RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine to Limit Taxes, Spending or Debt Without Approval by the Voters

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132nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
FIRST SPECIAL SESSION-2025
Legislative Document No. 1818
H.P. 1216 House of Representatives, April 29, 2025
RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of
Maine to Limit Taxes, Spending or Debt Without Approval by the
Voters
Reference to the Committee on Taxation suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative FOSTER of Dexter. (BY REQUEST)
Cosponsored by Senator STEWART of Aroostook and
Representative: FAULKINGHAM of Winter Harbor.

Page 1 - 132LR1953(01)
1Constitutional amendment. Resolved: Two thirds of each branch of the
2 Legislature concurring, that the following amendment to the Constitution of Maine be
3 proposed:
4Constitution, Art. I, §26 is enacted to read:
5Section 26. Limit on increases in taxes, spending and debt. The establishment
6 of a new tax and an increase in an existing tax, including, without limitation, those taxes
7 levied on income and property, and an increase in fiscal spending or debt must be approved
8 by the voters of the State or by the voters in the municipality or county affected by the tax,
9 fiscal spending or debt, except that an increase in fiscal spending that does not exceed the
10 rate of inflation is not subject to voter approval, as determined by and in accordance with
11 a process enacted by the Legislature in statute.
12Constitutional referendum procedure; form of question; effective date.
13Resolved: That the municipal officers of this State shall notify the inhabitants of their
14 respective cities, towns and plantations to meet, in the manner prescribed by law for holding
15 a statewide election, at a statewide election held in the month of November following the
16 passage of this resolution, to vote upon the ratification of the amendment proposed in this
17 resolution by voting upon the following question:
18 "Do you favor amending the Constitution of Maine to prohibit new or
19 increased taxes, increases in fiscal spending beyond the rate of inflation or
20 increases in debt unless those new or increased taxes or that increase in
21 fiscal spending or debt is approved by the voters affected by those taxes or
22 that fiscal spending or debt as determined by and in accordance with a
23 process enacted by the Legislature in statute?"
24 The legal voters of each city, town and plantation shall vote by ballot on this question
25 and designate their choice by a cross or check mark placed within the corresponding square
26 below the word "Yes" or "No." The ballots must be received, sorted, counted and declared
27 in open ward, town and plantation meetings and returns made to the Secretary of State in
28 the same manner as votes for members of the Legislature. The Governor shall review the
29 returns. If it appears that a majority of the legal votes are cast in favor of the amendment,
30 the Governor shall proclaim that fact without delay and the amendment becomes part of
31 the Constitution of Maine on the date of the proclamation.
32Secretary of State shall prepare ballots. Resolved: That the Secretary of State
33 shall prepare and furnish to each city, town and plantation all ballots, returns and copies of
34 this resolution necessary to carry out the purposes of this referendum.
35SUMMARY
36 This resolution proposes to amend the Constitution of Maine to prohibit any new taxes
37 and increases in taxes, including taxes on income and property, increases in fiscal spending
38 beyond the rate of inflation and increases in debt unless those taxes or increases are
39 approved by the voters of the State or by the voters in the municipality or county affected
40 by the tax, fiscal spending or debt, as determined by and in accordance with a process
41 enacted by the Legislature in statute.
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