An Act To Clarify the Warrant Article Petition Process
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 0763
Committee: State and Local Government
Sponsors: WILLETTE, JACKSON, CLARK, COTTA, HAYES
Amends: 30-A MRSA §2522

Legislative Document 
No. 763 
H.P.522 
House of Representatives, February 26,2009 
An Act To Clarify the Warrant Article Petition Process 
Reference to the Committee on State and Local Government suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative WILLETTE of Presque Isle. 
Cosponsored by Senator JACKSON of Aroostook and 
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1n.71!fLC;fo~;~4l 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Representatives: CLARK of Easton, COTTA of China, HAYES of Buckfield. 
Printed 011 recyclcJ paper 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 30-A MRSA §2522, as enacted by PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 and Pt. C, 
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§106 and amended by PL 1989, c.6; c. 9, §2; and c. 104, Pt. C,§§8 and 10, is further 
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amended to read: 
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§2522. Petition for article in warrant 
On the written petition of a number of voters equal to at least 10% of the number of 
votes cast in the town at the last gubernatorial election, but in no' case less than 10, the 
municipal officers shall either insert a particular article in the next warrant issued or shall 
within 60 days call a special town meeting for its consideration. Municipal officers may 
reasonably refuse to place a petitioned article based upon, but not limited to, whether the 
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municipal legislative body is authorized to act on the article pursuant to federal and state 
law and the municipal charter. 
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Sec. 2. 30-A MRS A §2528, sub-§5, as amended by PL 2003, c. 569, §2, is 
further amended to read: 
5. Referendum questions. By order of the municipal officers or on the written 
petition of a number of voters equal to at least 10% of the number of votes cast in the . 
town at the last gubernatorial election, but in no case less than 10, the municipal officers 
shall have a particular article placed on the next ballot printed or shall call a special town 
meeting for its consideration. 
Municipal officers may reasonably refuse to place a 
petitioned article based upon, but not limited to, whether the municipal legislative body is 
authorized to act on the article pursuant to federal and state law and the municipal charter. 
A petition or order under this subsection is subject to the filing provisions governing 
nomination papers under subsection 4. 
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The municipal officers shall hold a public hearing on the subject of the article at least 10 
days before the day for voting on the article. At least 7 days before the date set for the 
hearing, the municipal officers shall give notice of the public hearing by having a copy of 
the proposed article, together with the time and place of hearing, posted in the same 
manner required for posting a warrant for a town meeting under section 2523. The 
municipal officers, shall make a return on the original notice stating the manner of notice 
and the time it was given . 
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A. The requirement for public hearing is not a, prerequisite to the valid issuance of 
any bond, note or other obligation of a municipality authorized to borrow money by 
vote under any such particular article. 
B. If a particular article to be voted on by secret ballot requests an appropriation of 
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money by the municipality, the article, when printed in the warrant and on the ballot, 
must be accompanied by'a recommendation of the municipal officers. 
(1) If by town meeting vote or chartel'-provision, a budget committee has been 
established to review proposed town expenditures, the recommendations of the 
budget committee shall be printed in addition to those cifthe municipal officers .. 
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(2) If the action affects the school budget, a recommendation by the school board 
shall be printed' in addition to those of the municipal officers and the budget 
committee, if any. 
C. 
If the warrant for a town meeting contains only articles for the election of the 
moderator and one or more referendum questions to be voted on by secret ballot, the 
municipal officers may specify the same voting places as those used by the town for 
federal, state or county elections. 
SUMMARY 
This bill clarifies that municipal officers may reasonably refuse to advance a 
petitioned article to the municipal legislative body if the municipal legislative body is not 
authorized pursuant to federal and state law and municipal charter to act on the article.