January 2026 newsletter

A Message From Courtney

Dear Friends,

 

As we step into a new year, we are also stepping into a new legislative session, and with it, a renewed responsibility to protect the progress we have fought so hard to achieve together.

 

Tomorrow, that work begins in earnest. At 1:00 PM, the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee will hold a public hearing on legislation that directly impacts Maine’s Good Samaritan Law. This hearing is about more than policy. It is about lives. It is about whether people will continue to call 911 in moments of crisis without fear, whether families will get their loved ones back, and whether Maine will stay on the path that has helped drive overdose deaths down.

 

We know the truth because we have lived it. Good Samaritan works. It saves lives. It supports recovery. It creates space for second chances.

 

Over the last several years, Maine has built one of the strongest Good Samaritan laws in the country, by design and with intention. It reflects our shared belief that saving a life should never come with a legal gamble. The results speak for themselves. More calls for help. More reversals. Fewer funerals.

 

As we begin 2026, we must raise our voices to protect these gains and to ensure that overdose deaths continue to decline. We must stand together to defend a law that puts people first, supports recovery, and recognizes that compassion and accountability are not opposites. They are partners.

 

Whether you submit testimony, attend the hearing, share the message, or speak from your lived experience, your voice matters. This movement has always been powered by people willing to stand up and speak out, even when it is hard.

 

A new year brings new challenges, but it also brings new opportunities. Let’s start this legislative session the way we intend to continue it: united, grounded in evidence, led by lived experience, and unapologetically committed to saving lives.

 

In solidarity and gratitude,


P.S. Make sure you also check out the public hearing on the Clean Slate legislation below!

Clean Slate Maine: Public Hearing is January 8th!

One in four adult Mainers have a criminal record. Sponsored by Senator Talbot Ross, LD 1911 would create an automated system to seal certain arrest or conviction records for individuals who meet specific requirements and have remained crime-free for a period of time, eliminating barriers of the petition-based process. Clean Slate is a fair shot at redemption. 

 

The public hearing for LD 1911 has been scheduled for January 8 at 10AM in the Judiciary Committee at the Maine State House! 

Bookmark Our Bill Tracker!

Want to stay in the loop about legislation in the upcoming session? Check out our Public Bill Tracker! You can follow the bills we’re tracking, our position if we have one, and the status of each bill. 

 

If you would like to get involved with upcoming legislative campaigns, please email our Policy Director at: tess@me-rap.org.







ME-RAP Bill Tracker

Opioid Settlement Funds

OSF Toolkit Spotlight: How to Submit a FOAA Request

Have you checked out our toolkit that is dedicated to all things related to opioid settlement fund (OSF) transparency, accountability, and advocacy?

 

This month we want to highlight this Guide on the Maine Freedom of Access Act (FOAA) that was created by the Right-to-Know Advisory Committee with the support of University of Maine School of Law.

 

Visit the link below, to find out information on:

  • What the Freedom of Access Act (FOAA) is and why it exists
  • What FOAA covers (public records & public proceedings)
  • How to write and submit a FOAA request
  • Sample FOAA requests and forms
  • And more!


Read the Guide!

OSF Subdivision Updates


  • City of Bangor (December 1, 2025): RFP application closed. The OSF committee's term was extended by the City Council through June 30, 2026 to allow time to complete application reviews and provide recommendations.
  • City of Portland (December 15, 2025): Portland's City Council approved the reallocation of up to $1.4 million in OSF to support five programs servicing people with substance use disorder and those experiencing homelessness.
  • Aroostook County (December 17, 2025): Commissioners approved five applications totaling $200,000 in OSF to support recovery, homelessness, and community-based programs.
  • Waldo County (December 19, 2025): Commissioners approved an 8 member standing OSF committee, with meetings beginning in early January 2026.
  • Penobscot County (December 23, 2025): Commissioners approved twelve OSF applications supporting recovery, prevention, treatment, and community support services, totaling $400,000.


New ME-RAP Organizer Spotlight!

Luca Mellon is an advocate, community organizer, and landlord living in Rockland. 

Since 2023, he's been bringing community members and the City of Rockland together to operate a temporary no-barrier shelter on cold nights - one that focuses on safety, comfort, and accessibility. He brings a wealth of knowledge of all things carceral to ME-RAP, having served Knox county as a criminal defense paralegal, pretrial officer, social worker, and member of his jail's board of visitors.


Every hat Luca has worn confirms that criminalizing drug users is not intuitive, does more harm than good, and rarely, if ever, does it resolve underlying issues. Luca holds a bachelor's degree in anthropology from an ivy league school. He also has a lapsed EMT license, too many cars, and is a beast with a chainsaw. In his spare time, he enjoys bringing disparate people together, picking up hitchhikers, learning how to be a better friend, and staring at the ocean. Luca is thrilled to be walking a path of service towards justice, and credits his 12-step program and the support of a loving sponsor with all of the above.


RECAP