Resolve, Establishing a Stakeholder Group to Develop a Constitutional Amendment Establishing a Right to Housing*
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 0853
Committee Amendment CA_A_H837 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "/-f » to H,P. 543, L,D. 853, "RESOLUTION,
Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine to Establish a Right to Housing"
Amend the resolution by striking out the title and substituting the following;
'Resolve, Establishing a Stakeholder Group to Develop a Constitutional Amendment
Establishing a Right to Housing*
Amend the resolution by striking out everything after the title and inserting the
following:
'See. 1. Department of Economic and Community Development to convene
stakeholder group. Resolved: That the Department of Economic and Community
Development, referred to in this resolve as "the department," shall convene a stakeholder
group to develop a proposed amendment to the Constitution of Maine to establish a right
to housing. The stakeholder group must mclude;
1. The director of the Maine State Housing Authority or the director's designee;
2, The Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry or the commissioner's
designee;
3. The Commissioner of Public Safety or the commissioner's designee;
4. The executive director of the Maine Human Rights Commission or the executive
director's designee; and
5, A representative from the Office of the Attorney General.
The department shall also invite participation from a representative of the Portland
Housing Authority, a representative from the Maine Municipal Association, a person with
experience as a homeless services provider, a person who has experienced homelessness,
a representative of an organization that advocates for tenants' rights and a person with
expertise in the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code under the Mame Revised
Statutes, Title 10, chapter 1103,
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
ROS
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A- " to H,P, 543, L.D, 853
Sec. 2. Report. Resolved: That, no later than January 15,2025, the department shall
submit a report to the joint standing or joint select committee of the Legislature having
jurisdiction over housing matters with a proposed amendment to the Constitution of Maine
establishing a right to housing that directs the Legislature to enact appropriate laws to
execute the purposes of the amendment. The report must describe how the proposed
constitutional amendment will ensure fair access to housing for all residents of the State
and how unintended consequences may be avoided. The committee receiving the report is
authorized to report out legislation to the 132nd Legislature in 2025.'
Amend the resolution by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or
section number to read consecutively.
SUMMARY
This amendment replaces the resolution with a resolve directing the Department of
Economic and Community Development to convene a stakeholder group to develop a
proposed amendment to the Constitution ofMame establishing a right to housing that also
directs the Legislature to enact appropriate laws to execute the amendment. The
department is required to submit a report with the proposed amendment to the joint standing
or joint select committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over housing matters no
later than January 15, 2025, and the committee is authorized to submit legislation to the
132nd Legislature in 2025.
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Approved; 03,12/24 ^^c*-
LD 853 LR 2384(02)
RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine to Establish a Right to
Housing
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment J^ ( /-/—
Committee: Housing
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
Minor cost increase - General Fund
Fiscal Detail and Notes
Any additional costs to the Department of Economic and Community Development to convene a stakeholder group
and the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, the Department of Public Safety, the Office of the
Attorney General, the Maine State Housing Authority and the Maine Human Rights Commission to participate in a
stakeholder group are expected to be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources,
LR23 84(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1