Maine House of Representatives

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Maine House of
Representatives
SLP-Infobox Image-Color.png
General Information
Party control:   Democrat
Session start:   January 3, 2024
Session end:   April 17, 2024
Term length:   2 years
Term limits:   4 terms (8 years)
Redistricting:  Legislature-dominant
Salary:   $16,245.12 for the first regular session. $11,668.32 for the second regular session.
+ per diem
Members
Total:  151
Democrats:  80
Republicans:  68
Other:  1 (independent)
1 (Independent for Maine)
0 (Libertarian)
Vacancies:  1
Leadership
Speaker:   Rachel Ross (D)
Maj. Leader:   Maureen Terry (D)
Min. Leader:   Billy Bob Faulkingham (R)
Elections
Last election:  November 8, 2022
Next election:  November 5, 2024

The Maine House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the Maine State Legislature. Alongside the Maine State Senate, it forms the legislative branch of the Maine state government and works alongside the governor of Maine to create laws and establish a state budget. Legislative authority and responsibilities of the Maine House of Representatives include passing bills on public policy matters, setting levels for state spending, raising and lowering taxes, and voting to uphold or override gubernatorial vetoes.

The Maine House of Representatives meets in the State House in Augusta, Maine.

  • All 151 seats in the Maine House of Representatives were up for election in 2022. The chamber's Democratic majority increased from 77-63 with three independents and eight vacancies to 82-67 with two independents.
  • All 151 seats in the state House were up for election in 2020. The chamber's Democratic majority decreased from 89-57 with five independents to 80-67 with four independents.
  • Maine has a Democratic trifecta. The Democratic Party controls the office of governor and both chambers of the state legislature.

  • This page contains the following information on the Maine House of Representatives.

    Party control

    Current partisan control

    The table below shows the partisan breakdown of the Maine House of Representatives as of January 2024:

    Party As of January 2024
         Democratic Party 80
         Republican Party 68
         Independent 1
         Independent for Maine Party 1
         Libertarian Party 0
         Vacancy 1
    Total 151[1]

    Members

    Leadership

    The speaker of the House is the presiding officer of the body. Duties of the speaker include preserving order and decorum, deciding all questions of order, and appointing all committee members.[2][3]

