An Act to Designate January 6th as A Day to Remember
Summary
LD 702 designates January 6th of each year as “A Day to Remember” in Maine. The bill directs the Governor to issue an annual proclamation honoring the resilience of democracy in connection with the events of January 6, 2021 in Washington, D.C., and encourages Mainers to use the day for reflection on democracy, civic responsibility, constitutional governance, and the rule of law.
The measure also encourages educational institutions, civic organizations, and public libraries to observe the day with discussions, events, and programming intended to educate citizens about civic engagement and democratic institutions. It is a commemorative and educational measure rather than a regulatory or funding bill, and it adds a new section to Maine law in Title 1 establishing the observance.
Impact
The bill amends Maine law by enacting 1 MRSA §150-W, creating a new state observance called “A Day to Remember” on January 6th. Its legal effect is to require an annual gubernatorial proclamation and to formally encourage public and civic institutions to hold educational observances, but it does not create penalties, mandates for private conduct, or new appropriations. The primary affected parties are the Governor’s office, schools, libraries, civic organizations, and the general public.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been generally supported but somewhat divided, as reflected in the recorded votes. It passed the House and Senate by majority margins and was ultimately enacted into law, indicating enough support to advance despite opposition. The available record does not include committee testimony, but the vote totals suggest the measure was politically meaningful and not unanimous.
Contention
The likely point of contention is the symbolic and political meaning of designating January 6th as a day of remembrance tied to the events of January 6, 2021. Supporters appear to frame the bill as a civic-education and democracy-resilience measure, while opponents likely objected to the memorialization itself, the messaging around the date, or the use of a state proclamation for a politically charged event. The close vote margins indicate that the bill was controversial even though it was ultimately enacted.