Resolve, to Establish the Commission to Study the Constitution of
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 0132
Committee: Judiciary
Sponsors: HICKMAN

Legislative Document
No. 132
S.P. 68
In Senate, January 8, 2025
Resolve, to Establish the Commission to Study the Constitution of 
Maine
Reference to the Committee on Judiciary suggested and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator HICKMAN of Kennebec.
Cosponsored by Senators: BENNETT of Oxford, STEWART of Aroostook, Representatives: 
BOYER of Poland, HASENFUS of Readfield, LEE of Auburn.
Sec. 1.  Commission established.  Resolved:  That the Commission to Study the 
Constitution of Maine, referred to in this resolve as "the commission," is established.
Sec. 2.  Commission membership.  Resolved:  That, notwithstanding Joint Rule 
353, the commission consists of 12 voting members as follows:
1.  Four members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate, including 
members from each of the 2 parties holding the largest number of seats in the Legislature;
2.  Four members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the 
House, including members from each of the 2 parties holding the largest number of seats 
in the Legislature;
3.  One constitutional law scholar with expertise in the history of the Constitution of 
Maine or member of the Maine State Bar Association who has substantial practice 
experience with legal issues related to the Constitution of Maine appointed by the President 
of the Senate;
4. One member of a federally recognized Indian tribe in the State appointed by the 
Speaker of the House;
5. One representative of the state chapter of a national civil liberties organization 
appointed by the Speaker of the House; and
6. The Secretary of State or the Secretary of State's designee. 
The chairs of the commission shall invite the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial 
Court to designate a member of the judicial branch to serve as a nonvoting member of the 
commission in an advisory capacity.
Sec. 3.  Chairs.  Resolved:  That the first-named Senate member is the Senate chair 
and the first-named House of Representatives member is the House chair of the 
commission.
Sec. 4.  Appointments; convening of commission.  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 commission.  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 commission to meet and conduct its business.
Sec. 5.  Duties; meetings.  Resolved:  That the commission may meet 12 times and 
shall study and review the Constitution of Maine and recommend changes and amendments 
as considered necessary and desirable. 
Proposed changes and amendments for the commission to consider include, but are not 
limited to, provisions for:
1.  Strengthening Maine's Declaration of Rights, Article I of the Constitution of Maine;
2.  Removing procedural minutiae from the Constitution of Maine that are better left 
to statute;
3.    Enabling the popular election of constitutional officers;
4.  Establishing 4-year terms for Senators;
5.  Reducing the number of members of the Legislature;
6.  Establishing a unicameral Legislature;
7.  Allowing constitutional amendments to be initiated directly by the people of the 
State; and
8.  Examining any constitutional resolutions introduced in the 132nd Legislature.
Sec. 6.  Staff assistance.  Resolved:  That the Legislative Council shall provide 
necessary staffing services to the commission, 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 November 4, 2026, the commission 
shall submit a report that includes its findings and recommendations, including suggested 
resolutions to amend the Constitution of Maine, for presentation to the Joint Standing 
Committee on Judiciary.  The joint standing committee of the Legislature having 
jurisdiction over judiciary matters may submit legislation, including a resolution to amend 
the Constitution of Maine, based on the findings and recommendations in the report to the 
133rd Legislature in 2027.
SUMMARY
This resolve creates the Commission to Study the Constitution of Maine to study and 
review the Constitution of Maine and any constitutional resolutions introduced in the 132nd 
Legislature. The bill requires the commission to submit a report of its findings and 
recommendations to the Joint Standing Committee on Judiciary by November 4, 2026 and 
authorizes the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over judiciary 
matters to submit legislation, including a resolution to amend the Constitution of Maine, 
based on the findings and recommendations in the report to the 133rd Legislature in 2027.