Resolved: Two thirds of each branch of the
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 0789
Sponsors: STEWART, FAULKINGHAM

Legislative Document
No. 789
S.P. 350
In Senate, March 4, 2025
RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of 
Maine to Require Legislative Approval of Any State of Emergency 
Lasting Longer than 60 Days
Received by the Secretary of the Senate on February 27, 2025.  Referred to the Committee 
on State and Local Government pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator STEWART of Aroostook.
Cosponsored by Representative FAULKINGHAM of Winter Harbor and
Senators: GUERIN of Penobscot, HARRINGTON of York, MARTIN of Oxford, 
TIMBERLAKE of Androscoggin, Representative: SMITH of Palermo.
Constitutional amendment. Resolved: Two thirds of each branch of the 
Legislature concurring, that the following amendment to the Constitution of Maine be 
proposed:
Constitution, Article IV, Pt. Third, §24 is enacted to read:
Section 24.  Legislative approval of continuing state of emergency.   A state 
of emergency proclaimed by the Governor may not continue for longer than 60 days; each 
subsequent state of emergency proclaimed by the Governor is limited to 60 days and each 
must be approved by the Legislature.
Constitutional referendum procedure; form of question; effective date.  
Resolved:  That the municipal officers of this State shall notify the inhabitants of their 
respective cities, towns and plantations to meet, in the manner prescribed by law for holding 
a statewide election, at a statewide election held in the month of November following the 
passage of this resolution, to vote upon the ratification of the amendment proposed in this 
resolution by voting upon the following question:
"Do you favor amending the Constitution of Maine to provide that a state 
of emergency proclaimed by the Governor may not continue for longer 
than 60 days and that each subsequent state of emergency must be 
approved by the Legislature?"
The legal voters of each city, town and plantation shall vote by ballot on this question 
and designate their choice by a cross or check mark placed within the corresponding square 
below the word "Yes" or "No."  The ballots must be received, sorted, counted and declared 
in open ward, town and plantation meetings and returns made to the Secretary of State in 
the same manner as votes for members of the Legislature.  The Governor shall review the 
returns.  If it appears that a majority of the legal votes are cast in favor of the amendment, 
the Governor shall proclaim that fact without delay and the amendment becomes part of 
the Constitution of Maine on the date of the proclamation.
Secretary of State shall prepare ballots.  Resolved:  That the Secretary of State 
shall prepare and furnish to each city, town and plantation all ballots, returns and copies of 
this resolution necessary to carry out the purposes of this referendum.
SUMMARY
This resolution proposes a constitutional amendment that provides that a state of 
emergency proclaimed by the Governor may not continue for longer than 60 days and that 
each subsequent state of emergency must be approved by the Legislature.