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Maine Clean Election Act
Updated through the 130th Legislature

Introduction

The Maine Clean Election Act was enacted by the approval of a citizen initiative in 1996 (IB 1995, c. 1). The Act established a voluntary program of public financing of political campaigns for governor, state senator, and state representative. It is codified as 21-A MRS §§1121-1128. This legislative history covers session laws enacting and amending these statutes as well as other legislation related to the Act.




Browse by Session Law:  

Year LD Amendments Session Law Legislative Record
Debate & Remarks		 Other Documents & News Clips Full LD
History
1996 LD 1823

An Act to Reform Campaign Finance

 N/A IB 1995, c. 1

Died between houses

Approved at referendum:

Nov. 5, 1996

Yes: 320,755
No:  250,185		 House, March 30, 1996
p. H-2001-H-2004

Senate, March 30, 1996
p. S-2069

House, April 1, 1996
p. H-2020-H-2021

House, September 5, 1996
p. H-2149-H-2150		 Court Opinion:  Opinion of the Justices, 674 A.2d 501 (Me. 1996)

Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.

News Clips:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.		 Yes
1999 LD 50

An Act to Make Appropriations and Allocations for the Expenditures of State Government		 Enacted with amendment:

H-18 		PL 1999, c. 4, Pt. H-1 House, February 2, 1999
p. H-152

Senate, February 18, 1999
p. S-223		 Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
2000 LD 2663

An Act Relating to Reporting Requirements for Political Action Committees on the Flexibility of the Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices to Assess Fines		 Enacted with amendment:

S-666		 PL 1999, c. 729 No debate. Court Opinion:  Volle v. Webster, 69 F. Supp. 2d 171 (D. Me. 1999)

Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.		 Yes
2001 LD 1711

An Act to Amend Maine's Campaign Finance Laws		 Enacted with amendment:

S-308		 PL 2001, c. 465 House, June 6, 2001
p. H-1270-H-1271		 Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
2001 LD 1809

An Act Concerning the Penalties for Late Filing of Accelerated Campaign Reporting Under the Maine Clean Election Act		 Enacted with amendments:

H-718
S-363
S-370		 PL 2001, c. 470 Senate, June 18, 2001
p. S-1201

Senate, June 19, 2001
p. S-1213

Senate, June 19, 2001
p. S-1225		 Report:  State of Maine, One Hundred and Twenty-Fifth Legislature, Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs. Report on Options for Legislation to Establish a Presidential Primary in the State (Nov. 1, 2012)

Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.		 Yes
2002 LD 2080

An Act to Make Supplemental Appropriations...for the Fiscal Years Ending June 30, 2002 and June 30, 2003		 Enacted with amendments:

H-968
H-986		 PL 2001, c. 559, Pt. OO-1 House, March 22, 2002
p. H-1897-H-1921

House, March 25, 2002
p. H-1947-H-1949

Senate, March 25. 2002
p. S-1757-S-1758

Senate, March 25, 2002
p. S-1760-S-1766

Senate, March 25, 2002
p. S-1771-S-1772
 Report:  University of Maine System, Office of Finance and Treasurer. State Funded Research Annual Report: Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2002 (FY2002) (Dec. 31, 2002)

Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.		 Yes
2002 LD 2169

An Act to Ensure Proper Disbursement of Matching Funds Under the Maine Clean Election Act		 Enacted with amendment:

H-971		 PL 2001, c. 589 No debate. Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
2002 LD 2183

Resolve, Regarding Legislative Review of Chapter 3: Maine Clean Elections Act and Related Provision Amendments, Major Substantive Rules of the Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices		 N/A Res. 2001, c. 109 No debate. Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
2002 LD 2220

An Act to Make Supplemental Appropriations....for the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2003		 Enacted with amendments:

H-1126
S-630
S-632
S-634		 PL 2001, c. 714, Pts. PP, RR House, November 13, 2002
p. H-2303-H-2312

House, November 13, 2002
p. H-2316-H-2317

Senate, November 13, 2002
p. S-2197-S-2203

Senate, November 13, 2002
p. S-2210		 Report:  University of Maine System, Office of Finance and Treasurer. State Funded Research Annual Report: Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2002 (FY2002) (Dec. 31, 2002)

Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.		 Yes
2003 LD 454

An Act to Clarify Campaign Finance Penalty Provisions		 N/A PL 2003, c. 81 No debate. Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
2003 LD 659

An Act To Standardize Reporting Requirements for PACs, Parties and Independent Electioneering Expenditures		 Enacted with amendments:

H-301
H-329		 PL 2003, c. 302 No debate. Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
2003 LD 980

An Act to Amend the Laws Governing the Qualifications of Candidates		 Enacted with amendment:

S-108		 PL 2003, c. 270 No debate. Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
2003 LD 1196

