Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 1669
Committee: State and Local Government
Sponsors: BAILEY, JACKSON, CUDDY, GROHOSKI, HASENFUS, LOOKNER, WARREN

Legislative Document
No. 1669
H.P. 1240
House of Representatives, May 5, 2021
RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of 
Maine To Limit the Action the Legislature May Take on Initiatives 
Approved by Voters for a Period of 3 Years
Received by the Clerk of the House on May 3, 2021.  Referred to the Committee on State 
and Local Government pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to Joint Rule 
401.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative BAILEY of Gorham.
Cosponsored by President JACKSON of Aroostook and
Representatives: CUDDY of Winterport, GROHOSKI of Ellsworth, HASENFUS of Readfield, 
LOOKNER of Portland, WARREN of Hallowell.
Constitutional amendment. Resolved: Two thirds of each branch of the 
Legislature concurring, that the following amendment to the Constitution of Maine be 
proposed:
Constitution, Article IV, Part Third, §19 is amended to read:
Section 19.  Effective date of measures approved by people; veto power 
limited.  Any measure referred to the people and approved by a majority of the votes given 
thereon shall, unless a later date is specified in said measure, take effect and become a law 
in 30 days after the Governor has made public proclamation of the result of the vote on said 
measure, which the Governor shall do within 10 days after the vote thereon has been 
canvassed and determined; provided, however, that any such measure which entails 
expenditure in an amount in excess of available and unappropriated state funds shall remain 
inoperative until 45 days after the next convening of the Legislature in regular session, 
unless the measure provides for raising new revenues adequate for its operation.  The veto 
power of the Governor shall not extend to any measure approved by vote of the people, and 
any measure initiated by the people and passed by the Legislature without change, if vetoed 
by the Governor and if the veto is sustained by the Legislature shall be referred to the people 
to be voted on at the next general election.  Any measure approved by vote of the people 
may be repealed by the Legislature within 3 years of its effective date only by a vote of 3/4 
of all the members elected to each House and may be changed by the Legislature within 3 
years of its effective date only by a vote of 2/3 of all the members elected to each House.  
A change made by the Legislature to a measure approved by vote of the people within 3 
years of its effective date may not frustrate the purpose of that measure.  The Legislature 
shall fund adequately a measure approved by vote of the people for 3 years after its effective 
date.  The electors may repeal or change a measure approved by vote of the people within 
years of its effective date by using the process set forth in Article IV, Part Third, Section 
18.  The Legislature may enact measures expressly conditioned upon the people's 
ratification by a referendum vote.
Constitutional referendum procedure; form of question; effective date.  
Resolved:  That 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, at a statewide election held in the month of November following the 
passage of this resolution, to vote upon the ratification of the amendment proposed in this 
resolution by voting upon the following question:
"Do you favor amending the Constitution of Maine to require a 3/4 vote of 
the Legislature for the Legislature to repeal a direct initiative approved by 
the voters within 3 years of its effective date and a 2/3 vote of the 
Legislature for the Legislature to change a direct initiative approved by the 
voters within 3 years of its effective date?"
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 the 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.  If it appears that a majority of the legal votes are cast in favor of the amendment, 
the Governor shall proclaim that fact without delay and the amendment becomes part of 
the Constitution of Maine on the date of the proclamation.
Secretary of State shall prepare ballots.  Resolved:  That the Secretary of State 
shall prepare and furnish to each city, town and plantation all ballots, returns and copies of 
this resolution necessary to carry out the purposes of this referendum.
SUMMARY
This resolution proposes to amend the Constitution of Maine to provide that any 
measure approved by vote of the people may be repealed by the Legislature within 3 years 
of its effective date only by a vote of 3/4 of all the members elected to each House and may 
be changed by the Legislature within 3 years of its effective date only by a vote of 2/3 of 
all the members elected to each House.  A change made by the Legislature to a measure 
approved by vote of the people within 3 years of its effective date may not frustrate the 
purpose of that measure.  The Legislature must fund adequately a measure approved by 
vote of the people for 3 years after its effective date.  The electors may repeal or change a 
measure approved by vote of the people within 3 years of its effective date by using the 
process set forth in the Constitution of Maine, Article IV, Part Third, Section 18.