    Leadership and members


    Office Name Party Date assumed office
    Maine House of Representatives District 1 Austin Theriault Republican December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 2 Roger Albert Republican December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 3 Mark Babin Republican December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 4 Timothy Guerrette Republican December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 5 Joseph Underwood Republican December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 6 Donald Ardell Republican December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 7 Gregory Swallow Republican December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 8 Tracy Quint Republican December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 9 Anne Perry Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 10 Kenneth Davis Republican December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 11 Tiffany Strout Republican December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 12 Billy Bob Faulkingham Republican December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 13 James Worth Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 14 Lynne Williams Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 15 Holly Eaton Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 16 Nina Milliken Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 17 Ronald Russell Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 18 Meldon Carmichael Republican December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 19 Richard Campbell Republican December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 20 Kevin O'Connell Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 21 Ambureen Rana Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 22 Laura Supica Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 23 Amy Roeder Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 24 Joseph Perry Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 25 Laurie Osher Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 26 James Dill Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 27 Gary Drinkwater Republican December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 28 Irene Gifford Republican December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 29 Kathy Javner Republican December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 30 James White Republican December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 31 Chad Perkins Republican December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 32 Steven Foster Republican December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 33 Danny Costain Republican December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 34 Abigail Griffin Republican December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 35 James Thorne Republican December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 36 David Haggan Republican December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 37 Reagan Paul Republican December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 38 Benjamin Hymes Republican December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 39 Janice Dodge Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 40 Stanley Zeigler Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 41 Victoria Doudera Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 42 Valli Geiger Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 43 Ann Matlack Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 44 William Pluecker Independent for Maine December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 45 Abden Simmons Republican June 14, 2023
    Maine House of Representatives District 46 Lydia Crafts Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 47 Ed Polewarczyk Republican December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 48 Holly Stover Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 49 Allison Hepler Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 50 David Sinclair Democratic November 9, 2023
    Maine House of Representatives District 51 Rebecca Jauch Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 52 Sally Cluchey Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 53 Michael Lemelin Republican December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 54 Karen Montell Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 55 Daniel Shagoury Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 56 Randall Greenwood Republican December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 57 Tavis Hasenfus Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 58 Daniel Newman Republican December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 59 Raegan LaRochelle Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 60 William Bridgeo Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 61 Richard Bradstreet Republican December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 62 Katrina Smith Republican December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 63 Scott Cyrway Republican December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 64 Colleen Madigan Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 65 Bruce White Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 66 Robert Nutting Republican December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 67 Shelley Rudnicki Republican December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 68 Amanda Collamore Republican December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 69 Dean Cray Republican December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 70 Jennifer Poirier Republican December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 71 John Ducharme Republican December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 72 Larry Dunphy Republican December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 73 Michael Soboleski Republican December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 74 Randall Hall Republican December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 75 H. Scott Landry Jr. Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 76 Sheila Lyman Republican December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 77 Tammy Schmersal-Burgess Republican December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 78 Rachel Ann Henderson Republican December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 79 John Andrews Republican December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 80 Caldwell Jackson Republican December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 81 Sawin Millett Jr. Republican December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 82 Caleb Ness Republican December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 83 Walter Riseman Independent December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 84 Mark Walker Republican December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 85 Kimberly Pomerleau Republican December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 86 Jessica Fay Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 87 David Boyer Republican December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 88 Kathleen Shaw Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 89 Adam Lee Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 90 Laurel Libby Republican December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 91 Joshua Morris Republican December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 92 Stephen Wood Republican December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 93 Margaret Craven Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 94 Kristen Cloutier Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 95 Mana Abdi Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 96 Michel Lajoie Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 97 Richard Mason Republican December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 98 Joseph Galletta Republican December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 99 Cheryl Golek Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 100 Dan Ankeles Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 101 Poppy Arford Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 102 Melanie Sachs Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 103 Arthur Bell Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 104 Amy Arata Republican December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 105 Anne Graham Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 106 Barbara Bagshaw Republican December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 107 Jane Pringle Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 108 Maureen Terry Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 109 James Boyle Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 110 Stephen Moriarty Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 111 Amy Kuhn Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 112 W. Edward Crockett Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 113 Grayson Lookner Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 114 Benjamin Collings Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 115 Michael Brennan Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 116 Samuel Zager Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 117 Matthew Moonen Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 118 Rachel Ross Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 119 Charles Skold Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 120 Deqa Dhalac Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 121 Christopher Kessler Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 122 Vacant
    Maine House of Representatives District 123 Rebecca Millett Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 124 Sophia Warren Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 125 Kelly Noonan Murphy Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 126 Andrew Gattine Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 127 Morgan Rielly Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 128 Suzanne Salisbury Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 129 Margaret O'Neil Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 130 Lynn Copeland Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 131 Lori Gramlich Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 132 Erin Sheehan Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 133 Marc Malon Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 134 Traci Gere Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 135 Daniel Sayre Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 136 Heidi Sampson Republican December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 137 Nathan Carlow Republican December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 138 Mark Blier Republican December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 139 David Woodsome Republican December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 140 Wayne Parry Republican December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 141 Lucas Lanigan Republican December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 142 Anne-Marie Mastraccio Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 143 Ann Marie Fredericks Republican December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 144 Jeffrey Adams Republican December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 145 Daniel Hobbs Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 146 Walter Runte Jr. Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 147 Holly Sargent Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 148 Thomas Lavigne Republican December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 149 Tiffany Roberts Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 150 Michele Meyer Democratic December 7, 2022
    Maine House of Representatives District 151 Kristi Mathieson Democratic December 7, 2022


    Salaries

    See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
    State legislative salaries, 2023
    SalaryPer diem
    $16,245.12 for the first regular session. $11,668.32 for the second regular session.$70/day for lodging (or round-trip mileage up to $0.55/mile in lieu of housing, plus tolls). $50/day for meals.