An Act to Clarify the Definition of Independent Expenditures under the Election Laws
 Enacted with amendment:

S-205		 PL 2001, c. 448 Senate, May 20, 2003
p. S-705-S-706

House, May 21, 2003
p. H-708		 Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
2003 LD 1310

An Act to Improve the Clean Election Option for Gubernatorial Candidates		 Enacted with amendment:

H-450		 PL 2003, c. 453 No debate. Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
2004 LD 1868

Resolve, Regarding Legislative Review of Portions of Chapter 1: Procedures and Portions of Chapter 3: Maine Clean Election Act and Related Provisions, Major Substantive Rules of the Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices		 Enacted with amendments:

H-835
S-503
S-504
 Res. 2003, c. 136 House, April 7, 2004
p. H-1535

Senate, April 8, 2004
p. S-1572

House, April 13, 2004
p. H-1619
 Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
2004 LD 1916

An Act to Correct Errors and Inconsistencies in the Laws of Maine		 Enacted with amendments:

H-907     H-952
H-923     H-953
H-946     S-552
H-947     S-555 
H-950     S-559
PL 2003, c. 688, Pt. A-21, A-22 House, April 16, 2004
p. H-1743-H-1744

 Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
2004 LD 1919

An Act to Make Supplemental Appropriations...for the Fiscal Years Ending June 30, 2004 and June 30, 2005		 Enacted with amendments:

H-904     H-964
H-932     H-965
H-935     S-518
H-937     S-543 
H-958   		PL 2003, c. 673, Pt. EE-1 House, April 14, 2004
p. H-1648

House, April 15, 2004
p. H-1685-H-1686

House, April 15, 2004
p. H-1688-H-1706

Senate, April 16, 2004
p. S-1657-S-1671

Senate, April 16, 2004
p. S-1680-S-1683

House, April 28, 2004
p. H-1770-H-1775

House, April 28, 2004
p. H-1777-H-1780

Senate, April 28, 2004
p. S-1710-S-1712		 Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.

News Clips:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.		 Yes
2005 LD 1500

An Act to Improve Campaign Financing and Reporting and the Administration of the Maine Clean Election Act		 Enacted with amendment:

S-264 		PL 2005, c. 301 No debate. Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
2006 LD 1596

An Act Limiting Clean Election Candidates Campaign Soliciting		 Enacted with amendment:

S-521		 PL 2005, c. 542 No debate. Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
2005 LD 1672

Resolve, Regarding Legislative Review of Portions of Chapter 1: Procedures; Portions of
Chapter 3: Maine Clean Election Act and Related Practices; and Campaign Reporting Forms for Candidates, Major Substantive Rules of the Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices		 Enacted with amendment:

H-566		 Res. 2005, c. 111 No debate. Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
2007 LD 499

An Act Making Unified Appropriations…for the Fiscal Years Ending June 30, 2008 and June 30, 2009.		 Enacted with amendments:

H-412
H-445		 PL 2007, c. 240, §F-1 House, June 5, 2007
p. H-671-H-681

House, June 6, 2007
p. H-705-H-711

Senate, June 6, 2007
p. S-911-S-919

House, June 21, 2007
p. H-945

Senate, June 21, 2007
p. S-1247

House, April 9, 2008
p. H-1522

House, April 17, 2008
p. H-1689		 Report:  State of Maine, Joint Standing Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs. Report on "The Initiative" to Streamline State Government (Jan. 8, 2008)

Report:  University of Maine System. State Funded Research Annual Report (Dec. 2008)

Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.

News Clips:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.		 Yes
2007 LD 1341

An Act to Clarify Restrictions on Accepting Campaign Contributions Laws		 Enacted with amendment:

H-337		 PL 2007, c. 279 No debate. Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
2007 LD 1854

An Act Regarding Campaign Finance Reporting and the Maine Clean Election Act		 Enacted with amendment:

S-279		 PL 2007, c. 443, Pt. B No debate. Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.

News Clips:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.		 Yes
2008 LD 1877

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		 N/A Res. 2007, c. 72 No debate. Committee File:  Yes Yes
2008 LD 2015

An Act to Ensure Integrity in Financing Publicly Funded Campaigns		 Enacted with amendment:

H-793		 PL 2007, c. 567 No debate. Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.

News Clips:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.		 Yes
2008 LD 2070

An Act to Improve the Campaign Finance Laws and Their Administration		 Enacted with amendment:

H-824		 PL 2007, c. 571 No debate. Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
2008 LD 2219

An Act to Promote Transparency and Accountability in Campaigns and Governmental Ethics
 Enacted with amendments:

H-939
S-601		 PL 2007, c. 642 House, April 9, 2008
p. H-1503

House, April 9, 2008
p. H-1529

Senate, April 14, 2008
p. S-1984

House, April 16, 2008
p. H-1621-H-1622

House, April 16, 2008
p. H-1652
 Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.

