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SP 99

Joint Order, To Amend Joint Rule 214 To Require Approval Of Memorials If Submitted After Cloture

132nd Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Rick Bennett

Maine bill requiring legislative approval for memorials submitted after the bill deadline failed 19-15 vote in January 2025.

Placed in Legislative Files (DEAD)
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Bill Summary · SP 99

Legislative bill overview

This bill proposed amending Maine's Joint Rule 214 to require legislative approval before memorials (formal legislative recognitions) can be submitted after cloture (the deadline for introducing bills). The measure would have created a procedural requirement that memorials submitted past the normal deadline need explicit approval to be considered.

Why is this important

Memorial procedures affect how the legislature recognizes significant events, people, and organizations. Adding approval requirements for late-submitted memorials could impact constituent recognition requests and organizational honors, while also affecting legislative efficiency by potentially creating bottlenecks for time-sensitive recognitions.

Potential points of contention

  • Procedural flexibility vs. efficiency: Requiring approval for late memorials could slow down recognition of time-sensitive community events or recent significant deaths, versus streamlining the process by preventing last-minute submissions
  • Democratic access: The change might disadvantage legislators or constituents who submit memorials close to deadlines, potentially creating inequitable treatment based on timing rather than merit
  • Practical impact: Memorial submissions are generally non-controversial; adding approval requirements could create unnecessary administrative burden for symbolic gestures that typically pass unanimously

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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