An Act To Shorten the Legislative Sessions
Maine Legislature, Session 125, LD 0973
Committee: State and Local Government
Sponsors: LIBBY, THOMAS, SHERMAN, CRAY, DUNPHY, GIFFORD, HARVELL, O'CONNOR, SIROCKI, TIMBERLAKE, WILLETTE
Amends: 3 MRSA §2

Legislative Document 
No. 973 
H.P. 717 
House of Representatives, March 8, 2011 
An Act To Shorten the Legislative Sessions 
Reference to the Committee on State and Local Government suggested and ordered printed. 
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative LIBBY of Waterboro. 
Cosponsored by Senator THOMAS of Somerset, Senator SHERMAN of Aroostook and 
Representatives: CRAY of Palmyra, DUNPHY of Embden, GIFFORD of Lincoln, HARVELL 
of Farmington, O'CONNOR of Berwick, SIROCKI of Scarborough, TIMBERLAKE of 
Turner, WILLETTE of Mapleton. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  3 MRSA §2, first ¶, as amended by PL 2009, c. 213, Pt. LL, §1, is further 
amended to read: 
Each member of the Senate and House of Representatives, beginning with the first 
Wednesday of December 2000 and thereafter, is entitled to $10,815 in the first year and 
$7,725 in the 2nd year of each biennium, except that if a Legislator who is a recipient of 
retirement benefits from the federal Social Security Administration files a written request 
with the Executive Director of the Legislative Council within one week after the 
biennium commences, the Legislator is entitled to $9,270 in each year of the biennium.  
Each member of the Senate and the House of Representatives must receive a cost-of-
living adjustment in annual legislative salary, except that the percentage increase may not 
exceed 5% in any year.  Beginning December 1, 2001, the salary for each legislative 
session must be adjusted each December 1st by the percentage change in the Consumer 
Price Index for the most recently concluded fiscal year; except that no member of the 
Senate or the House of Representatives may receive a cost-of-living adjustment in annual 
legislative salary for the Second Regular Session of the 124th Legislature.  In the 126th 
Legislature, the salary for each legislative session must be 30% less than the salary paid 
for each legislative session in the 125th Legislature.  Beginning December 1, 2014, this 
reduced salary for each legislative session is subject to the cost-of-living adjustment 
described in this paragraph.  In addition, each Legislator is entitled to be paid for travel at 
each legislative session once each week at the same rate per mile to and from that 
Legislator's place of abode as state employees receive, the mileage to be determined by 
the most reasonable direct route, except that Legislators may be reimbursed for tolls paid 
for travel on the Maine Turnpike as long as they have a receipt for payment of the tolls, 
such tolls to be reimbursed when Legislators use the Maine Turnpike in traveling to and 
from sessions of the Legislature or in performance of duly authorized committee 
assignments.  Each Legislator is entitled to mileage on the first day of the session, and 
those amounts of salary and expenses at such times as the Legislature may determine 
during the session, and the balance at the end of the session. 
Sec. 2.  3 MRSA §2, 2nd ¶, as amended by PL 1985, c. 166, is further amended to 
read: 
The first regular session of the Legislature, after its convening, shall adjourn no later 
than the 3rd Wednesday in June, except that beginning with the 126th Legislature, the 
the Legislature shall adjourn no later than the 3rd Wednesday in April, except that 
beginning with the 126th Legislature, the 2nd regular session shall adjourn no later than 
March 15th. The Legislature, in case of emergency, may by a vote of 2/3 of the members 
of each House present and voting, extend the date for adjournment for the first or 2nd 
regular session by no more than 5 legislative days, and in case of further emergency, may 
by a vote of 2/3 of the members of each House present and voting, further extend the date 
for adjournment by 5 additional legislative days. The times for adjournment for the first 
and 2nd regular sessions may also be extended for one additional legislative day for the 
purpose of considering possible objections of the Governor to any bill or resolution 
presented to him the Governor by the Legislature under the Constitution, Article IV, Part 
Third, Section 2.  A special session of the Legislature shall adjourn no later than 5 
legislative days after its convening. 
SUMMARY 
This bill shortens legislative sessions beginning with the 126th Legislature by setting 
a statutory adjournment date of April 15th for the first regular session and March 15th for 
the second regular session.  It also correspondingly reduces the salary paid to legislators 
by 30% beginning with the 126th Legislature.  It requires a special session of the 
Legislature to a adjourn no later than 5 legislative days after its convening.