Maine House advances bill to shield providers from out-of-state attacks

LD 227 will safeguard Maine clinicians from government overreach stemming from states that have banned reproductive care or care for transgender people

(Portland, MAINE) – In the wake of bomb threats, political attacks, and lies spread by lawmakers opposed to the measure, a majority of Maine House lawmakers today voted to advance a bill that will safeguard providers of reproductive care and care for transgender people from hostile attacks based on laws in other states.  

Eighty elected leaders voted to pass LD 227, An Act Regarding Health Care in the State, sponsored by Rep. Anne Perry (D-Calais), and 70 cast votes in opposition to the measure, which has the support of Maine Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Maine Medical Association and Maine Psychological Association, among others. 

This bill aims to ensure Maine's health care providers aren’t penalized under the laws of other states that have banned access to established, standard-of-care transgender health care and reproductive care and to ensure patients can continue to receive quality, legal, essential medical care in Maine. 

To date, 21 states across the country have enacted bans or near total bans on abortion. Twenty-four states have banned access to safe and effective medical care for transgender adolescents and some have moved to restrict access to care for transgender adults.  

LD 227 is consistent with Governor Janet Mills’ July 2022 executive order safeguarding providers and patients of reproductive care in the wake of the Dobbs Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade. It also builds on legislation passed by Maine lawmakers in June 2023 that protects reproductive health care providers from adverse actions by malpractice insurers. 

Statement from Lisa Margulies, Esq., Vice President of Public Affairs, Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund and Planned Parenthood of Northern New England 

“Maine is one step closer to protecting our providers of essential medical care from hostile attacks by out-of-state extremists. We applaud the 80 elected leaders who voted to advance LD 227 in the face of vile rhetoric and lies, political posturing and threats of violence. 

Thankfully, reproductive care and care for transgender people remains legal in Maine. LD 227 is a necessary response to a tumultuous national landscape in which practitioners of essential and lifesaving care are under attack. 

This bill is about ensuring our providers of reproductive care and care for transgender people can offer safe, legal medical care in Maine without fear of government overreach from other states.” 

Statement from Polly Crozier, Director of Family Advocacy, GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) 

“We’re grateful to Representative Perry for championing this important bill in the House, and to the 80 Representatives who understood that LD 227 will protect access to essential, standard-of-care health care and the Maine practitioners and providers who deliver it. We look forward to working next with the Senate and hope to see LD 227 advance to safeguard Maine’s health care infrastructure from hostile laws passed for political, not medical, purposes in other states.” 

### 

Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund is an independent, nonpartisan, not-for-profit membership organization formed as the advocacy and political arm of Planned Parenthood of Northern New England in Maine. PPNNE has four health centers in Maine and sees more than 12,000 patients a year. 

*** 

Through strategic litigation, public policy advocacy, and education, GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders works in New England and nationally to create a just society free of discrimination based on gender identity and expression, HIV status, and sexual orientation. www.glad.org