LD 749 Maine House · 132nd Legislature (2025-2026)

An Act To Ensure That The Will Of The Voters Is Reflected In Interim Appointments Of United States Senators

This bill requires Maine's governor to appoint a U.S. Senator interim fill to match the political party affiliation of the outgoing senator at the time of their last election. If the previous senator was affiliated with a party at their last election, the appointee must also be that party member at the time of appointment. It also mandates that if the outgoing senator was unaffiliated, the interim appointee must remain unaffiliated. The bill directly affects the governor's authority to fill U.S. Senate vacancies and ensures interim appointments align with the voter preference reflected in the previous election.
Bill status died 2 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
House Failed
Apr 2025
Governor
Introduced Feb 25, 2025 Last action Jun 25, 2025
Floor votes · House Apr 29, 2025

How they voted

4983
Failed · 3 other
Total votes 135
Apr 29, 2025
D Democratic66
48 Yea 18 Nay
72% Yea
I Independent3
1 Yea 2 Nay
66% Nay
R Republican66
63 Nay 3
95% Nay
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
21
Key actions
3
Committee
5
Apr 29, 2025
Lower · Passed
Subsequently, on motion of Representative SALISBURY of Westbrook, the Majority Ought to Pass Report was ACCEPTED.
lower
Apr 29, 2025
Vote failed
House Vote: fail (49-83-3)
house
Apr 23, 2025
Legislature · Passed
Reported Out - OTP/ONTP
legislature
Feb 25, 2025
Committee
The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT in concurrence
upper
Feb 25, 2025
Committee
The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
lower
Feb 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee on State and Local Government suggested and ordered printed.
lower
1 primary · 9 co-sponsors

Sponsors