An Act to Make Necessary Changes to State Law
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 0471
Committee Amendment CA_A_H872 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 288, L.D. 471, "An Act to Make 
Necessary Changes to State Law" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'An Act to Establish the Maine State Flag Commission' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting the 
following: 
'Sec, 1. PL 2023, c. 487, §3 is amended to read: 
Sec. 3. Statutory referendum procedure; submission at election; form of 
question; effective date. This Act must be submitted to the legal voters of the State at 
a statewide election held in the month of November following passage of this Aot 2026. 
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 vote on the acceptance or rejection of this Act by voting on the following 
question: 
"Do you favor making the former state flag, replaced as the official flag of 
the State in 1909 and commonly known as the Pine Tree Flag, the official 
flag of the State?" 
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. If a majority of the legal votes are cast in favor of this Act, the Governor shall 
proclaim the result without delay and this Act becomes effective 30 days after the date of 
the proclamation. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
~os 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A• to HP. 288, L.D. 471 
The Secretary of State shall prepare and furnish to each city, town and plantation all 
ballots, returns and copies of this Act necessary to carry out the purposes of this 
referendum. 
Sec. 2. Commission established. The Maine State Flag Commission, referred to 
in this Act as "the commission," is established to assist the Secretary of State in approving 
the design of the former state flag, replaced as the official state flag in 1909, to be subject 
to the referendum question pursuant to Public Law 2023, chapter 487, section 3, as 
amended by this Act. 
1. Commission membership. The commission consists of 5 members as follows: 
A. The Secretary of State or the Secretary of State's designee; 
B. The State Archivist or the State Archivist's designee; 
C. A representative with expertise in vexillology appointed by the Secretary of State; 
D. A representative with expe1tise in graphic design appointed by the Secretary of 
State; and 
E. A representative of a statewide organization that promotes arts and culture in the 
State appointed by the President of the Senate. 
2, Appointment terms; vacancies; chair; convening of commission. The appointed 
members under subsection 1 serve until June 30, 2026. A vacancy must be filled in the 
same manner as the original appointment. The Secretary of State, or the secretary's 
designee, shall serve as the chair and convene meetings of the commission. 
3. Duties. The commission shall assist the Secretary of State in developing and 
coordinating the design of the official state flag subject to referendum in 2026. 
4. 
Staff. The Secretary of State may employ administrative staff to serve the 
commission. 
5. Meetings. The commission shall determine the frequency of meetings, which may 
include a public hearing.' 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section 
number to read consecutively. 
SUMMARY 
This amendment, which is the majority report of the committee, replaces the bill, which 
is a concept draft, and changes the title. It establishes the 5-member Maine State Flag 
Commission to assist the Secretary of State in approving the design of the former state flag 
subject to the referendum question pursuant to Public Law 2023, chapter 487, section 3. It 
changes the date of the referendum question from November 2024 to November 2026. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 03/22/24 fe'ae 
LD 471 
LR 2089(02) 
An Act to Make Necessary Changes to State Law 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment 'ft' (H-'572) 
Committee: State and Local Government 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Potential cunent biennium cost increase - General Fund 
Referendum Costs 
Month/Year 
Election Type 
Question 
Length 
Nov-26 
General 
Referendum 
Standard 
The Secretary of State's budget includes sufficient funds to accommodate one ballot of average length for the general 
election in November. If the number or size of the referendum questions requires production and delivery of a second 
ballot, an additional appropriation of $266,000 may be required. 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Additional costs to state agencies to replace the cmTent flag can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. This 
assumes that the changeover will occur gradually as the old ones become wom and frayed. Any costs to the 
Department of Secreta1y of State to serve on the conunission, provide administrative duties for the commission and to 
approve the flag design are expected to be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. 
LR2089(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1