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132nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
FIRST REGULAR SESSION-2025
Legislative Document No. 789S.P. 350 In Senate, March 4, 2025
RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of
Maine to Require Legislative Approval of Any State of Emergency
Lasting Longer than 60 Days
Received by the Secretary of the Senate on February 27, 2025. Referred to the Committee
on State and Local Government pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator STEWART of Aroostook.
Cosponsored by Representative FAULKINGHAM of Winter Harbor and
Senators: GUERIN of Penobscot, HARRINGTON of York, MARTIN of Oxford,
TIMBERLAKE of Androscoggin, Representative: SMITH of Palermo. Page 1 - 132LR1597(01)1
2 Legislature concurring, that the following amendment to the Constitution of Maine be
3 proposed:
4is enacted to read:
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6 of emergency proclaimed by the Governor may not continue for longer than 60 days; each
7 subsequent state of emergency proclaimed by the Governor is limited to 60 days and each
8 must be approved by the Legislature.
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11 respective cities, towns and plantations to meet, in the manner prescribed by law for holding
12 a statewide election, at a statewide election held in the month of November following the
13 passage of this resolution, to vote upon the ratification of the amendment proposed in this
14 resolution by voting upon the following question:
15 "Do you favor amending the Constitution of Maine to provide that a state
16 of emergency proclaimed by the Governor may not continue for longer
17 than 60 days and that each subsequent state of emergency must be
18 approved by the Legislature?"
19 The legal voters of each city, town and plantation shall vote by ballot on this question
20 and designate their choice by a cross or check mark placed within the corresponding square
21 below the word "Yes" or "No." The ballots must be received, sorted, counted and declared
22 in open ward, town and plantation meetings and returns made to the Secretary of State in
23 the same manner as votes for members of the Legislature. The Governor shall review the
24 returns. If it appears that a majority of the legal votes are cast in favor of the amendment,
25 the Governor shall proclaim that fact without delay and the amendment becomes part of
26 the Constitution of Maine on the date of the proclamation.
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28 shall prepare and furnish to each city, town and plantation all ballots, returns and copies of
29 this resolution necessary to carry out the purposes of this referendum.
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31 This resolution proposes a constitutional amendment that provides that a state of
32 emergency proclaimed by the Governor may not continue for longer than 60 days and that
33 each subsequent state of emergency must be approved by the Legislature.
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