130th MAINE LEGISLATURE
FIRST SPECIAL SESSION-2021
Legislative Document No. 1438
H.P. 1054 House of Representatives, April 12, 2021
RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of
Maine To Declare the Natural, Inherent and Unalienable Right of
Enjoying Personal Privacy
Received by the Clerk of the House on April 8, 2021. Referred to the Committee on
Judiciary pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to Joint Rule 401.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative FECTEAU of Augusta.
Printed on recycled paper
 1 Constitutional amendment. Resolved: Two thirds of each branch of the
2 Legislature concurring, that the following amendment to the Constitution of Maine be
3 proposed:
4 Constitution, Art. I, §1 is amended to read:
5 Section 1. Natural rights. All people are born equally free and independent, and
6 have certain natural, inherent and unalienable rights, among which are those of enjoying
7 and defending life and liberty, of acquiring, possessing and protecting property, and of
8 pursuing and obtaining safety and happiness, and of enjoying personal privacy.
9 Constitutional referendum procedure; form of question; effective date.
10 Resolved: That the municipal officers of this State shall notify the inhabitants of their
11 respective cities, towns and plantations to meet, in the manner prescribed by law for holding
12 a statewide election, at a statewide election held in the month of November following the
13 passage of this resolution, to vote upon the ratification of the amendment proposed in this
14 resolution by voting upon the following question:
15 "Do you favor amending the Constitution of Maine to declare that all
16 people have the natural, inherent and unalienable right of enjoying
17 personal privacy?"
18 The legal voters of each city, town and plantation shall vote by ballot on this question
19 and designate their choice by a cross or check mark placed within the corresponding square
20 below the word "Yes" or "No." The ballots must be received, sorted, counted and declared
21 in open ward, town and plantation meetings and returns made to the Secretary of State in
22 the same manner as votes for members of the Legislature. The Governor shall review the
23 returns. If it appears that a majority of the legal votes are cast in favor of the amendment,
24 the Governor shall proclaim that fact without delay and the amendment becomes part of
25 the Constitution of Maine on the date of the proclamation.
26 Secretary of State shall prepare ballots. Resolved: That the Secretary of State
27 shall prepare and furnish to each city, town and plantation all ballots, returns and copies of
28 this resolution necessary to carry out the purposes of this referendum.
29 SUMMARY
30 This resolution proposes to amend the Constitution of Maine by declaring that all
31 people have the natural, inherent and unalienable right of enjoying personal privacy.
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