An Act to Address Vacancies on the Knox County Budget
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 2158
Committee: State and Local Government
Sponsors: PLUECKER

Legislative Document
No. 2158
H.P. 1447
House of Representatives, January 13, 2026
An Act to Address Vacancies on the Knox County Budget 
Committee
(AFTER DEADLINE)
(EMERGENCY)
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
205.
Reference to the Committee on State and Local Government suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative PLUECKER of Warren.
Cosponsored by Representatives: DOUDERA of Camden, GEIGER of Rockland, MATLACK 
of St. George, RAY of Lincolnville, Senator: BEEBE-CENTER of Knox.
Emergency preamble.  Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, current law establishes the Knox County budget committee and requires 
the membership, consisting of 9 members, to be elected to the budget committee in an even-
numbered year; and
Whereas, under the Knox County charter, business may not be conducted without the 
presence of a quorum, which is at least 5 members; and
Whereas, due to vacancies on the budget committee and the failure to fill those 
vacancies at the 2024 election, the budget committee no longer has a quorum; and
Whereas, this legislation provides for a temporary alternative method of appointment 
of members to the budget committee; and
Whereas, this legislation must take effect as soon as possible to allow the budget 
committee to complete its work on the Knox County budget for 2026; and
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the 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,
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  Temporary appointment of members to Knox County budget 
committee.  Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary in the Maine Revised 
Statutes, Title 30-A, section 751 or in the Knox County charter regarding the election of 
members to the Knox County budget committee and the filling of vacancies on the Knox 
County budget committee, the following provisions apply.
1.  Definitions.  As used in this Act, unless the context otherwise indicates, the 
following terms have the following meanings.
A.  "Budget committee" means the Knox County budget committee established in Title 
30-A, section 751.
B.  "County commissioners" means the county commissioners of Knox County.
C.  "District" means the budget committee districts established in Title 30-A, section 
757, subsection 2.
D.  "Eligible resident" means an individual registered to vote in Knox County who is a 
resident of the district for which that individual is nominated and elected.
2.  Appointment of eligible residents.  The county commissioners may appoint an 
eligible resident to fill a vacancy on the budget committee when there are fewer than 5 
members of the budget committee who have been duly elected or who have been appointed 
pursuant to this subsection and seated.  
3.  Candidates recommended by municipalities.  Notwithstanding Title 30-A, 
section 751, subsection 1, paragraph B, a municipality may submit a written 
recommendation identifying an eligible resident to fill a vacancy on the budget committee. 
The county commissioners shall give due regard to such a recommendation when making 
an appointment to the budget committee pursuant to subsection 2.
4.  Term of appointed members.  A member of the budget committee appointed to 
fill a vacancy pursuant to this section fills the vacant seat for the balance of the unexpired 
term.
5.  Voting status of appointed members.  A member of the budget committee 
appointed to fill a vacancy pursuant to this section is a full voting member of the budget 
committee. 
6.  Authority to fill vacant seats when quorum exists unaffected.  This section does 
not affect the requirement in Title 30-A, section 751, subsection 1, paragraph D that the 
budget committee fill a vacancy occurring on the budget committee when it has a quorum 
to act. 
7.  Termination of authority.  The authority granted in this Act expires April 1, 2029.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation 
takes effect when approved.
SUMMARY
Under current law and the Knox County charter, the Knox County budget committee 
consists of 9 members who serve 4-year terms.  If a vacancy in the membership occurs, the 
budget committee is required to fill the vacancy, subject to confirmation by a majority of 
the Knox County commissioners.  Under the Knox County charter, business may not be 
conducted unless there is a quorum of at least 5 members.  Due to the inability to fill seats, 
the budget committee has only 4 members, so it cannot conduct business, including filling 
the vacant seats.
This bill provides temporary authority for the Knox County commissioners to appoint 
eligible residents to the budget committee whenever, due to a vacancy, a quorum cannot 
be attained.  The bill establishes a process for recognizing recommendations of eligible 
residents of Knox County put forward by municipalities located in the district for the seat 
that is vacant.  The bill does not affect the requirement of the budget committee to fill 
vacancies once it has a quorum.
The authority granted by this bill expires April 1, 2029.