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Proposals to Reduce the Size of the Maine Legislature
Updated through the 130th Legislature

Introduction

This legislative history contains proposals since 1949 to reduce the number of Representatives and Senators that serve in the Maine Legislature. Since 1842, the Maine Constitution has fixed the number of House members at 151 (see Maine Constitution Art. IV, Pt. 1, §2). Since 1969, the Constitution has provided for 31 to 35 Senators (see Maine Constitution Art. IV, Pt. 2, §1)


Browse by LD:  


Year LD Amendments Final
Disposition
Legislative Record
Debate & Remarks
Other Documents & News Clips Full LD
History
1969 LD 464

Resolve, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution Regulating the Size of the House of Representatives
Proposed amendments:

H-58
H-59
H-60
Died between houses House, February 25, 1969
p. 377-379

House, March 5, 1969
p. 476-482

House, April 8, 1969
p. 1017-1021
News Clips:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.

N/A
1970 LD 1769

Resolve, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution Affecting the Apportionment of the House of Representatives
Proposed amendment:

H-387
Died between houses House, January 26, 1970
p. 386-388

Senate, January 29, 1970
p. 575-576
News Clips:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. N/A
1971 LD 94

Resolution, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution Reducing the Size of the House of Representatives and the Senate

OTP-ND:
LD 1146
N/A Indefinitely postponed Senate, March 11, 1971
p. 691-697

House, March 16, 1971
p. 757-761

Senate, March 17, 1971
p. 815-816
N/A N/A
1973 LD 1706

Resolution, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution Reducing the Size of the House of Representatives and Establishing Single Member Districts
N/A Leave to withdraw No debate. News Clips:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. N/A
1973 LD 1860

Resolution, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution Reducing the Size of the House of Representatives to Provide Single Member Districts, Apportion and Reduce the Number of Legislators in the House of Representatives; Increase the Terms of Senators; Abolish the Executive Council and Reassign its Constitutional Powers; Provide for Annual Sessions of the Legislature; and Provide for Appointment of the Attorney General, Secretary of State and Treasurer by the Governor
N/A Leave to withdraw House, April 4, 1973
p. 1383-1384
News Clips:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.

N/A
1973 LD 2017

Resolution, Proposing Amendments to the Constitution to Provide for Annual Sessions of the Legislature and to Limit the Matters Which May be Considered in the Second Regular Session; to Provide for Single Member Districts in the House of Representatives; to Provide for Reduction of the Number of Representatives and Reapportionment of the House of Representatives and the Senate in 1983; to Establish an Apportionment Commission to Plan for All Reapportionments of the House of Representatives and Senate; to Abolish the Executive Council and Reassign Certain Constitutional Powers to a Legislative Council; and to Provide that Oaths and Subscriptions of Office of the Governor, Representatives and Senators Shall be Taken Before the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court

OTP-ND:
LD 2040
Proposed amendments:

H-587     H-615
H-589     S-272
H-595     S-293
H-597
H-600
Died between houses Senate, June 18, 1973
p. 4435-4437

House, June 21, 1973
p. 4674-4678

House, June 26, 1973
p. 4788-4810

House, June 27, 1973
p. 4864-4878

Senate, June 27, 1973
p. 4895-4899

House, June 28, 1973
p. 4927-4937

House, June 29, 1973
p. 4957-4966

House, July 3, 1973
p. 5043-5045

Senate, July 3, 1973
p. 5082
News Clips:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. N/A
1974 LD 2071

Resolution, Proposing Amendments to the Constitution to Provide for Annual Sessions of the Legislature and to Limit the Matters which May be Considered in the Second Regular Session; to Provide for Single Member Districts in the House of Representatives; to Provide for Reduction of the Number of Representatives and Reapportionment of the House of Representatives and the Senate in 1983; to Establish an Apportionment Commission to Plan for all Reapportionments of the House of Representatives and Senate; to Abolish the Executive Council and Reassign Certain Constitutional Powers to a Legislative Council; and to Provide that Oaths and Subscriptions of Office of the Governor, Representatives and Senators Shall be taken Before the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court

OTP-ND:
LD 2513
Proposed amendments:

H-693
H-713
S-357
Died between houses House, February 19, 1974
p. 802-815

Senate, February 20, 1974
p. 875-877

House, February 27, 1974
p. 995-1002
News Clips:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. N/A
1975 LD 2

Resolution, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution Reducing the Size of the House of Representatives and Establishing the Size of the Senate
Proposed amendment:

S-2
ONTP Senate, January 23, 1975
p. A78-A79

Senate, January 28, 1975
p. A83-A84

House, February 12, 1975
p. A133-A141
News Clips:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. N/A
1975 LD 919

Resolution, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution to Provide for Single Member Districts in the House of Representatives; Reduction of the Number of Representatives and Reapportionment of the House of Representatives and the Senate in 1984; and to Establish an Apportionment Commission to Plan for All Apportionments of the House of Representatives and Senate

OTP-ND:
LD 1883
Proposed amendment:

H-464
Indefinitely postponed House, May 15, 1975
p. B1042-B1043

House, May 22, 1975
p. B1249-B1250

House, May 28, 1975
p. B1359-B1361
News Clips:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. N/A
1976 LD 2075