    Swearing in dates

    See also: When state legislators assume office after a general election

    Maine legislators assume office on the first Wednesday of December following the general election.[4][5]

    Membership qualifications

    See also: State legislature candidate requirements by state

    Section 4 of Part 1 of Article 4 of the Maine Constitution states, "Qualifications; residency requirement. No person shall be a member of the House of Representatives, unless the person shall, at the commencement of the period for which the person is elected, have been 5 years a citizen of the United States, have arrived at the age of 21 years, have been a resident in this State one year; and for the 3 months next preceding the time of this person's election shall have been, and, during the period for which elected, shall continue to be a resident in the district which that person represents.

    No person may be a candidate for election as a member of the House of Representatives unless, at the time of the nomination for placement on a primary, general or special election ballot, that person is a resident in the district which the candidate seeks to represent."[6]

    Historical party control

    Democrats won control of the Maine House of Representatives in 2012. In 2022, they won an 82-67-2 majority.

    The table below shows the partisan history of the Maine House following every general election from 1992 to 2022. All data from 2006 or earlier comes from Michael Dubin's Party Affiliations in the State Legislatures (McFarland Press, 2007). Data after 2006 was compiled by Ballotpedia staff.

    Maine House of Representatives election results: 1992-2022

    Year '92 '94 '96 '98 '00 '02 '04 '06 '08 '10 '12 '14 '16 '18 '20 '22
    Democrats 90 77 81 79 88 80 76 89 96 72 86 79 77 89 80 82
    Republicans 61 74 69 71 63 67 73 60 54 78 61 68 72 57 67 67
    Other 0 0 1 1 1 4 2 2 1 1 4 4 2 5 4 2

    Trifecta history

    A state government trifecta is a term that describes single-party government, when one political party holds the governor's office and has majorities in both chambers of the legislature in a state government. Between 1992 and 2023, Maine was under the following types of trifecta control:

    • Democratic trifecta: 2003-2010, 2019-2023
    • Republican trifecta: 2011-2012
    • Divided government: 1992-2002, 2013-2018

    Maine Party Control: 1992-2024
    Fourteen years of Democratic trifectas  •  Two years of Republican trifectas
    Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

    Year 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
    Governor R R R I I I I I I I I D D D D D D D D R R R R R R R R D D D D D D
    Senate D D D R R D D D D S S D D D D D D D D R R D D R R R R D D D D D D
    House D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D R R D D D D D D D D D D D D

    Elections

    Elections by year

    Maine state representatives serve two-year terms, with all seats up for election every two years. Maine holds elections for its legislature in even years.

    2024

    See also: Maine House of Representatives elections, 2024

    Elections for the Maine House of Representatives will take place in 2024. The general election is on November 5, 2024.

    2022

    See also: Maine House of Representatives elections, 2022

    Elections for the Maine House of Representatives took place in 2022. The general election was on November 8, 2022. A primary was scheduled for June 14, 2022. The filing deadline was March 15, 2022.

    In the 2022 general election, the Democratic Party expanded its majority by five seats.

    Maine House of Representatives
    Party As of November 8, 2022 After November 9, 2022
         Democratic Party 77 82
         Republican Party 63 67
         Independent 2 1
         Independent for Maine Party 1 1
         Vacancy 8 0
    Total 151 151

    2020

    See also: Maine House of Representatives elections, 2020

    Elections for the office of Maine House of Representatives took place in 2020. The general election was held on November 3, 2020. A primary was scheduled for July 14, 2020. The filing deadline was March 16, 2020.

    In the 2020 elections, Democrats held a majority in the Maine House of Representatives from 87-56 to 80-67.


    Maine House of Representatives
    Party As of November 3, 2020 After November 4, 2020
         Democratic Party 87 80
         Republican Party 56 67
         Independent 5 4
         Common Sense Independent 1 0
         Vacancy 2 0
    Total 151 151

    2018

    See also: Maine House of Representatives elections, 2018

    Elections for the Maine House of Representatives took place in 2018. The closed primary election took place on June 12, 2018, and the general election was held on November 6, 2018. The candidate filing deadline was March 15, 2018.[7]

    In the 2018 elections, Democrats increased their majority in the Maine House of Representatives from 73-70 to 89-57.

