AUGUSTA — A week after saying they would not hold a public hearing on a citizen-initiated bill, Democrats on Monday reversed the decision and scheduled a hearing for Wednesday.

The bill, which proposes that Maine adopt a red flag law to make it easier for family members to remove guns from someone who is a danger, is controversial. And because it is a citizen initiative, it will appear on the November ballot.

Initially, the chairwomen of the Judiciary Committee — Sen. Anne Carney (D-Cape Elizabeth) and Rep. Amy Kuhn (D-Falmouth) — said they would not hold a public hearing because the issue was headed to the ballot.

The Maine Constitution requires the Legislature to pass the bill as presented or send it along to voters. 

“Given this constitutional process, we do not believe it is necessary or timely to hold a public hearing or further work on LD 1378 during this legislative session, which we still have hundreds of bills left for the full Legislature to vote on over the next few weeks,” they said in a June 2 statement.

But late Monday, notice was posted that a hearing on the bill is set for 3 p.m. Wednesday at the State House. No explanation for the reversal has been offered by Democrats and spokespersons for Carney did not respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.

Republicans drew attention to the issue last week, raising their objections to the lack of a public hearing at two press briefings. The National Rifle Association announced that it would partner with the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine and Gun Owners of Maine in a lawsuit, if necessary.

Senate Minority Leader Trey Stewart (R-Presque Isle) offered a series of orders during Senate proceedings to push the issue. He and others emphasized a state law that requires public hearings for citizen-initiated bills. 

“I’m relieved that my Democrat colleagues finally realized they could not get away with silencing the voices of Maine citizens to limit criticism of this radical gun-control proposal,” Stewart said in a statement. “Even the most rabid gun-control activists realized that breaking the law to silence their opposition was not an acceptable way to move their agenda forward.”

The hearing will take place at 3 p.m. Wednesday before the Judiciary Committee, Room 438 at the State House.