Resolve, to Authorize the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court to Arrange the Constitution of Maine to Incorporate Amendments Approved at the November 2023 Referendum (AFTER DEADLINE)
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 2196
Committee: Judiciary
Sponsors: TALBOT ROSS, BRAKEY, ANDREWS, KUHN, LEE, MOONEN, MORIARTY, POIRIER, SHEEHAN

Legislative Document
No. 2196
H.P. 1407
House of Representatives, January 30, 2024
Resolve, to Authorize the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial 
Court to Arrange the Constitution of Maine to Incorporate 
Amendments Approved at the November 2023 Referendum
(AFTER DEADLINE)
(EMERGENCY)
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
205.
Reference to the Committee on Judiciary suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Speaker TALBOT ROSS of Portland.
Cosponsored by Senator BRAKEY of Androscoggin and
Representatives: ANDREWS of Paris, KUHN of Falmouth, LEE of Auburn, MOONEN of 
Portland, MORIARTY of Cumberland, POIRIER of Skowhegan, SHEEHAN of Biddeford.
Emergency preamble.  Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, the Constitution of Maine, Article X, Section 6 requires the Chief Justice 
of the Supreme Judicial Court to arrange the Constitution of Maine and submit the 
arrangement to the Legislature once every 10 years, unless sooner authorized by the 
Legislature; and
Whereas, the Chief Justice performed this requirement in the spring of 2023; and
Whereas, in November 2023, 2 amendments to the Constitution of Maine were 
approved by the voters at referendum; and 
Whereas, in order to ensure that the Constitution of Maine is as up to date as possible 
and avoid printing of versions of the Constitution of Maine that are incomplete and 
incorrect, it is necessary that the Chief Justice prepare an arrangement of the Constitution 
of Maine that includes the 2 amendments that were approved in November 2023; and
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore, be it
Sec. 1.  Chief Justice authorized to prepare arrangement of Constitution of 
Maine reflecting changes approved at November 2023 referendum.  Resolved:  
That, pursuant to the Constitution of Maine, Article X, Section 6, the Chief Justice of the 
Supreme Judicial Court is authorized to arrange the Constitution of Maine and include in 
that arrangement the amendments to the Constitution of Maine approved by the voters at 
referendum in November 2023.
Sec. 2.  Amendments to be included in arrangement of Constitution of 
Maine.  Resolved:  That the following constitutional resolutions approved by the voters 
at the November 2023 referendum must be included in the arrangement authorized pursuant 
to section 1:
1. Constitutional Resolution 2023, chapter 1: RESOLUTION, Proposing an 
Amendment to the Constitution of Maine to Require All Provisions in the Constitution to 
Be Included in the Official Printing; and
2. Constitutional Resolution 2023, chapter 2: RESOLUTION, Proposing an 
Amendment to the Constitution of Maine Regarding the Timing of Judicial Review of the 
Determination of the Validity of Written Petitions.
Sec. 3.  Submission to Legislature. Resolved:  That the Chief Justice of the 
Supreme Judicial Court shall submit the arrangement authorized by this resolve to the 
Legislature no later than 30 days following the effective date of this resolve.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation 
takes effect when approved.
SUMMARY
This resolve authorizes the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court to arrange the 
Constitution of Maine to include the 2 amendments to the constitution approved at 
referendum in November 2023 and submit the arrangement to the Legislature no later than 
days after the effective date of this resolve.