    Maine House of Representatives
    Party As of November 6, 2018 After November 7, 2018
         Democratic Party 73 89
         Republican Party 70 57
         Independent 7 5
         Vacancy 1 0
    Total 151 151

    2016

    See also: Maine House of Representatives elections, 2016

    Elections for the Maine House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election took place on June 14, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was March 15, 2016.[8] All 151 seats in the Maine House of Representatives were up for election in 2016.

    Heading into the election, Democrats held a 78-69 majority with three independent members and one unenrolled member. Democrats lost one seat in the election, giving them a 77-72 majority with two independent members.

    Maine House of Representatives
    Party As of November 7, 2016 After November 8, 2016
         Democratic Party 78 77
         Republican Party 69 72
         Independent 3 2
         Unenrolled 1 0
    Total 151 151

    Term limits

    See also: State legislatures with term limits

    The Maine legislature is one of 16 state legislatures with term limits. Voters enacted the Maine Term Limits Act in 1993. That initiative said that Maine representatives are subject to term limits of no more than four two-year terms, or a total of eight years.

    The first year that the term limits enacted in 1993 impacted the ability of incumbents to run for office was in 1996.[15]

    Vacancies

    See also: How vacancies are filled in state legislatures

    If there is a vacancy in the Maine State Legislature, a special election must be held to fill the vacant seat.[16][17] The governor must call for an election and inform political committees of the nomination deadline.[18][16][17] The person elected to the seat serves for the remainder of the unexpired term.[19]

    DocumentIcon.jpg See sources: Maine Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 21-A, § 382 Maine Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 21-A, §366 and Maine Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 21-A, § 381

    District map

    See also: Maine state legislative districts

    The state of Maine has 186 legislative districts. Each district elects one representative. The state Senate has 35 districts and the state House has 151 districts. Three Native American tribes, the Penobscot Nation, the Passamaquoddy Tribe, and the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, are allocated one non-voting member each in the House.[20]

    Use the interactive map below to find your district.



    Redistricting

    See also: Redistricting in Maine

    In Maine, both congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn by the state legislature. An advisory commission is also involved in the process. A two-thirds majority is required to approve new district maps, which are subject to veto by the governor.[21]

    The composition of the 15-member advisory redistricting commission is as follows:[21]

    1. The majority and minority leaders of the Maine State Senate each select two commissioners.
    2. The majority and minority leaders of the Maine House of Representatives each appoint three commissioners.
    3. The chairs of the state's two major political parties (i.e., the Republican and Democratic parties) each appoint one member.
    4. The aforementioned 12 commissioners appoint two more members from the public, "with each party's representatives coordinating to choose one commissioner."
    5. The two public commissioners appoint one additional member.

    This commission may make recommendations to the state legislature regarding redistricting, but the legislature is not bound to abide by the commission's recommendations. If the state legislature is unable to pass a redistricting plan, the responsibility falls to the Maine Supreme Court.[21]

    State statutes require that congressional districts be compact and contiguous, In addition, state laws require that congressional districts "cross political subdivision lines as few times as possible."[21]

    The Maine Constitution mandates that state legislative districts be "compact and contiguous, and that they cross political subdivision lines as few times as possible."[21]

    2020

    See also: Redistricting in Maine after the 2020 census

    On September 29, 2021, Gov. Janet Mills (D) signed legislation enacting redrawn state legislative district boundaries. The Maine Apportionment Commission approved final maps and submitted them to the legislature on September 27, 2021. The Maine Senate unanimously approved both maps by a vote of 31-0. The Maine House of Representatives approved new district boundaries for the state Senate by a vote of 129-0 and new state House district boundaries by a vote of 119-10.[22] These maps took effect for Maine’s 2022 legislative elections.

    The Maine Wire reported, "The legislature made no changes to the maps the Apportionment Commission submitted, but some legislators did express dissatisfaction with the way districts had been drawn."[23] Some lawmakers objected to changes made to the composition of their districts, such as Ben Collings (D). After the plans were approved, Collings said, "“I did my best to work with the [apportionment] committee and use the process to make those changes.” “Unfortunately that did not come together for the district I represent.”[22]

    District map before and after 2020 redistricting

    Below is the state House map in effect before and after the 2020 redistricting cycle.

    Maine State House Districts
    until December 6, 2022

    Click a district to compare boundaries.