Resolution, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution to Provide that the House of Representatives shall, Beginning on the Day Next Preceding the First Wednesday after the First Tuesday in January of 1985, Consist of One Hundred and Thirty-two Members Instead of One Hundred and Fifty-one
N/A Leave to withdraw House, February 6, 1976
p. 88-89

Senate, February 9, 1976
p. 102

Senate, April 6, 1976
p. 1000-1001
News Clips:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. N/A
1977 LD 13

Resolution, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution Reducing the Size of the House of Representatives to 99 Members and Establishing the Size of the Senate at 33 Members
N/A Leave to withdraw No debate. News Clips:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. N/A
1977 LD 105

Resolution, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution Reducing the Size of the House of Representatives to 132 Members and Establishing the Size of the Senate at 33 Members
Proposed amendment:

H-180
Indefinitely postponed House, April 25, 1977
p. 664-666
N/A N/A
1977 LD 1026

Resolution, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution to Provide that the Membership of the House of Representatives shall be Three Times that of the Senate and that Each Senate District shall be Composed of Three Contiguous House Districts
N/A ONTP House, April 25, 1977
p. 661-664

Senate, April 26, 1977
p. 692
N/A N/A
1979 LD 119

Resolution, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine to Provide that the Membership of the House of Representatives shall be Three Times That of the Senate and That Each Senate District Shall be Composed of Three Contiguous House Districts
N/A Leave to withdraw No debate. N/A N/A
1979 LD 301

An Act to Provide for an Advisory Referendum of Reducing the Number of Members of the Maine House of Representatives from 151 to 99 Members
Proposed amendment:

H-52
Died between houses House, March 6, 1979
p. 298-302
N/A N/A
1979 LD 363

Resolution, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution to Provide that the House of Representatives Shall be Reduced from 151 to 132 Members
N/A Leave to withdraw No debate. N/A N/A
1981 LD 133

Resolution, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine to Provide that the House of Representatives shall be Reduced from 151 to 132 Members
N/A Leave to withdraw No debate. News Clips:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
1983 LD 788

Resolution, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine Reducing the Size of the House of Representatives to 99 Members
N/A Leave to withdraw No debate. N/A Yes
1985 LD 549

Resolution, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine Reducing the Size of the House of Representatives to 99 Members
N/A Leave to withdraw No debate. Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.

News Clips:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.
Yes
1991 LD 1647

Resolution, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine to Reduce the Size of the Legislature
Proposed amendment:

H-470
ONTP House, June 4, 1991
p. H-913-H-915
Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.

News Clips:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.
Yes
1992 LD 2337

Resolution, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine to Reduce the Size of the House of Representatives
Proposed amendments:

H-1161
H-1173
H-1175
H-1196
S-702
Died between houses House, March 23, 1992
p. H-551-H-556

Senate, March 24, 1992
p. S-390-S-392

Senate, March 25, 1992
p. S-413-S-414

House, March 25, 1992
p. H-588-H-596

House, March 31, 1992
p. H-834
Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.

Report:  Special Commission on Governmental Restructuring, Final report (Dec. 15, 1991)
Yes
1993 LD 551

Resolution, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine to Reduce the Size of the Legislature
Proposed amendment:

H-276
ONTP House, May 18, 1993
p. H-764-H-766

Senate, May 20, 1993
p. S-704-S-707

House, April 6, 1994
p. H-2069
Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.

News Clips:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.
Yes
1993 LD 1196

Resolution, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine to Reduce the Number of Members in the House of Representatives and Create a Unicameral Legislature
N/A ONTP No debate. Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
1993 LD 1429

Resolve, to Establish a Commission to Study the Size of the Legislature
N/A ONTP No debate. Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
1994 LD 1933

Resolution, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine to Reduce the Size of the Maine Legislature
N/A Indefinitely postponed House, February 24, 1994
p. H-1589

House, April 6, 1994
p. H-2068-H-2071

House, April 6, 1994
p. H-2072-H-2073

Senate, April 6, 1994
p. S-1912-S-1913
News Clips:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
1995 LD 40

Resolution, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine to Reduce the Size of the Maine Legislature to 99 Members in the House and 33 Members in the Senate
Proposed amendment:

H-117
Died between houses House, May 9, 1995
p. H-579-H-580
Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.

News Clips:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.
Yes
1995 LD 317

Resolve, Creating the Commission to Restructure State Government
N/A ONTP No debate. Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.

News Clips:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.
Yes
1995 LD 431

Resolution, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine to Reduce the Size of the Legislature Following Redistricting in the Year 2003
Proposed amendment:

S-26
Died between houses Senate, May 24, 1995
p. S-876
Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.

News Clips:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.
Yes
1997 LD 214

Resolution, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine to Reduce the Size of the Legislature Following Redistricting in the Year 2003
Proposed amendment:

S-22
ONTP Senate, March 19, 1997
p. S-268-S-272
Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
1999 LD  615

Resolution, to Amend the Constitution of Maine to Elect 2 Senators from Each County
Proposed amendment:

H-408
ONTP House, May 18, 1999
p. H-1140-H-1145

Senate, May 18, 1999
p. S-1064-S-1066
Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.

