Resolve, to Establish a Group to Study the Laws Governing the
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1173
Committee: Judiciary
Sponsors: BRIDGEO, HYMES

Legislative Document
No. 1173
H.P. 778
House of Representatives, March 20, 2025
Resolve, to Establish a Group to Study the Laws Governing the 
Guardianship of Adults and Ongoing Parental Rights of Parents of 
Disabled Adults
Reference to the Committee on Judiciary suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative BRIDGEO of Augusta.
Cosponsored by Representative HYMES of Waldo and
Representatives: GUERRETTE of Caribou, ROLLINS of Augusta, SAYRE of Kennebunk, 
SHAGOURY of Hallowell.
Sec. 1. Study group established. Resolved: That the Study Group to Examine the 
Guardianship of Adults and Ongoing Parental Rights of Parents of Disabled Adults, 
referred to in this resolve as "the study group," is established.
Sec. 2. Membership. Resolved: That the study group consists of 8 members as 
follows:
1. Three members of the Senate, appointed by the President of the Senate, including at 
least one member from each of the 2 parties holding the largest number of seats in the 
Legislature; 
2. Three members of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the 
House of Representatives, including at least one member from each of the 2 parties holding 
the largest number of seats in the Legislature; 
3. One member of an organization representing disability rights in this State, appointed 
by the President of the Senate; and 
4. One member representing the Office of the Attorney General, appointed by the 
Speaker of the House.
Sec. 3. Chairs; quorum. Resolved: That the first-named Senate member is the 
Senate chair of the study group and the first-named House of Representatives member is 
the House chair of the study group.  A quorum of the study group is 5 members and is 
required to begin a meeting of the study group or to hold a vote.
Sec. 4. Appointments; convening of study group.  Resolved:  That all 
appointments must be made no later than 30 days following the effective date of this 
resolve.  The appointing authorities shall notify the Executive Director of the Legislative 
Council once all appointments have been completed.  After appointment of all members, 
the chairs shall call and convene the first meeting of the study group.  If 30 days or more 
after the effective date of this resolve a majority of but not all appointments have been 
made, the chairs may request authority and the Legislative Council may grant authority for 
the study group to meet and conduct its business.
Sec. 5. Duties. Resolved: That the study group shall: 
1. Review current laws and rules applying to the legal guardianship of an adult in this 
State, including alternatives to legal guardianship; 
2. Review current laws and rules applying to the ongoing rights of a parent with respect 
to the parent's child who has attained 18 years of age and who has one or more disabilities 
that impair the child's ability to meet essential requirements for physical health, safety or 
self-care; and
3. Evaluate what, if any, actions should be taken to improve the clarity of the laws and 
rules described in subsections 1 and 2.
Sec. 6. Staff assistance.  Resolved:  That the Legislative Council shall provide 
necessary staffing services to the study group, except that Legislative Council staff support 
is not authorized when the Legislature is in regular or special session.
Sec. 7. Report. Resolved: That, no later than December 3, 2025, the study group 
shall submit a report that includes its findings and recommendations, including any 
suggested legislation, to the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services and 
the Joint Standing Committee on Judiciary. The joint standing committees may report out 
legislation related to the report to the 132nd Legislature in the Second Regular Session.
SUMMARY
This resolve establishes the Study Group to Examine the Guardianship of Adults and 
Ongoing Parental Rights of Parents of Disabled Adults. The study group is established to 
review current laws and rules applying to the legal guardianship of an adult in this State 
and the laws and rules applying to the ongoing parental rights of a parent of an adult child 
with one or more disabilities that impair the adult child's ability to meet essential 
requirements for physical health, safety or self-care. The study group must evaluate what, 
if any, actions should be taken to improve the clarity of those laws and rules. 
By December 3, 2025, the study group must submit a report that includes its findings 
and recommendations, including any suggested legislation, to the Joint Standing 
Committee on Health and Human Services and the Joint Standing Committee on Judiciary. 
The joint standing committees may report out legislation related to the report to the 132nd 
Legislature in the Second Regular Session.