    Maine State House Districts
    starting December 7, 2022

    Click a district to compare boundaries.


    2010

    See also: Redistricting in Maine after the 2010 census

    On May 23, 2013, the advisory redistricting commission submitted its recommendation for new state Senate districts. A recommendation for new state House districts followed on May 24, 2013. The legislature approved a version of the commission's recommended plan on June 5, 2013. The new maps were signed into law by the governor on June 14, 2013.[21]

    Sessions

    Legislation

    The legislation tracker below displays all legislation that the Maine House of Representatives has approved in its most recent legislative session—this includes legislation that has been sent from the Senate to the House and legislation that has already been approved by the House and signed by the governor after its passage in the Senate. The table below includes the bill number, its name, progress, most recent action date, and sponsor. Scroll up and down and side to side to see more. Click the bill number to read the bill text and see its voting history. Click the headings to sort the content. Rearrange the order of the headings by clicking and dragging them. Click the magnifying glass in the bottom left corner to search for specific terms. The legislation tracker is maintained and updated by BillTrack50.

    Dates of legislative sessions in Maine by year

    2024

    See also: 2024 Maine legislative session and Dates of 2024 state legislative sessions

    In 2024, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 3, 2024, and adjourn on April 17, 2024.

    2023

    See also: 2023 Maine legislative session and Dates of 2023 state legislative sessions

    In 2023, the legislature was scheduled to convene on December 7, 2022, and adjourn on March 30, 2023.



    About legislative sessions in Maine

    The Tenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution declares that any power not already given to the federal government is reserved to the states and the people.[40] State governments across the country use this authority to hold legislative sessions where a state's elected representatives meet for a period of time to draft and vote on legislation and set state policies on issues such as taxation, education, and government spending. The different types of legislation passed by a legislature may include resolutions, legislatively referred constitutional amendments, and bills that become law.

    Article IV, Part Third of the Maine Constitution establishes when the Maine State Legislature, of which the House of Representatives is a part, is to be in session. Section 1 of the Part states that, following a legislative election, the Legislature is to convene its first regular session on the first Wednesday of December. The second regular session of the legislature is to convene in the next even-numbered year. This second session is to convene on the first Wednesday after the first Tuesday in January. Section 1 also instructs the Legislature to enact statutory limits on the length of its regular sessions.

    Section 1 also establishes the procedures for convening special sessions of the Legislature. A special session can be convened by the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House, with the consent of a majority of legislators from each political party.[41]

    Legislative roles and procedures

    Every state legislature throughout the country features its own internal procedures that it uses to govern itself and how it interacts with other parts of state government. Ballotpedia's coverage of internal state legislative procedures includes veto overrides, the role of the legislature in the state budget, term limits, procedures for filling membership vacancies, and redistricting.

    Veto overrides

    Veto Override Graphic-No party.png

    See also: Veto overrides in state legislatures

    State legislatures can override governors' vetoes. Depending on the state, this can be done during the regular legislative session, in a special session following the adjournment of the regular session, or during the next legislative session. The rules for legislative overrides of gubernatorial vetoes in Maine are listed below.

    How many legislators are required to vote for an override? Two-thirds of members present in both chambers.

    Two-thirds of members present in both chambers must vote to override a veto. If all members are in attendance, this is 101 of the 151 members in the Maine House of Representatives and 24 of the 35 members in the Maine State Senate. Maine is one of 36 states that requires a two-thirds vote from both of its legislative chambers to override a veto.

    Authority: Article IV, Part Third, Section 2 of the Maine Constitution.

    "Every bill or resolution, having the force of law, to which the concurrence of both Houses may be necessary, except on a question of adjournment, which shall have passed both Houses, shall be presented to the Governor, and if the Governor approves, the Governor shall sign it; if not, the Governor shall return it with objections to the House in which it shall have originated, which shall enter the objections at large on its journals, and proceed to reconsider it. If after such reconsideration, 2/3 of that House shall agree to pass it, it shall be sent together with the objections, to the other House, by which it shall be reconsidered, and, if approved by 2/3 of that House, it shall have the same effect as if it had been signed by the Governor; but in all such cases, the votes of both Houses shall be taken by yeas and nays, and the names of the persons, voting for and against the bill or resolution, shall be entered on the journals of both Houses respectively."

