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LD 1651

An Act To Remove The Term "Alleged" When Referring To Victims Of Sexual Assault In The Maine Revised Statutes

132nd Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Anne Carney and 6 co-sponsors

The bill removes the word “alleged” from referring to sexual assault victims in Maine statutes, using “victim” to promote respectful, victim-centered language.

Signed by Governor
#crimes #sexoffenses #victims
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Bill Summary · LD 1651

Summary — LD 1651 (132nd Maine Legislature)

Title: An Act To Remove The Term "Alleged" When Referring To Victims Of Sexual Assault In The Maine Revised Statutes
Status: Signed by Governor (May 23, 2025)
Introduced: April 15, 2025
Committee: Judiciary

Purpose / Intent

LD 1651 modifies statutory language to eliminate use of the word “alleged” when referring to victims of sexual assault in the Maine Revised Statutes. The stated intent is to remove terminology that may imply doubt about a person’s status as a victim and to promote respectful, victim-centered language in the statutes.

Key provisions

  • Replaces statutory references that described a person as an “alleged victim” of sexual assault with language that refers to the person as the “victim” (or otherwise removes the qualifier “alleged”).
  • A committee amendment (Committee Amendment “A” (H-142)) was adopted; fiscal materials indicate the engrossed version focuses on provisions pertaining to forensic examinations, suggesting the amendment narrowed or clarified the statutory sections targeted by the change. The precise text of the amendment is not provided here.

Who is affected

  • Primary: People identified in statute as victims of sexual assault (including those undergoing forensic examinations).
  • Secondary: State agencies, law enforcement, medical personnel who perform forensic sexual assault examinations, prosecutors, defense counsel, and courts — insofar as statutory wording these actors rely on will change.
  • The change is terminological; there is no indication it alters substantive criminal law, standards of proof, or evidentiary rules.

Procedural timeline

  • April 15, 2025: Introduced and referred to Judiciary Committee.
  • April–May 2025: Work session; Committee reported out OTP-AM (ought to pass as amended).
  • May 13–14, 2025: Passed to be engrossed as amended; amendment read and adopted.
  • May 20–21, 2025: Passed to be enacted; sent for concurrence.
  • May 23, 2025: Signed by the Governor.

Fiscal impact

  • Fiscal notes for both committee versions state: No fiscal impact.

Notes / Limitations

  • The bill is framed as a language change to improve statutory terminology and dignity for victims. Available materials do not show changes to legal standards or procedural rights. The committee amendment appears to narrow scope (per the fiscal note referencing forensic examinations), but the full amended statutory text is not included in the materials summarized here.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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