This page contains only matters that came before the 129th Legislature. To see other archived sessions, return to the Testimony Archive Index. For testimony regarding matters before the current legislature, go to the main testimony page.
The first regular session of the 129th Legislature convened on Wednesday, December 5, 2018, at 10:00 a.m. The First Regular Session of the 129th Maine Legislature adjourned sine die on Thursday, June 20, 2019 at 6:25 a.m.
Regular Bills and Resolves passed during the first regular session become effective 90 days after adjournment, September 18, 2019.
The second regular session of the 129th Legislature convened on Wednesday, January 8, 2020. Statutory adjournment for the second session -- the "short session" -- will be Wednesday, April 15, 2020.
Regular Bills and Resolves passed during the second regular session become effective 90 days after adjournment.
Priority Legislation for 2019
The League of Women Voters of Maine was focused on passing an ambitious legislative package.
- LD 1477 RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine To Facilitate the Use of Ranked-choice Voting for Governor and Members of the Legislature. This bill would have expanded the implementation of ranked choice voting to the general elections for governor and the legislature. Defeated. Learn more about Ranked Choice Voting.
- LD 1626, An Act To Implement a Presidential Primary System in Maine. This bill restored the use of primary elections in the presidential nomination process, replacing the current system of municipal caucuses. Enacted into law. Learn more about our support for primary elections.
- LD 816 An Act To Implement the National Popular Vote for President of the United States. This bill would have guaranteed the Presidency to the candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states (and the District of Columbia). The bill would have taken effect when when enacted by states possessing a majority of the electoral votes (270 out of 538). Defeated. Learn more about NPV.
- LD 1463 An Act To Create an Automatic Voter Registration System: Unless voters opt out, this bill will automatically register people to vote when they receive or renew their drivers' licenses at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles and/or when they apply for or renew their eligibility for MaineCare. Enacted into law. Learn more about AVR.
- LD 619 RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine Regarding Early Voting. This bill would have given municipalities the option to implement true early voting for up to 30 days before an election, reducing wait times for voters and burdens on town clerks. Defeated. Learn more about Early Voting.
- LD 1026 An Act To Require Election Transparency. This bill advances both process audits and ballot audits in Maine elections, reducing the risk of an incorrect outcome, improving voter confidence in election protocols, and providing data to support iterative improvement in election administration. Enacted into law.
Election and Voting Rights
LD 53 An Act to Clarify Local Referendum Ballots. LWVME Supports. Enacted into law.
LD 114 An Act To Establish Open Primaries for Certain Federal and State Offices. LWVME Neither For Nor Against. Dead.
LD 186 RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine To Specify the Qualifications of Electors. LWVME Neither For Nor Against. Dead.
LD 211 An Act To Open Maine's Primaries and Permit Unenrolled Voters to Cast Ballots in Primary Elections. LWVME Supports. Dead.
LD 245 An Act To Reestablish a Presidential Primary System in Maine. LWVME Supports. Dead.
LD 272 An Act To Allow Voting by Mail. LWVME Neither For Nor Against. Dead.
LD 293 An Act Regarding Early Voting in Person, and
LD 619 RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine Regarding Early Voting. LWVME Supports. LD293: Dead; LD619: Carried over to special session.
LD 322 An Act To Strengthen Maine's Election Laws by Requiring Photographic Identification for the Purpose of Voting. LWVME Opposes. Dead.
LD 418 An Act To Implement the National Popular Vote for President, and
LD 816 An Act To Implement the National Popular Vote for President of the United States. LWVME Supports. LD 418 Dead. LD 816 Dead.
LD 431 An Act To Make Election Day a State Holiday. LWVME Neither For Nor Against. Carried over to special session.
LD 534 An Act To Make Ballot Questions Easier to Read and Understand for Maine Voters. LWVME Supports. Enacted into law.
LD 667 RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine To Require That the Governor Be Elected by a Majority Vote. LWVME Neither For Nor Against. Dead.
