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132nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
FIRST REGULAR SESSION-2025
Legislative Document No. 702H.P. 441House of Representatives, February 25, 2025
An Act to Designate January 6th as A Day to Remember and to
Preserve the Accounts of Witnesses to the Events of January 6, 2021
Received by the Clerk of the House on February 20, 2025. Referred to the Committee on
State and Local Government pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to Joint
Rule 401.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative MACIAS of Topsham.
Cosponsored by Representatives: ARCHER of Saco, BELL of Yarmouth, BRIDGEO of
Augusta, ROLLINS of Augusta, TERRY of Gorham. Page 1 - 132LR1795(01)
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2 is enacted to read:
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4 January 6th of each year is designated as A Day to Remember, and the Governor shall
5 annually issue a proclamation honoring the resilience of democracy during the events of
6 January 6, 2021 in Washington, D.C., encouraging the people of the State to use the day as
7 an opportunity for reflection on the values of democracy, civic responsibility and the
8 importance of protecting constitutional governance and encouraging educational
9 institutions, civic organizations and public libraries to observe the day with discussions,
10 events and programming to educate citizens about the importance of civic engagement and
11 the rule of law.
12 is enacted to read:
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14 collaboration with the Maine Historical Society, shall collect and preserve firsthand
15 accounts from individuals who witnessed or were involved in the events of January 6, 2021
16 in Washington, D.C., including, but not limited to:
17 A. The State's congressional delegation and the congressional delegation's staff who
18 were present in Washington, D.C. on January 6, 2021;
19 B. Residents of the State who were at the United States Capitol Building in
20 Washington, D.C. on January 6, 2021 or who played a role in responding to the events
21 of that day; and
22 C. Law enforcement personnel, historians and other individuals whose accounts
23 provide insight into the significance of the events of January 6, 2021.
24 The State Archivist shall develop a standardized process for conducting interviews under
25 this subsection that ensures the respectful and accurate documentation of participants'
26 experiences and shall record and transcribe all interviews, with participants' consent, for
27 inclusion in the Maine State Archives. The State Archivist shall collaborate with schools,
28 universities and civic organizations to create informational materials based on the
29 interviews for integration into educational initiatives and shall make all recorded and
30 transcribed interviews and materials accessible to the public through an online archive and
31 physical exhibits.
32 Beginning January 6, 2026, the State Archivist shall provide an annual report to the joint
33 standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education and cultural
34 affairs detailing the progress of the witness account collection and educational initiatives
35 under this subsection.
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37 This bill establishes January 6th of each year as A Day to Remember to honor the
38 resilience of democracy during the events of January 6, 2021 in Washington, D.C. It also
39 directs the State Archivist to collect and preserve firsthand accounts from the State's
40 congressional delegation and staff and others connected to the events of January 6, 2021,
41 to create educational materials based on those accounts and to make those materials and
42 accounts available to the public through an online archive and physical exhibits.
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