An Act to Amend the Law
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 0129
Committee Amendment CA_A_S290 (Senate)

.COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A,, to S.P. 60, L.D. 129, "An Act to Amend the Law 
Governing Dedimus Justices" 
Amend the bill by inserting after the title and before the enacting clause the following: 
'Emergency preamble. Whereas, nets and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, the Governor may appoint in every county persons to be designated a.ci 
dedimusjust.ices,.before whom the oath required by the Cmlstitution of Maine to qualify 
civil officers may be taken and subscribed; and 
Whereas, the need for the services that dedimus justices perfonn is out_pacing the 
number of dedimus justices who can be found to perform the duties of that commission; 
and 
Whereas~ keeping an accurate account of how many people in this State are 
commissioned as dedimus justices and how to contact them is critical infonnation for 
communities across this State who need the service that a dedimus justice perfonns; and 
Whereast this legislation must take effect before the end of the 90-day period to 
immediately address the shortage of dedimus justices available to qualify civil office1·s in 
the State; and 
• 
\¥hereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
U1e 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, 
Amend the bill by inserting after section l the following: 
'Sec. 2. Mailing from Secretary of State. The Secretary of State shall send a 
mailing to each person designate.cl prior to October 1) 2025 as a dedimus justice pursuant 
to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, section 4 to request in return the person's updated 
contact information, including the person's residence or mailing address, e-mail address 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
ROS 
COMMITTEE AMENDtvlENT "ft" to S.P. (>O, L.D. -129 ( $- d-ff;) 
and telephone number. The mailing must also include info1mation about the changes to 
Title 5, section 4 provided in this Act and make dear that a dcdimus justice designated 
prior to October 1, 2025 is exempt from the term length requirement. Additi(}nally, the 
maiHng must explain how the changes provide the opportunity for a dedimus justice to 
resign the dcdimus justice's commission.' 
Amend the bill by adding before the summary the following: 
1Emergency clause, In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legis Iation 
takes effect when approved.' 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive ·Part letter or section 
number to read consecutively. 
SUMMARY 
This amendment adds a section. to the bill directing the Secretary of State to send a 
mailing to each person designated prior to October 1, 2025 as a dedimus justice pursuant 
to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, section 4 to request in return the person's updated 
contact information, including the person's residence or mailing address, e .. mail address 
and telephone number. It requires that the mailing must also include information about the 
changes to Title 5, section 4 provided in this legislation and .make clear that a dedimus 
justice designated prior to October 1, 2025 is exempt from the term length requirement. 
Additionally, the mailing must explain how the changes provide the opportunity for a 
dcdimus justice to resign the dedimus justice's commission. 
The amendment adds an emergency preamble and emergency clause. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Fiscal DetnH nnd Notes 
Revised: 05/29/25 l-Rl-
132nd .MAINE I,EGIS.LA T·U.RE 
LD 1.29 
LR 560(02) 
An Act to Amend the Law Governing Dedimus Justices 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment l~I ( s-J°tb) 
Committee: State and Locnl Government 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes . 
. Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase N Genernl Fund 
Additiom1! costs to the Department of Secretary of State associated with providing the mailing required in lhc 
legislation are expected to be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. 
LR0560(02) - Fiscal Note • Page I of i