LD 753 An Act To Allow Voters To Choose Ongoing Absentee Voter Status. LWVME Neither For Nor Against. Dead.
LD 845 An Act To Secure the Integrity of Elections When the Secretary of State is a Candidate. Dead.
LD 1026 An Act To Require Election Transparency. LWVME Supports. Enacted into law.
LD 1083 An Act To Implement Ranked-Choice Voting for Presidential Primary and General Elections in Maine. LWVME Supports (with amendments). Carried over to special session.
LD 1196 RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine to Implement Ranked-choice Voting,
LD 1365 RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine To Provide for the Election of the Governor by Majority Vote, and
LD 1477 RESOLUTION, Proposing and Amendment to the Constitution of Maine to Facilitate the Use of Ranked-choice Voting for Governor and Members of the Legislature. LWVME Supports. LD 1196: Dead; LD 1365: Dead; LD 1477: Carried over to special session.
LD 1213 An Act To Repeal the Ranked-choice Voting Law,
LD 1447 An Act To Simplify Voting in Maine by Placing a Moratorium on Ranked-choice Voting, and
LD 1454 An Act Concerning Elections in Maine Congressional Districts. LWVME Opposes. LD 1213: Dead; LD 1447: Dead; LD 1454: Dead.
LD 1332 Resolution, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine To Require State and Congressional Elections To Be Decided by a Plurality of Votes Cast. LWVME Opposes. Dead.
LD 1438 An Act To Clarify the Intent of Referendum Questions for Voters. Dead.
LD 1463 An Act To Create an Automatic Voter Registration System. LWVME Supports (AC), (GC) Enacted into law.
LD 1570 An Act To Allow Residents To Register Online To Vote. LWVME Supports. Dead.
LD 1626 An Act To Implement a Presidential Primary System in Maine. LWVME Supports. Enacted into law.
LD 1631 RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine Concerning Early Voting, Voting by Absentee Ballot and Voting by Mail. LWVME Supports. Dead.
LD 1663 An Act To Clarify Ranked-choice Voting Laws. LWVME Neither For Nor Against. Enacted into law.
LD 1665 An Act To Automatically Change a Voter Registration Address upon Change of Address for a Driver's License. Dead.
LD 1722 Resolve, Directing the Secretary of State To Develop a Plan for Implementation of Automatic Registration of Nonregistered Persons Qualified To Vote through Records of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. LWVME Neither For Nor Against. Dead.
LD 1730 An Act To Amend the Laws Governing Elections. LWVME Neither For Nor Against. Enacted into law.
LD 1903 An Act to Amend the Laws Governing Activity At or Near the Polls on Election Day. LWVME Supports.
LD 1904 An Act To Amend the Laws Governing Elections. LWVME Supports.
LD 1988 Act To Prohibit the Distribution of Deceptive Images or Audio or Video Recordings with the Intent To Influence the Outcome of an Election. LWVME Neither For Nor Against.
LD 2067 An Act To Authorize the Automatic Continuation of Absentee Voter Status until the Termination of That Status. LWVME Supports.
Campaign Finance Reform
Full funding for Clean Elections and Ethics Commission: Ensure that budgetary appropriations are sufficient for full implementation of the Maine Clean Elections Act. Secured.
LD 54 An Act To Limit the Influence of Lobbyists by Expanding the Prohibition on Accepting Political Contributions. LWVME Supports. Passed to be enacted 6/10/19.
You can read testimony on the following additional money-in-politics bills from our partners in Maine Citizens for Clean Elections here.
LD 11 An Act Regarding the Acceptance of Maine Clean Election Act Campaign Contributions on State Websites. MCCE Opposes. Dead.
LD 23 Resolve, Regarding Legislative Review of Portions of Chapter 3: Maine Clean Election Act and Related Provisions, a Major Substantive Rule of the Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices. MCCE Supports. Enacted into law.
LD 202 An Act To Increase the Required Number of Qualifying Contributions Gubernatorial Candidates Must Obtain To Qualify as Maine Clean Election Act Candidates. MCCE Opposes. Dead.
