Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 0590
Committee: Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services
Sponsors: HICKMAN, TALBOT ROSS, BAILEY, INGWERSEN, JACKSON, TIPPING, ARFORD, COLLINGS, PLUECKER, SUPICA

Legislative Document
No. 590
S.P. 258
In Senate, February 14, 2023
RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of 
Maine to Establish a Right to Health Care
Reference to the Committee on Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services 
suggested and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator HICKMAN of Kennebec.
Cosponsored by Speaker TALBOT ROSS of Portland and
Senators: BAILEY of York, INGWERSEN of York, President JACKSON of Aroostook, 
TIPPING of Penobscot, Representatives: ARFORD of Brunswick, COLLINGS of Portland, 
PLUECKER of Warren, SUPICA of Bangor.
Constitutional amendment. Resolved: Two thirds of each branch of the 
Legislature concurring, that the following amendment to the Constitution of Maine be 
proposed:
Constitution, Art. I, §26 is enacted to read:
Section 26.  Right to health care.  Health care, including care to prevent and treat 
physical and mental illness, is the right of the people and necessary to ensure the strength 
of the State.  The Legislature shall provide by law the implementation and enforcement of 
this right, which may not be infringed upon.
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 establish that health 
care, including care to prevent and treat physical and mental illness, is the 
right of the people and necessary to ensure the strength of the State and to 
require the Legislature to provide by law the implementation and 
enforcement of this right?"
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 a constitutional amendment to establish that health care, 
including care to prevent and treat physical and mental illness, is the right of the people 
and necessary to ensure the strength of the State and requires the Legislature to provide by 
law the implementation and enforcement of this right.