LAW WITHOUT
GOVERNOR'S CHAPTER
SIGNATURE
487
JANUARY 7, 2024 PUBLIC LAW
STATE OF MAINE
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IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD
TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-THREE
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H.P. 54 - L.D. 86
An Act to Restore the Former State of Maine Flag
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 1 MRSA §206 is amended to read:
§206. State flag
The flag to be known as the official flag of the State shall be of blue, of the same color
as the blue field in the flag of the United States, and of the following dimensions and
designs; to wit, the length or height of the staff to be 9 feet, including brass spearhead and
ferrule; the fly of said flag to be 5 feet 6 inches, and to be 4 feet 4 inches on the staff; in the
center of the flag there shall be embroidered in silk on both sides of the flag the coat of
arms of the State, in proportionate size; the edges to be trimmed with knotted fringe of
yellow silk, 2 1/2 inches wide; a cord, with tassels, to be attached to the staff at the
spearhead, to be 8 feet 6 inches long and composed of white and blue silk strands must be
buff, charged with the emblem of the State, a pine tree proper, in the center, and the North
Star, a mullet of 5 points, in blue in the upper corner; the star to be equidistant from the
hoist and the upper border of the flag, the distance from the 2 borders to the center of the
star being equal to about 1/4 of the hoist, this distance and the size of the star being
proportionate to the size of the flag. A flag made in accordance with the description given
in this section shall must be kept in the office of the Adjutant General as a model once
approved by the Secretary of State.
Sec. 2. 37-B MRSA §384, as enacted by PL 1983, c. 460, §3, is amended to read:
§384. Flag to be carried
The flag of the State to be carried by the National Guard shall must be the same as the
flag described in Title 1, section 206, with addition of a scroll in red below the coat of arms
emblem of the State bearing the inscription, "Maine National Guard."
Sec. 3. Statutory referendum procedure; submission at election; form of
question; effective date. This Act must be submitted to the legal voters of the State at
a statewide election held in the month of November following passage of this Act. The
municipal officers of this State shall notify the inhabitants of their respective cities, towns
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and plantations to meet, in the manner prescribed by law for holding a statewide election,
to vote on the acceptance or rejection of this Act by voting on the following question:
"Do you favor making the former state flag, replaced as the official flag of
the State in 1909 and commonly known as the Pine Tree Flag, the official
flag of the State?"
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 a 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 a majority of the legal votes are cast in favor of this Act, the Governor shall
proclaim the result without delay and this Act becomes effective 30 days after the date of
the proclamation.
The Secretary of State shall prepare and furnish to each city, town and plantation all
ballots, returns and copies of this Act necessary to carry out the purposes of this
referendum.
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Statutes affected:
Bill Text LD 86, HP 54: 1.206, 37-B.384
Bill Text ACTPUB , Chapter 487: 1.206, 37-B.384