LD 218 An Act To Prohibit a Person from Collecting Contributions under the Maine Clean Elections Act at a Polling Place. MCCE Neither For nor Against. Dead.
LD 256 An Act To Ensure Responsible Operation of Political Action Committees. MCCE Supports. Enacted into law.
LD 361 An Act To Amend the Laws Governing Political Action Committees. MCCE Supports. Divided report Ought Not To Pass/Ought To Pass 2/27/19 (Veterans and Legal Affairs); Dead.
LD 411 Resolve, Directing the Commission on Government Ethics and Election Practices to Allow Maine Clean Election Act Funds To Be Used for Election Recounts. MCCE Supports. Dead.
LD 722 An Act To Require Presidential and Vice-Presidential Candidates To Disclose Their Federal Income Tax Returns. MCCE Supports. Dead.
LD 780 An Act To Change Municipal Campaign Contribution Limits. MCCE Supports. Enacted into law.
LD 874 An Act To Conform the Clean Election Financing Laws to the Judicially Determined Procedures. Dead.
LD 878 An Act To An Act To Make Clean Election Filing Deadlines Consistent for All Candidates. MCCE Supports. Dead.
LD 929 An Act Regarding the Use of Maine Clean Election Act Funds for salaries. MCCE Opposes. Dead.
LD 1187 An Act To To Apply the Same Auditing Standards to All Candidates and Political Action Committees. MCCE Supports. Carried over to special session.
LD 1583 An Act To Enact the Maine Citizens' Initiatives Clean Election Act. MCCE Supports. Dead.
LD 1686 An Act To Allow Maine Clean Election Act Funds To Be Used for Election Recounts. Dead.
LD 1721 An Act To Amend the Campaign Reports and Finances Laws and the Maine Clean Election Act. MCCE Action Supports. Enacted into law.
LD 1867 An Act To Clarify Lobbyist Reporting Requirements and Simplify Registration Requirements for State Employees Who Lobby on Behalf of a State Department or Agency. MCCE Action Supports.
LD 1868 An Act To Improve the Reporting of Grassroots Lobbying. MCCE Action Supports.
LD 1869 An Act To Clarify the Financial Reporting Responsibilities of Political Action Committees and Ballot Question Committees. MCCE Action Supports.
LD 1871 An Act To Modify the Financial Disclosure Requirements for a Governor-elect. MCCE Action Supports.
LD 1902 An Act To Define the Term "Caucus Political Action Committee". MCCE Action Supports.
LD 1903 An Act to Amend the Laws Governing Activity At or Near the Polls on Election Day. MCCE Action Supports.
LD 1968 An Act To Restrict Maine Clean Election Act Candidates from Seeking or Accepting Employment with Vendors. MCCE Action Supports.
LD 2136 An Act To Prohibit Contributions, Expenditures and Participation by Foreign Nationals To Influence Referenda. MCCE Action Supports.
Election and Voting Rights
LD 76 An Act to Strengthen the Integrity of the Legislature by Extending the Waiting Period before Legislators May Engage in Any Amount of Compensated Lobbying. LWVME Neither For Nor Against. Passed as amended, enacted into law.
Other
LD 257 An Act to Ensure That the Legislature Has the Information Necessary To Do the Work of the People of Maine. LWVME Supports. Enacted into law.
LD 433 RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine to Explicitly Prohibit Discrimination Based on the Sex of an Individual. LWVME Supports. Carried over to special session.
LD 2094 An Act To Implement the Recommendations of the Task Force on Changes to the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Implementing Act. LWMVE Supports.
HP 264 JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING APPLICATION TO THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES CALLING A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION UNDER ARTICLE V OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION TO REQUIRE A BALANCED FEDERAL BUDGET. LWVME Opposes. Dead.
SP 105 JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING APPLICATION TO THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES TO CALL A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION UNDER ARTICLE V OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION TO RESTORE FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS. LWVME Opposes. Dead.