APPROVED CHAPTER
FEBRUARY 8, 2024 127
BY GOVERNOR RESOLVES
STATE OF MAINE
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IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD
TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FOUR
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H.P. 1407 - L.D. 2196
Resolve, to Authorize the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court to
Arrange the Constitution of Maine to Incorporate Amendments Approved at
the November 2023 Referendum
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, the Constitution of Maine, Article X, Section 6 requires the Chief Justice
of the Supreme Judicial Court to arrange the Constitution of Maine and submit the
arrangement to the Legislature once every 10 years, unless sooner authorized by the
Legislature; and
Whereas, the Chief Justice performed this requirement in the spring of 2023; and
Whereas, in November 2023, 2 amendments to the Constitution of Maine were
approved by the voters at referendum; and
Whereas, in order to ensure that the Constitution of Maine is as up to date as possible
and avoid printing of versions of the Constitution of Maine that are incomplete and
incorrect, it is necessary that the Chief Justice prepare an arrangement of the Constitution
of Maine that includes the 2 amendments that were approved in November 2023; 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
Sec. 1. Chief Justice authorized to prepare arrangement of Constitution of
Maine reflecting changes approved at November 2023 referendum. Resolved:
That, pursuant to the Constitution of Maine, Article X, Section 6, the Chief Justice of the
Supreme Judicial Court is authorized to arrange the Constitution of Maine and include in
that arrangement the amendments to the Constitution of Maine approved by the voters at
referendum in November 2023.
Sec. 2. Amendments to be included in arrangement of Constitution of
Maine. Resolved: That the following constitutional resolutions approved by the voters
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at the November 2023 referendum must be included in the arrangement authorized pursuant
to section 1:
1. Constitutional Resolution 2023, chapter 1: RESOLUTION, Proposing an
Amendment to the Constitution of Maine to Require All Provisions in the Constitution to
Be Included in the Official Printing; and
2. Constitutional Resolution 2023, chapter 2: RESOLUTION, Proposing an
Amendment to the Constitution of Maine Regarding the Timing of Judicial Review of the
Determination of the Validity of Written Petitions.
Sec. 3. Submission to Legislature. Resolved: That the Chief Justice of the
Supreme Judicial Court shall submit the arrangement authorized by this resolve to the
Legislature no later than 30 days following the effective date of this resolve.
Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation
takes effect when approved.
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