News Clips:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.
Yes
2003 LD 310

Resolution, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine to Reduce the Size of the Legislature Beginning in 2005
Proposed amendments:

H-223
H-272
ONTP House, May 6, 2003
p. H-499-H-501

House, May 6, 2003
p. H-506-H-507

Senate, May 12, 2003
p. S-599-S-600
Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.

News Clips:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.
Yes
2003 LD 562

Resolution, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine to Elect 2 Senators from Each County
Proposed amendment:

H-225
ONTP House, May 5, 2003
p. H-478-H-479
Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
2005 LD 440

Resolution, to Amend the Constitution of Maine to Change the Number of Senators to 2 from Each County
Proposed amendment:

H-151
Died between houses House, May 5, 2005
p. H-478

Senate, May 12, 2005
p. S-735
Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.

News Clips:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.
Yes
2005 LD 455

An Act to Create a Paperless Legislature and Encourage More Working-Income Legislators by Allocating Savings Resulting from a Reduction in the Size of the Legislature
N/A ONTP No debate. Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.

News Clips:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.
Yes
2005 LD 461

Resolution, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine to Reduce the Size of the Legislature
Proposed amendments:

H-350
H-363
ONTP House, May 17, 2005
p. H-584

House, May 17, 2005
p. H-605-H-606
Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.

News Clips:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.
Yes
2007 LD 917

Resolution, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine to Reduce the Size of the Legislature to 132 Members
N/A ONTP No debate. Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
2007 LD 1530

Resolution, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine to Reduce the Size of the Legislature to 140 Members
N/A ONTP No debate. Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
2007 LD 1552

Resolution, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine to Provide for the Reduction in the Size of the Legislature
Proposed amendment:

H-266
ONTP House, May 22, 2007
p. H-550-H-552
Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
2007 LD 1718

Resolution, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine to Reduce the Size of the Legislature
Proposed amendment:

H-316
Died between houses House, June 1, 2007
p. H-643-H-649

House, June 4, 2007
p. H-658

House, June 5, 2007
p. H-670
Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.

News Clips:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.
Yes
2009 LD 144

Resolution, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine To Reduce the Size of the Legislature
Proposed amendments:

H-135
H-252
S-322
Died between houses House, May 6, 2009
p. H-435-H-439

House, May 29, 2009
p. H-671-H-681

Senate, June 1, 2009
p. S-886-S-887

House, June 11, 2009
p. H-894-H-896

House, June 11, 2009
p. H-901-H-902
Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.

News Clips:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.
Yes
2009 LD 434

Resolution, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine To Provide for the Reduction in the Size of the Legislature
N/A ONTP No debate. Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
2009 LD 838

Resolution, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine To Elect 2 Senators from Each County and To Increase the Senate Term from 2 to 4 Years
Proposed amendment:

H-77
ONTP House, April 16, 2009
p. H-347-H-348
Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
2011 LD 40

Resolution, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine to Reduce the Size of the House of Representatives
Proposed amendments:

H-198
S-158
S-159
S-169
Died between houses House, May 11, 2011
p. H-421-H-423

House, May 23, 2011
p. H-557-H-560

Senate, May 24, 2011
p. S-837-S-842

Senate, May 26, 2011
p. S-940-S-941
Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.

News Clips:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.
Yes
2011 LD 153

Resolution, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine to Provide for the Reduction of the Size of the Legislature
N/A ONTP No debate. Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.

News Clips:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.
Yes
2011 LD 329

Resolution, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine to Elect State Senators by County
N/A ONTP No debate. Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.

News Clips:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.
Yes
2011 LD 669

Resolution, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine To Change the Number of Members of the Legislature, the Length of Legislative Sessions and the Requirements for Introduction of Bills in a Second Regular Session
N/A ONTP No debate. Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.

News Clips:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.
Yes
2013 LD 134

Resolution, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine To Reduce the Size of the Legislature
Proposed amendment:

H-104
ONTP No debate. Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
2015 LD 641

Resolution, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine To Elect 2 Senators from Each County
Proposed amendment:

S-43
ONTP House, April 23, 2015
p. H-326-H-328
Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
2016 LD 1679

An Act To Increase the Salary of the Governor and the Salary of Legislators upon Reduction in the Size of the Legislature
Proposed amendment:

H-646
ONTP House, March 29, 2016
p. H-1479
Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.

News Clips:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.
Yes
2016 LD 1680

Resolution, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine to Reduce the Number of Representatives and Senators in the Legislature
N/A ONTP No debate. Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
2019 LD 1489

RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine Regarding the Election of Senators
N/A ONTP No debate. Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
2021 LD 1670

Resolve, To Establish the Commission To Study and Recommend Solutions for Modernizing the Maine Legislature
N/A ONTP No debate. Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
2022 LD 1073

Resolve, Establishing the Commission To Research Effective Strategies and Efficiencies of Legislatures
Proposed amendments:

S-199
S-333
Died on adjournment House, June 30, 2021
p. H-930-H-931
Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes