JULY 2, 2021
CHAPTER
PASSED BY 1
LEGISLATURE FOR
APPROVAL AT CONSTITUTIONAL
REFERENDUM RESOLUTION
STATE OF MAINE
_____
IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD
TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-ONE
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H.P. 61 - L.D. 95
RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine To
Establish a Right to Food
Constitutional amendment. Resolved: Two thirds of each branch of the
Legislature concurring, that the following amendment to the Constitution of Maine be
proposed:
Constitution, Art. I, §25 is enacted to read:
Section 25. Right to food. All individuals have a natural, inherent and unalienable
right to food, including the right to save and exchange seeds and the right to grow, raise,
harvest, produce and consume the food of their own choosing for their own nourishment,
sustenance, bodily health and well-being, as long as an individual does not commit
trespassing, theft, poaching or other abuses of private property rights, public lands or
natural resources in the harvesting, production or acquisition of food.
Constitutional referendum procedure; form of question; effective date.
Resolved: That the municipal officers of this State shall notify the inhabitants of their
respective cities, towns and plantations to meet, in the manner prescribed by law for holding
a statewide election, at a statewide election held in the month of November following the
passage of this resolution, to vote upon the ratification of the amendment proposed in this
resolution by voting upon the following question:
"Do you favor amending the Constitution of Maine to declare that all
individuals have a natural, inherent and unalienable right to grow, raise,
harvest, produce and consume the food of their own choosing for their own
nourishment, sustenance, bodily health and well-being?"
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 the 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 it appears that a majority of the legal votes are cast in favor of the amendment,
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the Governor shall proclaim that fact without delay and the amendment becomes part of
the Constitution of Maine on the date of the proclamation.
Secretary of State shall prepare ballots. Resolved: That the Secretary of State
shall prepare and furnish to each city, town and plantation all ballots, returns and copies of
this resolution necessary to carry out the purposes of this referendum.
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