ME HP1474

Designates January 2026 as Stalking Awareness Month in Maine, marking the 22nd anniversary of the first National Stalking Awareness Month

Recognizes stalking prevalence statistics: approximately 1 in 3 women and 1 in 6 men experience stalking victimization; over 13.4 million individuals report being stalked annually in the U.S.

Highlights that 80% of stalking victims report being stalked using technology (phone calls, texts, social media, electronic tracking) and more than 80% are stalked by a current or former intimate partner or acquaintance

Notes stalking is a risk factor for intimate partner homicide, with 3 in 4 female victims of intimate partner homicide having been stalked by their killer in the preceding year

Encourages policymakers, criminal justice officials, victim service agencies, higher education institutions, and nonprofits to increase stalking awareness and support services for victims