Every Voice Maine Law to Combat Campus Sexual Violence Signed by Governor

After two years of a student and survivor-led advocacy, LD1727 passes the Maine Legislature with widespread, bi-partisan support and is signed by the Governor

Augusta, ME: On Monday, April 25th, after two years of student and survivor-led advocacy and stakeholder participation, Maine bill LD1727 "An Act Concerning Sexual Misconduct on College Campuses", passed through the Maine legislature with bi-partisan support. On Thursday, May 5th 2022, Governor Janet Mills signed LD1727, making Maine the SIXTH state in the country to pass an Every Voice Law. 

Over the past two years, student advocates with Every Voice Maine from colleges and universities across the state– including University of Maine Orono, Bowdoin College, Bates College, University of Southern Maine and more–  worked diligently to gather stakeholder input and ideas, draft LD1727 and advocate for passage in the Legislature. Maine students were honored to work alongside Lead Sponsor Senate President Troy Jackson, his office, and many other co-sponsor champions.

The Every Voice Maine bill enacts groundbreaking measures to combat sexual violence and support survivors studying at Maine institutions of higher education. Specifically, the legislation:

• Enacts the development of a campus climate survey to be administered biannually to all Maine students to collect data on campus sexual violence and establishes clear and transparent data reporting requirements for all institutions 

• Requires all institutions to enter into a partnership with an organization that provides sexual violence services to ensure access to free counseling, advocacy services and health care for all students and employees 

• Requires the designation of a confidential advocate on each campus who may inform parties on options for reporting, available services, and resources and who can assist in coordinating supportive measures 

• Ensures amnesty protection for reporting parties who violate school code of conduct at the time of the assault(s)

• Requires robust, annual best practice prevention and awareness training for all students and employees of an institution 

Every Voice Maine is overjoyed to see LD1727 signed into law by Governor Janet Mills, a career-long champion for survivors of sexual and domestic violence, and excited to continue to work with all stakeholders throughout the implementation process.

Words of Support

“I am so grateful to have been a part of this movement and behind this bill for the past two years. We have received so much support from students, survivors, community partners, and legislators and I am looking forward to the next steps,” said India McNeill, a student at Bates College and co-State Director for Every Voice Maine. “This bill will be a step towards making our campuses safer and shows survivors that their voices are being heard and protected.”

“I am so proud of all of the students and survivors behind this bill and so grateful to all of the legislators and community members who have supported us,” said Lotte Parsons, a student at Bowdoin College and co-State Director for Every Voice Maine. “This bill will ensure that student survivors receive critical resources and the support that they deserve. Its passage marks an amazing step toward creating safer, more compassionate campus communities.

“Sexual violence on college campuses has reached a crisis point in this state and in this country. It may be uncomfortable for some folks to talk about but ignoring or minimizing the issue would be a gross disservice to our students and only add to the pain of survivors. It’s why I’m so proud to have played a small part in helping pass this student-led legislation to better support survivors and create a safer environment on Maine’s college campuses,” said Senate President Troy Jackson (D- Aroostook). “I’m so grateful to the students who brought the bill forward, the brave survivors who shared their stories, and my colleagues in the Legislature who helped get this bill across the finish line.”

The Every Voice Coalition (www.everyvoicecoalition.org) is a student, young alum and survivor-led organization working to pass student and survivor-written, survivor-centered legislation on the state level to prevent campus sexual violence and support survivors. Every Voice bills have been passed in five states: New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Illinois, Nevada and Connecticut. The Coalition is currently working in 12 states. 

Media Contacts: national@everyvoicecoalition.org