An Act to Improve the Local Referendum Process by Increasing the Percentage of the Population Required to Submit a Local Referendum Question
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 1356
Committee: State and Local Government
Sponsors: GRAHAM, BRIDGEO, CRAFTS, CROCKETT, JAUCH, MORIARTY, RUNTE, STOVER, TERRY
Amends: 30-A MRSA §2528

Legislative Document
No. 1356
H.P. 870
House of Representatives, March 28, 2023
An Act to Improve the Local Referendum Process by Increasing the 
Percentage of the Population Required to Submit a Local 
Referendum Question
Reference to the Committee on State and Local Government suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative GRAHAM of North Yarmouth.
Cosponsored by Representatives: BRIDGEO of Augusta, CRAFTS of Newcastle, CROCKETT 
of Portland, JAUCH of Topsham, MORIARTY of Cumberland, RUNTE of York, STOVER of 
Boothbay, TERRY of Gorham.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  30-A MRSA §2528, sub-§5, as amended by PL 2021, c. 185, §1, is further 
amended to read:
5.  Referendum questions.  By order of the municipal officers or on the written 
petition of a number of voters equal to at least 10% 25% of the number of votes cast in the 
town at the last gubernatorial election, but in no case less than 10, the municipal officers 
shall have a particular article placed on the next ballot printed or shall call a special town 
meeting for its consideration.  A petition or order under this subsection is subject to the 
filing provisions governing nomination papers under subsection 4.
The municipal officers shall hold a public hearing on the subject of the article at least 10 
days before the day for voting on the article.  The public hearing must be held in a manner 
that solicits and allows for a discussion on the merits of the article.  At least 7 days before 
the date set for the hearing, the municipal officers shall give notice of the public hearing 
by having a copy of the proposed article, together with the time and place of hearing, posted 
in the same manner required for posting a warrant for a town meeting under section 2523.  
The municipal officers shall make a return on the original notice stating the manner of 
notice and the time it was given.
A.  The requirement for public hearing is not a prerequisite to the valid issuance of any 
bond, note or other obligation of a municipality authorized to borrow money by vote 
under any such particular article.
B.  If a particular article to be voted on by secret ballot requests an appropriation of 
money by the municipality, the article, when printed in the warrant and on the ballot, 
must be accompanied by a recommendation of the municipal officers.
(1)  If by town meeting vote or charter provision, a budget committee has been 
established to review proposed town expenditures, the recommendations of the 
budget committee shall be printed in addition to those of the municipal officers.
(2)  If the action affects the school budget, a recommendation by the school board 
shall be printed in addition to those of the municipal officers and the budget 
committee, if any.
C.  If the warrant for a town meeting contains only articles for the election of the 
moderator and one or more referendum questions to be voted on by secret ballot, the 
municipal officers may specify the same voting places as those used by the town for 
federal, state or county elections.
SUMMARY
This bill increases the number of voters required on a written petition for a municipal 
referendum from 10% to 25% of votes cast in the municipality at the last gubernatorial 
election.