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132nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
FIRST SPECIAL SESSION-2025
Legislative Document No. 1558H.P. 1016House of Representatives, April 10, 2025
Resolve, Establishing the Commission to Update Maine's Public
Policy on Higher Education
Reference to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered
printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative SARGENT of York.
Cosponsored by Senator PIERCE of Cumberland and
Representatives: DEBRITO of Waterville, DODGE of Belfast, MITCHELL of Cumberland,
MURPHY of Scarborough, Senators: LIBBY of Cumberland, RAFFERTY of York. Page 1 - 132LR1869(01)1 That the Commission to Update
2 Maine's Public Policy on Higher Education, referred to in this resolve as "the commission,"
3 is established.
4 That, notwithstanding Joint Rule
5 353, the commission consists of 17 members, including:
6 1. Two members of the Senate, appointed by the President of the Senate, who serve on
7 the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs, including one member of
8 the party holding the largest number of seats in the Legislature and one member of the party
9 holding the 2nd largest number of seats in the Legislature;
10 2. Three members of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the
11 House, who serve on the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs,
12 including 2 members of the party holding the largest number of seats in the Legislature and
13 one member of the party holding the 2nd largest number of seats in the Legislature;
14 3. One member with expertise in higher education policy issues representing a
15 statewide education policy research institute, appointed by the President of the Senate;
16 4. One member who is a representative of a union representing the faculty of the Maine
17 Community College System, appointed by the President of the Senate;
18 5. One member representing the certification and higher education committee of the
19 State Board of Education, appointed by the President of the Senate;
20 6. One member who is employed as a faculty member at a private college or university
21 in the State, appointed by the President of the Senate;
22 7. One member who is a representative of a union representing the faculty of the
23 University of Maine System, appointed by the Speaker of the House;
24 8. One member who is a representative of a union representing the faculty of the Maine
25 Maritime Academy, appointed by the Speaker of the House;
26 9. One member representing private colleges and universities in the State, appointed
27 by the Speaker of the House;
28 10. One member who is currently enrolled as a student at a college or university in the
29 State, appointed by the Speaker of the House;
30 11. The Chancellor of the University of Maine System or the chancellor's designee;
31 12. The President of the Maine Community College System or the president's designee;
32 13. The President of the Maine Maritime Academy or the president's designee; and
33 14. The Commissioner of Education or the commissioner's designee.
34 In appointing members of the commission, the appointing authorities shall give
35 consideration to race, gender, socioeconomic diversity and geographic diversity.
36 That the first-named Senate member is the Senate chair
37 and the first-named House of Representatives member is the House chair of the
38 commission.
39 That all
40 appointments must be made no later than 30 days following the effective date of this Page 2 - 132LR1869(01)
41 resolve. The appointing authorities shall notify the Executive Director of the Legislative
42 Council once all appointments have been completed. After appointment of all members,
43 the chairs shall call and convene the first meeting of the commission. If 30 days or more
44 after the effective date of this resolve a majority of but not all appointments have been
45 made, the chairs may request authority and the Legislative Council may grant authority for
46 the commission to meet and conduct its business.
7 That the commission shall review all related laws and
8 rules addressing the State's public policy on higher education, including, but not limited to,
9 the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 10902, and make recommendations for
10 potential legislative changes. In conducting its review, the commission shall analyze
11 present and future goals, including, but not limited to, expanding access to affordable high-
12 quality higher education to help students achieve postsecondary success. To assist the
13 commission in carrying out its review, the Department of Education, the University of
14 Maine System, the Maine Community College System and the Maine Maritime Academy
15 shall each provide to the commission any data and information the commission considers
16 relevant to its work. At the discretion of the chairs, the commission may seek input from
17 any students, faculty or staff in the State's public institutions of higher education, groups
18 that have an interest in the State's public institutions of higher education and other
19 stakeholders.
20 That the Legislative Council shall provide
21 necessary staffing services to the commission, except that Legislative Council staff support
22 is not authorized when the Legislature is in regular or special session.
23 That, no later than December 3, 2025, the commission
24 shall submit a report that includes its findings and recommendations, including suggested
25 legislation, to the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs. The joint
26 standing committee may report out a bill related to the report to the Second Regular Session
27 of the 132nd Legislature.
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29 This resolve establishes the Commission to Update Maine's Public Policy on Higher
30 Education to review all related laws and rules addressing the State's public policy on higher
31 education and make recommendations for potential legislative changes. The commission
32 is directed to submit a report to the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural
33 Affairs no later than December 3, 2025 with findings and recommendations, including
34 suggested legislation.
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