Resolve, Establishing the Commission to Update Maine's Public
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1558
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: SARGENT, PIERCE

Legislative Document
No. 1558
H.P. 1016
House of Representatives, April 10, 2025
Resolve, Establishing the Commission to Update Maine's Public 
Policy on Higher Education
Reference to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative SARGENT of York.
Cosponsored by Senator PIERCE of Cumberland and
Representatives: DEBRITO of Waterville, DODGE of Belfast, MITCHELL of Cumberland, 
MURPHY of Scarborough, Senators: LIBBY of Cumberland, RAFFERTY of York.
Sec. 1.  Commission established. Resolved:  That the Commission to Update 
Maine's Public Policy on Higher Education, referred to in this resolve as "the commission," 
is established.
Sec. 2.  Commission membership. Resolved:  That, notwithstanding Joint Rule 
353, the commission consists of 17 members, including: 
1. Two members of the Senate, appointed by the President of the Senate, who serve on 
the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs, including one member of 
the party holding the largest number of seats in the Legislature and one member of the party 
holding the 2nd largest number of seats in the Legislature; 
2. Three members of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the 
House, who serve on the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs, 
including 2 members of the party holding the largest number of seats in the Legislature and 
one member of the party holding the 2nd largest number of seats in the Legislature; 
3. One member with expertise in higher education policy issues representing a 
statewide education policy research institute, appointed by the President of the Senate; 
4. One member who is a representative of a union representing the faculty of the Maine 
Community College System, appointed by the President of the Senate; 
5. One member representing the certification and higher education committee of the 
State Board of Education, appointed by the President of the Senate; 
6. One member who is employed as a faculty member at a private college or university 
in the State, appointed by the President of the Senate; 
7. One member who is a representative of a union representing the faculty of the 
University of Maine System, appointed by the Speaker of the House; 
8. One member who is a representative of a union representing the faculty of the Maine 
Maritime Academy, appointed by the Speaker of the House; 
 9. One member representing private colleges and universities in the State, appointed 
by the Speaker of the House; 
10. One member who is currently enrolled as a student at a college or university in the 
State, appointed by the Speaker of the House; 
11. The Chancellor of the University of Maine System or the chancellor's designee; 
12. The President of the Maine Community College System or the president's designee; 
13. The President of the Maine Maritime Academy or the president's designee; and 
14. The Commissioner of Education or the commissioner's designee. 
In appointing members of the commission, the appointing authorities shall give 
consideration to race, gender, socioeconomic diversity and geographic diversity.
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. Resolved:  That the commission shall review all related laws and 
rules addressing the State's public policy on higher education, including, but not limited to, 
the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 10902, and make recommendations for 
potential legislative changes. In conducting its review, the commission shall analyze 
present and future goals, including, but not limited to, expanding access to affordable high-
quality higher education to help students achieve postsecondary success. To assist the 
commission in carrying out its review, the Department of Education, the University of 
Maine System, the Maine Community College System and the Maine Maritime Academy 
shall each provide to the commission any data and information the commission considers 
relevant to its work. At the discretion of the chairs, the commission may seek input from 
any students, faculty or staff in the State's public institutions of higher education, groups 
that have an interest in the State's public institutions of higher education and other 
stakeholders.
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 December 3, 2025, the commission 
shall submit a report that includes its findings and recommendations, including suggested 
legislation, to the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs. The joint 
standing committee may report out a bill related to the report to the Second Regular Session 
of the 132nd Legislature.
SUMMARY
This resolve establishes the Commission to Update Maine's Public Policy on Higher 
Education to review all related laws and rules addressing the State's public policy on higher 
education and make recommendations for potential legislative changes.  The commission 
is directed to submit a report to the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural 
Affairs no later than December 3, 2025 with findings and recommendations, including 
suggested legislation.