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LD1741 • 2025

An Act Regarding Vacancies in the Office of Sheriff

An Act Regarding Vacancies in the Office of Sheriff

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Representative Holly Stover
Last action
2026-03-19
Official status
Signed by the Governor
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

An Act Regarding Vacancies in the Office of Sheriff

An Act Regarding Vacancies in the Office of Sheriff Sponsor: Representative Holly Stover Reference committee: State and Local Government Governor action: Signed by the Governor

What This Bill Does

  • An Act Regarding Vacancies in the Office of Sheriff Sponsor: Representative Holly Stover Reference committee: State and Local Government Governor action: Signed by the Governor

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

Adopted by House & Senate

Plain English: Page 1 - 132LR2348(02) COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 1 L.D.

  • Page 1 - 132LR2348(02) COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 1 L.D.
  • 1741 2 Date: (Filing No.
  • H- ) 3STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT 4 Reproduced and distributed under the direction of the Clerk of the House.
  • 5STATE OF MAINE 6HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 7132ND LEGISLATURE 8SECOND REGULAR SESSION 9 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT “ ” to H.P.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-19 Governor

    Signed by the Governor

  2. 2026-03-17 Senate

    PASSED TO BE ENACTED , in concurrence.

  3. 2026-03-12 House

    PASSED TO BE ENACTED . Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

  4. 2026-02-27 Committee

    Reported Out; OTP-AM

  5. 2026-01-21 Committee

    Work Session Held

  6. 2026-01-21 Committee

    Voted; OTP-AM

  7. 2026-01-14 Committee

    Work Session Held; TABLED

  8. 2025-06-25 Committee

    Carry Over Approved

  9. 2025-05-23 Committee

    Carry Over Requested

  10. 2025-04-22 Committee

    Referred to Committee on State and Local Government.

Official Summary Text

An Act Regarding Vacancies in the Office of Sheriff
Sponsor:
Representative Holly Stover
Reference committee:
State and Local Government
Governor action:
Signed by the Governor

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Page 1 - 132LR2348(03)
STATE OF MAINE
_____
IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD
TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-SIX
_____
H.P. 1159 - L.D. 1741
An Act Regarding Vacancies in the Office of Sheriff
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 30-A MRSA §371-B, sub-§2, as repealed and replaced by PL 1997, c. 562,
Pt. D, §6 and affected by §11, is amended to read:
2. Filling vacancies. Vacancies in the office of sheriff caused by death, resignation,
removal from the county, permanent incapacity or any other reason must be filled as
provided in the Constitution of Maine. In the case of a vacancy in the term of a sheriff who
was nominated by primary election before the general election, the sheriff appointed by the
Governor to fill the vacancy until a successor is chosen at election must be enrolled in the
same political party as the sheriff whose term is vacant. In making the appointment, the
Governor shall choose from any recommendations submitted to the Governor by the county
committee of the political party from which the appointment is made. If the county
committee submits one or more recommendations to the Governor, the chief deputy
exercising the same rights and powers of the sheriff in the case of a vacancy in the office
of sheriff pursuant to section 385, subsection 1 must be included for consideration for
appointment as sheriff if the chief deputy is enrolled in the same political party as the sheriff
whose term is vacant.
Sec. 2. 30-A MRSA §381, sub-§3, ¶A, as enacted by PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2
and Pt. C, §106 and amended by PL 1989, c. 6; c. 9, §2; and c. 104, Pt. C, §§8 and 10, is
further amended to read:
A. The failure decision of a sheriff to not reappoint a deputy, except for appointment
at the end of the probationary period, is subject to the procedures and standards for
dismissal of an applicable collective bargaining agreement.
Sec. 3. 30-A MRSA §385, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 and
Pt. C, §106 and amended by PL 1989, c. 6; c. 9, §2; and c. 104, Pt. C, §§8 and 10, is further
amended to read:
1. Chief deputy's powers. If the office of sheriff becomes vacant because of death,
resignation or otherwise, the chief deputy shall have has and may exercise the same rights
and powers and be is subject to the same duties and liabilities as a sheriff until the vacancy
APPROVED
MARCH 19, 2026
BY GOVERNOR
CHAPTER
572
PUBLIC LAW
Page 2 - 132LR2348(03)
in the office of sheriff is filled as provided in the Constitution of Maine and the new sheriff
has qualified under law.