    Role in state budget

    See also: Maine state budget and finances
    Maine on Public Policy Logo-one line-on Ballotpedia.png
    Check out Ballotpedia articles about policy in your state on:
    BudgetsCivil libertiesEducationElectionsEnergyEnvironmentHealthcarePensions

    The state operates on a biennial budget cycle. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows:[42]

    1. Budget instructions are sent to state agencies in July of the year preceding the start of the new biennium.
    2. State agencies submit their budget requests by September 1.
    3. The governor submits his or her proposed budget to the state legislature in January. This deadline is extended to February for a newly elected governor.
    4. The legislature adopts a budget by 30 days prior to its adjournment. A simple majority is required to pass a budget. The biennium begins on July 1.

    Maine is one of 43 states in which the governor has line item veto authority.[42]

    The governor is legally required to submit a balanced budget proposal. Likewise, the state legislature is legally required to pass a balanced budget.[42]

    Committees

    See also: List of committees in Maine state government

    Every state legislature and state legislative chamber in the country contains several legislative committees. These committees are responsible for studying, amending, and voting on legislation before it reaches the floor of a chamber for a full vote. The different types of committees include standing committees, select or special, and joint.

    • Standing committees are generally permanent committees, the names of which sometimes change from session to session.
    • Select or special committees are temporary committees formed to deal with specific issues such as recent legislation, major public policy or proposals, or investigations.
    • Joint committees are committees that feature members of both chambers of a legislature.

    Ballotpedia covers standing and joint committees. The Maine House of Representatives has six standing committees:


    Constitutional amendments

    In every state but Delaware, voter approval is required to enact a constitutional amendment. In each state, the legislature has a process for referring constitutional amendments before voters. In 18 states, initiated constitutional amendments can be put on the ballot through a signature petition drive. There are also many other types of statewide measures.

    The methods in which the Maine Constitution can be amended:

    See also: Part III of Article IV and Article X of Maine Constitution and Laws governing ballot measures in Maine
    687px-Flag of Maine.svg.png

    The Maine Constitution may be amended in two ways—through the legislative process, or a state constitutional convention. Maine residents cannot put a constitutional amendment on the ballot through the power of initiative. Maine does feature the power of initiative for initiated state statutes.

    Legislature

    See also: Legislatively referred constitutional amendment

    A two-thirds majority (66.67%) vote is required during one legislative session for the Maine State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 101 votes in the Maine House of Representatives and 24 votes in the Maine State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.

    Convention

    See also: Convention-referred constitutional amendment

    According to Section 15 of Part III of Article IV, the legislature can, by a two-thirds concurrent vote of both branches, call a constitutional convention. Maine has never called such a convention; however, two "constitutional commissions" were impaneled, one in 1876 and one in 1962, but neither led to significant changes.



    2025 measures:

    See also: Maine 2025 ballot measures

    Certified:

    The following measures have been certified for the ballot.

    No measures to list


    Potential:

    The following measures have made it through one chamber—or one session for two session states—and may appear on the ballot in 2025.

    No measures to list

    2024 measures:

    Below is a list of measures that were referred to the 2024 ballot by the legislature or that have made it approximately halfway through the process in the legislature for referral to the ballot in 2024.

    See also: Maine 2024 ballot measures

    Certified:

    The following measures have been certified for the ballot.

    No measures to list


    Potential:

    The following measures have made it through one chamber—or one session for two session states—and may appear on the ballot in 2024.
    Maine Equal Rights Under the Law AmendmentDemocratsRepublicans
    Senate:Required: Yes votes: (%)No votes: (%)Yes: ; No: Yes: ; No:
    House:Required: Yes votes: (%)No votes: (%)Yes: ; No: Yes: ; No:

    See also

    Elections Maine State Government State Legislatures State Politics
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    Maine State Flag-Close Up.jpg
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    State Courts-Tile image.png

