Resolve, to Establish the Commission to Study the Constitution of Maine

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January 8, 2025
132nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
FIRST REGULAR SESSION-2025
Legislative Document No. 132
S.P. 68 In Senate, January 8, 2025
Resolve, to Establish the Commission to Study the Constitution of
Maine
Reference to the Committee on Judiciary suggested and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator HICKMAN of Kennebec.
Cosponsored by Senators: BENNETT of Oxford, STEWART of Aroostook, Representatives:
BOYER of Poland, HASENFUS of Readfield, LEE of Auburn.

Page 1 - 132LR0052(01)
1Sec. 1. Commission established. Resolved: That the Commission to Study the
2 Constitution of Maine, referred to in this resolve as "the commission," is established.
3Sec. 2. Commission membership. Resolved: That, notwithstanding Joint Rule
4 353, the commission consists of 12 voting members as follows:
5 1. Four members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate, including
6 members from each of the 2 parties holding the largest number of seats in the Legislature;
7 2. Four members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the
8 House, including members from each of the 2 parties holding the largest number of seats
9 in the Legislature;
10 3. One constitutional law scholar with expertise in the history of the Constitution of
11 Maine or member of the Maine State Bar Association who has substantial practice
12 experience with legal issues related to the Constitution of Maine appointed by the President
13 of the Senate;
14 4. One member of a federally recognized Indian tribe in the State appointed by the
15 Speaker of the House;
16 5. One representative of the state chapter of a national civil liberties organization
17 appointed by the Speaker of the House; and
18 6. The Secretary of State or the Secretary of State's designee.
19 The chairs of the commission shall invite the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial
20 Court to designate a member of the judicial branch to serve as a nonvoting member of the
21 commission in an advisory capacity.
22Sec. 3. Chairs. Resolved: That the first-named Senate member is the Senate chair
23 and the first-named House of Representatives member is the House chair of the
24 commission.
25Sec. 4. Appointments; convening of commission. Resolved: That all
26 appointments must be made no later than 30 days following the effective date of this
27 resolve. The appointing authorities shall notify the Executive Director of the Legislative
28 Council once all appointments have been completed. After appointment of all members,
29 the chairs shall call and convene the first meeting of the commission. If 30 days or more
30 after the effective date of this resolve a majority of but not all appointments have been
31 made, the chairs may request authority and the Legislative Council may grant authority for
32 the commission to meet and conduct its business.
33Sec. 5. Duties; meetings. Resolved: That the commission may meet 12 times and
34 shall study and review the Constitution of Maine and recommend changes and amendments
35 as considered necessary and desirable.
36 Proposed changes and amendments for the commission to consider include, but are not
37 limited to, provisions for:
38 1. Strengthening Maine's Declaration of Rights, Article I of the Constitution of Maine;
39 2. Removing procedural minutiae from the Constitution of Maine that are better left
40 to statute;
41 3. Enabling the popular election of constitutional officers;
Page 2 - 132LR0052(01)
1 4. Establishing 4-year terms for Senators;
2 5. Reducing the number of members of the Legislature;
3 6. Establishing a unicameral Legislature;
4 7. Allowing constitutional amendments to be initiated directly by the people of the
5 State; and
6 8. Examining any constitutional resolutions introduced in the 132nd Legislature.
7Sec. 6. Staff assistance. Resolved: That the Legislative Council shall provide
8 necessary staffing services to the commission, except that Legislative Council staff support
9 is not authorized when the Legislature is in regular or special session.
10Sec. 7. Report. Resolved: That, no later than November 4, 2026, the commission
11 shall submit a report that includes its findings and recommendations, including suggested
12 resolutions to amend the Constitution of Maine, for presentation to the Joint Standing
13 Committee on Judiciary. The joint standing committee of the Legislature having
14 jurisdiction over judiciary matters may submit legislation, including a resolution to amend
15 the Constitution of Maine, based on the findings and recommendations in the report to the
16 133rd Legislature in 2027.
17SUMMARY
18 This resolve creates the Commission to Study the Constitution of Maine to study and
19 review the Constitution of Maine and any constitutional resolutions introduced in the 132nd
20 Legislature. The bill requires the commission to submit a report of its findings and
21 recommendations to the Joint Standing Committee on Judiciary by November 4, 2026 and
22 authorizes the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over judiciary
23 matters to submit legislation, including a resolution to amend the Constitution of Maine,
24 based on the findings and recommendations in the report to the 133rd Legislature in 2027.
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