MSMA adviser briefs Portland Board committee on how school districts can influence Maine law

Portland, Maine Robbie Feinberg, director of communications and government relations at the Maine School Management Association (MSMA), told the Portland Board of EducationPublic and Legislative Affairs Committee on Sept. 29 that school boards can shape state law by building relationships with legislators early, prioritizing a small set of issues, and participating in committee testimony.

Feinberg outlined the basics of Mainelawmaking and MSMAsupport. He described MSMAwork representing the Maine School Boards Association and the Maine School Superintendents Association, said the groups meet weekly during the legislative session to review bills, and offered practical steps for districts to influence outcomes, including meeting informally with lawmakers, inviting legislators to board meetings and coordinating with advocacy partners.

Why it matters: Board members can make local arguments that legislators cannot get elsewhere district-level data, program impacts and personal stories and those local perspectives, Feinberg said, often sway votes or prompt amendments in committee.

What Feinberg recommended: Start early. He described an example from MSAD 11 (Gardiner), where administrators and educators met months before the session, worked with advocacy groups and a local representative, and produced LD 1248, a bill that made targeted changes to how educators respond to challenging student behavior and later became law. "We'd see legislators remembering that one story from that one superintendent," Feinberg said, urging short, focused testimony supported by data.

On testimony forms, Feinberg told committee members: in-person testimony at the statehouse is "the most impactful" because it ensures legislators hear you and can lead to informal follow-ups; Zoom testimony is nearly as effective; written testimony and emails supplement but can be less memorable. He also recommended bringing extra copies of written testimony if attending in person.

Committee process and timing: Feinberg walked the committee through the path from drafting to floor votes: bills are drafted and submitted, referred to committee for public hearings and work sessions, reported with "ought to pass" or "ought not to pass" recommendations, then scheduled for floor votes. He emphasized that a bill will still go to the floor unless it is unanimously rejected in committee.

Appropriations and mandates: Feinberg warned that bills with funding requests commonly stall on the Appropriations table; he said the statelevel process can leave many bills unfunded and noted that, under Mainerules, a bill deemed a mandate for local governments typically requires roughly 90% funding for local compliance.

Upcoming priorities: Feinberg said the next regular session (beginning January 2026) is likely to focus on school funding and the EPS (Essential Programs and Services) formula, where a Maine Education Policy Research Institute (MEPRI) report due in January could prompt changes, and on school construction funding following the governor's commission report expected by year-end.

Committee business and next steps: The committee agreed to move the discussion of community engagement to the full board meeting for broader participation. Chair Sarah Lentz moved to adjourn at 8:50 p.m.; a board member seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

Feinberg offered MSMA resources (weekly email updates and a legislative dashboard) and his contact information for follow-up. "I am happy to help you all through that process," he said.

Sources: Presentation and Q&A with Robbie Feinberg at the Portland Board of Education Public and Legislative Affairs Committee meeting, Sept. 29, 2025.