Maine Lawmakers Seek to Boost Security for Officials and Families

Proposals would provide funding for home security systems and allow removal of personal info from public records

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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Maine lawmakers are considering measures to improve security for themselves and their family members in response to high-profile killings and threats targeting elected officials and political figures across the country. Proposals from Democrats would create a fund to help lawmakers install home security systems and allow them to remove personal information like home addresses from public records.

Why it matters

The shootings of elected officials and political figures around the country, including the killing of a former Minnesota House Speaker and her husband, have heightened concerns about the safety of lawmakers. Threats against Maine state lawmakers have also tripled in recent years, leading to increased security concerns.

The details

One proposal from Senate Majority Leader Teresa Pierce would create a 'Legislator Residential Security Fund' that would provide $450,000 through 2027 for current lawmakers to install home security systems. Another bill from Rep. Sean Faircloth would allow elected, judicial and constitutional officials and their families to request the removal of personal information like home addresses from public records and government websites.

  • In 2023, threats tracked by Maine Capitol Police against state lawmakers tripled from the previous year.
  • Last year, a man impersonating a police officer killed former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband at their home and also wounded a state senator and his wife at their residence.
  • In September 2025, a man assassinated conservative activist Charlie Kirk at a Utah university.

The players

Teresa Pierce

Senate Majority Leader, D-Falmouth, who proposed the 'Legislator Residential Security Fund'.

Sean Faircloth

State Representative, D-Bangor, who introduced a proposal to allow elected, judicial and constitutional officials to remove personal information from public records.

Melissa Hortman

Former Minnesota House Speaker who was killed at her home last year.

Shenna Bellows

Maine Secretary of State whose home was 'swatted' in 2023 after she disqualified former President Trump from the state's primary ballot.

Valerie Stanfill

Chief Justice of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court, who testified about threats against judges in Maine.

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What they’re saying

“Because this job specifically puts you at risk. If your job puts you at risk, your job should be able to help make sure that you're being protected.”

— Mattie Daughtry, Senate President, D-Brunswick (centralmaine.com)

“While this one measure will not solve the issue of political violence, my hope is that it will give meaningful peace of mind to those serving their communities.”

— Teresa Pierce, Senate Majority Leader, D-Falmouth (centralmaine.com)

“I wish that we still lived in a world in which an email, a letter or a social media post did not convey the intent to cause serious harm — including death — to a public official. But we do not.”

— Donna Bailey, State Senator, D-Saco (centralmaine.com)

“We understand that this legislation will not guarantee the safety of any given jurist or elected official, but it is an important step to protect the security of those who serve the citizenry of Maine.”

— Valerie Stanfill, Chief Justice, Maine Supreme Judicial Court (centralmaine.com)

What’s next

The security fund proposal from Senate Majority Leader Teresa Pierce will face a committee vote at a later date, while Rep. Sean Faircloth's bill to allow removal of personal information from public records is awaiting a Judiciary Committee vote.

The takeaway

These security proposals highlight the growing concerns about political violence and threats targeting elected officials, even in a state like Maine. While the measures may not completely solve the issue, they represent an effort to provide lawmakers with greater peace of mind and protection as they serve their communities.