Bill > LD1577

This bill establishes the Commission to Study and Recommend Solutions for Modernizing the Maine Legislature, which will consist of 15 members including current and former legislators, nonpartisan legislative staff, a gubernatorial appointee, and a Supreme Judicial Court appointee. The commission is tasked with comprehensively examining ways to improve the state legislature, with a broad range of potential recommendations including technological efficiency, legislative process improvements, transparency, staffing levels, physical accessibility, potential structural changes like reducing legislative size or exploring a professional versus citizen legislature, and even considering alternative models such as a unicameral system or expanding term limits. The commission is required to meet at least 10 times, allow for remote participation, consult with the National Conference of State Legislatures for best practices, and submit a detailed report with findings and suggested legislation to the Joint Standing Committee on State and Local Government by November 4, 2026. This report could then inform potential legislative changes to be considered by the 133rd Legislature in 2027, making it a forward-looking initiative to potentially modernize Maine's legislative system.

Government Affairs

https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=1577&snum=132