Resolve, to Establish the Commission to Study the Reduction of
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 0634
Sponsors: TUELL, MOORE

Legislative Document
No. 634
H.P. 402
House of Representatives, February 25, 2025
Resolve, to Establish the Commission to Study the Reduction of 
Unfunded and Outdated Municipal and County Mandates
Received by the Clerk of the House on February 20, 2025.  Referred to the Committee on 
State and Local Government pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to Joint 
Rule 401.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative TUELL of East Machias.
Cosponsored by Senator MOORE of Washington and
Representatives: FOSTER of Dexter, JAVNER of Chester, MINGO of Calais, MORRIS of 
Turner, POIRIER of Skowhegan, STROUT of Harrington, WOOD of Norway, WOODSOME 
of Waterboro.
Sec. 1.  Commission established.  Resolved:  That the Commission to Study the 
Reduction of Unfunded and Outdated Municipal and County Mandates, referred to in this 
resolve as "the commission," is established.
Sec. 2.  Commission membership.  Resolved:  That, notwithstanding Joint Rule 
353, the commission consists of 15 members appointed as follows:
1.  Two members of the Senate, one member appointed by the President of the Senate 
and one member appointed by the Senate Minority Leader;
2.  Two members of the House of Representatives, one member appointed by the 
Speaker of the House and one member appointed by the House Minority Leader;
3.  One member representing the Governor's office, appointed by the Governor;
4.  Three members, one of whom is a representative of the Maine Municipal 
Association, one of whom is a representative of the Maine County Commissioners 
Association and one of whom is a representative of a municipality with 5,001 to 7,000 
residents, appointed by the President of the Senate;
5.  Two members, one of whom is a representative of the Maine Town and City Clerks' 
Association and one of whom is a representative of a municipality with 10,001 to 20,000 
residents, appointed by the Speaker of the House;
6.  Two members who are representatives of municipalities of 2,000 residents or less, 
one appointed by the President of the Senate and one appointed by the Speaker of the 
House; and
7.  Three members, one of whom is a representative of a municipality with 2,001 to 
5,000 residents, one of whom is a representative of a municipality with 7,001 to 10,000 
residents and one of whom is a representative of a municipality with more than 20,000 
residents, appointed by the Governor.
A legislative member's term is vacated if the member is not reelected.  When such a 
vacancy occurs, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House, the Senate Minority 
Leader or the House Minority Leader shall appoint a new legislative member, as 
appropriate.
Sec. 3.  Chairs.  Resolved:  That the Senate member appointed by the President of 
the Senate is the Senate chair and the House of Representatives member appointed by the 
Speaker of the House 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.  Resolved:  That the commission shall meet at least twice annually 
and may meet up to 4 times annually to review unfunded and outdated municipal and 
county mandates in order to provide recommendations and to report out a list of mandates 
for the Legislature to consider eliminating or revising. The commission is authorized to 
conduct meetings remotely.
Sec. 6.  Staff assistance.  Resolved:  That, notwithstanding Joint Rule 353, the 
Legislative Council shall provide necessary staffing services to the commission.
Sec. 7.  Report.  Resolved:  That, no later than December 1, 2027, the commission 
shall submit a report that includes its findings and recommendations, including suggested 
legislation, for presentation to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having 
jurisdiction over state and local government matters.
SUMMARY
This resolve establishes the Commission to Study the Reduction of Unfunded and 
Outdated Municipal and County Mandates.  The commission is required to meet at least 
twice a year and may meet up to 4 times a year for 2 years to review unfunded and outdated 
municipal and county mandates in order to provide recommendations and to report out by 
December 1, 2027 a list of mandates for the Legislature to consider eliminating or revising.