    External links

    Footnotes

    1. Excludes three nonvoting members representing the Penobscot Nation, the Passamaquoddy Tribe and the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians.
    2. Maine Legislature, "House Rules," accessed February 11, 2021 (Referenced Part 2 - Speaker)
    3. Maine House of Representatives, "House Leadership," accessed February 11, 2021
    4. Maine Constitution, "Article IV. Part First., Section 2," accessed November 1, 2021
    5. Maine Constitution, "Article IV. Part Second., Section 5," accessed November 1, 2021
    6. Maine State Constitution, "Article IV," accessed February 10, 2023
    7. Maine.gov, "Upcoming Elections," accessed December 22, 2017
    8. Politics1.com, "Maine," archived December 31, 2015
    9. Follow the Money, "Maine 2010 - Candidates," accessed August 19, 2014
    10. Follow the Money, "Maine 2008 - Candidates," accessed August 23, 2013
    11. Follow the Money, "Maine 2006 - Candidates," accessed August 23, 2013
    12. Follow the Money, "Maine 2004 - Candidates," accessed August 23, 2013
    13. Follow the Money, "Maine 2002 - Candidates," accessed August 23, 2013
    14. Follow the Money, "Maine 2000 - Candidates," accessed August 23, 2013
    15. ncsl.org, "Chart of Term Limits States," accessed February 11, 2021
    16. 16.0 16.1 Maine Legislature, "Maine Revised Statutes," accessed February 11, 2021 (Statute 21A-381)
    17. 17.0 17.1 Maine Legislature, "Maine Revised Statutes," accessed February 11, 2021 (Statute 21A-382)
    18. Maine Legislature, "Constitution of the State of Maine," accessed February 11, 2021 (Article IV, Section 5)
    19. Maine Legislature, "Maine Revised Statutes," accessed February 11, 2021 (Statute 21A-361)
    20. Maine State Legislature, "Brief History of Indian Legislative Representatives," accessed February 11, 2021
    21. 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 21.4 21.5 All About Redistricting, "Maine," accessed April 30, 2015
    22. 22.0 22.1 Bangor Daily News, "Thousands of Mainers to shift to new congressional districts," September 29, 2021
    23. Maine Wire, "Maine Legislature accepts new redistricting plans, approves legal action on federal lobster rules," September 29, 2021
    24. Bangor Daily News, "A busy two days are coming in Augusta. Maine’s coronavirus response will be the topic." March 16, 2020
    25. pressherald.com, "New state budget sends more money to public schools in Maine," July 5, 2017
    26. pressherald.com, "State workers bracing for worst as threat of a shutdown looms," June 22, 2017
    27. pressherald.com, "Legislature votes to extend session to try to resolve budget impasse," June 21, 2017
    28. Press Herald, "As session ends, Legislature overrides LePage veto, raising legal age for tobacco to 21," August 2, 2017
    29. Maine Public Broadcasting, "Maine Democrats and Republicans Lay out Priorities for Upcoming Legislative Session," December 23, 2014
    30. Maine State Legislature, "126th Legislature: 2012 - 2014," accessed February 11, 2021
    31. Maine Legislature, "126th Legislature: 2012 - 2014," accessed February 11, 2021
    32. Legislative Information Office, "LD 1279," accessed February 11, 2021
    33. CentralMaine.com, "Maine House vote kills bill to elect top state officials," June 4, 2013
    34. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Bangor
    35. Maine State Legislature, "Proposed Constitutional Legislation 1820 -," accessed February 11, 2021
    36. Bangor Daily News, "Maine lawmakers return Wednesday for 2012 session," January 3, 2012
    37. Maine.gov, 125th Legislature Session Schedule, accessed February 11, 2021
    38. Bangor Daily News, State lawmakers headed home but only for 12 days, June 16, 2011
    39. Stateline, "Conservative budget becomes law in all-GOP Maine," June 21, 2011 (Archived)
    40. Find Law, "Tenth Amendment - U.S. Constitution," accessed February 11, 2021
    41. Maine State Constitution, "Article IV," accessed February 11, 2021
    42. 42.0 42.1 42.2 National Association of State Budget Officers, "Budget Processes in the States, Spring 2021," accessed January 24, 2023