An Act To Hold an Advisory Referendum on Tax Reform
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 1813
Committee: Taxation
Sponsors: THOMAS

Legislative Document 
No. 1813 
S.P. 726 
In Senate, March 11, 2014 
An Act To Hold an Advisory Referendum on Tax Reform 
(EMERGENCY) 
Reference to the Committee on Taxation suggested and ordered printed. 
DAREK M. GRANT 
Secretary of the Senate 
Presented by Senator THOMAS of Somerset.  (GOVERNOR'S BILL) 
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, this legislation requires the Secretary of State to hold an advisory 
referendum on tax reform in June 2014, and if the referendum is approved by the voters, 
the Governor is directed to include proposals in the biennial budget to lower income tax 
rates, implement alternative taxes and reduce overall tax revenues and government 
spending by at least $100,000,000; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore, 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
PART A 
Sec. A-1.  Special advisory referendum on tax reform.  The Secretary of 
State shall, at a special statewide election in the month of June following the passage of 
this Act, hold a special advisory referendum to determine the sentiment of the people on 
tax reform. 
Sec. A-2.  Advisory referendum procedure; submission at statewide 
election.  This advisory referendum must be submitted to the legal voters of the State at 
a statewide election held in the month of June following passage of this Act.  The 
municipal officers of this State shall notify the inhabitants of their respective cities, towns 
and plantations to meet, in the manner prescribed by law for holding a statewide election, 
to give their opinion on this question by voting on the following: 
"Do you favor lowering income tax rates, implementing alternative taxes 
and reducing overall tax revenues and government spending by at least 
$100,000,000 in order to make Maine more economically competitive 
and improve the job creation environment?" 
The legal voters of each city, town and plantation shall vote by ballot on this question 
and designate their choice by a cross or check mark placed within a corresponding square 
below the word "Yes" or "No."  The ballots must be received, sorted, counted and 
declared in open ward, town and plantation meetings and returns made to the Secretary of 
State in the same manner as votes for members of the Legislature.  The Governor shall 
review the returns and shall proclaim, without delay, the total number of ballots in favor 
of and opposed to the tax reform proposal. 
The Secretary of State shall prepare and furnish to each city, town and plantation all 
ballots, returns and copies of this Part necessary to carry out the purpose of this advisory 
referendum. 
PART B 
Sec. B-1.  Implementation.  If the Secretary of State certifies to the Governor that 
a majority of the voters have approved the advisory referendum question in Part A, the 
Governor shall direct the Commissioner of Administrative and Financial Services to 
include in the biennial budget for fiscal years 2015-16 and 2016-17 submitted to the First 
Regular Session of the 127th Legislature pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, 
section 1666 proposals to lower the income tax rates, implement alternative taxes and 
reduce overall tax revenues and government spending by at least $100,000,000 in order to 
make Maine more economically competitive and improve the job creation environment. 
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This bill directs the Secretary of State to hold an advisory referendum at a statewide 
election in June to determine whether the voters of the State favor lowering income tax 
rates, implementing alternative taxes and reducing overall tax revenues and government 
spending by at least $100,000,000 in order to make Maine more economically 
competitive and improve the job creation environment. 
If the voters approve the advisory referendum question, the Governor is required to 
direct the Commissioner of Administrative and Financial Services to include in the 
biennial budget for fiscal years 2015-16 and 2016-17 submitted to the First Regular 
Session of the 127th Legislature proposals to lower the income tax rates, implement 
alternative taxes and reduce overall tax revenues and government spending by at least 
$100,000,000.