRS §6205(2)(B)		 No debate. Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
2022 LD 906

An Act To Provide Passamaquoddy Tribal Members Access to Clean Drinking Water		 Enacted with amendments:

H-984
H-1035		 PL 2021, c. 650 Enacted:
30 MRS §6205(1)(F)
30 MRS §6207(10)
30 MRS §6207-A
30 MRS §6209-A(1)(F)

Amended:
30 MRS §6205(1)(D-2)
30 MRS §6205(1)(E)
30 MRS §6206(1)
30 MRS §6207
30 MRS §6207(1)
30 MRS §6209-A(1)(D)
30 MRS §6209-A(1)(E)		 House, April 12, 2022
p. H-1382-H-1388

Senate, April 13, 2022
p. S-1895-S-1901

Senate, April 19, 2022
p. S-2000-S-2002

 Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes