A hearing regarding challenges filed against the petitions filed by proponents of the citizen initiative titled “An Act to Designate School Sports Paricipation and Faciilties by Sex” will be held on Tuesday, May 12 according to a press release received from the Secretary of State’s Office received late last month.

The hearing will be held in room 127 of the Maine State House in Augusta and will begin at 10:00 am.  Chief Deputy Secreary of State Katherine McBrien will serve as the Presiding Officer at the Hearing and Assistant Attorney General Jon Bolton will assist as legal counsel.

Following a decision issued by the Secreary of State’s Office on March 17, 2026 that found the petition effort valid, petitioners Jane Gilbert, Mark Sayre and Kaitlin Webber filed suit in Maine Superior Court to challenge the determination.  On April 24, 2026, the Court remanded the action “for further proceedings consistent with this Order which may include correcting the concessions identified (in the Court’s decision and order) taking new evidence, and deveoping further findings of fact as necessary.”  The Court directed the Secretary to issue a new Determination of Validity by May 26.

At the hearing there will be an opportunity for all parties to present oral testimony of witnesses as well as additional documentary evidence and to make oral arguments.  Written affidavits from witnesses will not be accepted as evidene unless those witnesses are available for cross-examination.  Witnesses will be permitted to appear by video conference if they are not otherwise available to attend the hearing.

The hearing will be livestreamed on the Department’s YouTube page:   https://www.youtube.com/@mesecofstate.