News Clips:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.		 Yes
2008 LD 2258

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		 N/A Res. 2007, c. 202 No debate. Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
2009 LD 779

An Act To Require Closed-captioning for Certain Political Advertisements		 Enacted with amendment:

H-97		 PL 2009, c. 105 No debate. Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
2009 LD 923

Resolve, To Require Funding to Maine Clean Elections Act Candidates		 Enacted with amendments:

H-533
S-287 		Res. 2009, c. 128 Senate, June 2, 2009
p. S-919

House, June 4, 2009
p. H-788-789

 Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
2009 LD 1016

An Act To Amend the Laws Governing Campaign Finance Reports and the Maine Clean Election Act		 Enacted with amendment:

S-136		 PL 2009, c. 190, Pt. B No debate. Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
2009 LD 1197

An Act To Improve the Maine Clean Election Act		 Enacted with amendments:

S-214
S-246
S-291		 PL 2009, c. 286, §§4-9 Senate, May 28, 2009
p. S-810

Senate, June 3, 2009
p. S-959-960		 Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
2009 LD 1380

An Act To Amend the Maine Clean Election Laws Governing Gubernatorial Candidates		 Enacted with amendments:

H-429
H-529		 PL 2009, c. 363 House, June 8, 2009
p. H-835		 Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
2009 LD 1451

An Act To Amend the Maine Clean Election Act and the Enforcement Procedures of the Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices		 Enacted with amendment:

S-242		 PL 2009, c. 302, §§11-23 No debate. Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
2009 LD 1461

Resolve, Regarding Legislative Review of Portions of Chapter 3: Maine Clean Election Act and Related Provisions - Matching Funds and Property and Equipment, a Major Substantive Rule of the Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices		 Enacted with amendment:

H-392		 Res. 2009, c. 90 No debate. Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
2009 LD 1462

Resolve, Regarding Legislative Review of Portions of Chapter 3: Maine Clean Election Act and Related Provisions - Increase of Seed Money to $150,000, a Major Substantive Rule of the Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices		 Enacted with amendment:

H-445		 Res. 2009, c. 103 No debate. Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
2010 LD 1546

An Act To Improve Disclosure of Campaign Finance Information and the Operation of the Maine Clean Election Act		 Enacted with amendment:

S-395		 PL 2009, c. 524 No debate. Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
2010 LD 1805

An Act To Correct Errors and Inconsistencies in the Laws of Maine		 Enacted with amendments:

H-832
S-535
S-545		 PL 2009, c. 652 Senate, April 12, 2010
p. S-1835		 Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
2011 LD 231

An Act To Ensure the Integrity of Laws Governing Clean Elections by Amending Provisions Regarding Equipment Repurchase		 Enacted with amendment:

H-39 		Res. 2011, c. 19 No debate. Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
2011 LD 726

Resolve, To Reduce Funding To Maine Clean Election Act Candidates		 Enacted with amendment:

S-253		 Res. 2011, c. 89 No debate. Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
2011 LD 848

Resolve, Directing the Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices To Study Modifying the Maine Clean Election Act		 Enacted with amendments:

S-54
S-332
 Res. 2011, c. 103 House, March 14, 2012
p. H-1259		 Court Opinion:  McComish v. Brewer, No. CV-08-1550-PHX-ROS (D. Ariz. Jan. 20, 2010)

Report:  Report on Maine Clean Election Act: Proposals to Improve Maine's Public Campaign Financing (Sept. 2011)

Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.

News Clips:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.		 Yes
2011 LD 1541

An Act To Amend Campaign Finance Laws		 Enacted with amendment:

S-263		 PL 2011, c. 389 No debate. Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
2012 LD 1618

An Act To Amend the Laws Governing the Maine Clean Election Act		 Enacted with amendment:

S-405		 PL 2011, c. 522 No debate. Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
2012 LD 1774

An Act Regarding the Matching Funds Provisions of the Maine Clean Election Act		 Enacted with amendment:

H-780		 PL 2011, c. 558 Senate, March 8, 2012
p. S-1796-S-1811

House, March 14, 2012
p. H-1258-H-1266

Senate, March 15, 2012
p. S-1870-S-1872

House, March 19, 2012
p. H-1281-H-1283		 Court Opinion:  Arizona Free Enterprise Club’s Freedom Club PAC v. Bennett, 131 S. Ct. 2806 (2011)

 News Clips:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.		 Yes
2012 LD 1906

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		 N/A Res. 2011, c. 158 No debate. Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
2013 LD 1299

An Act To Amend Campaign Finance Laws		 Enacted unsigned with amendment:

S-191		 PL 2013, c. 334 No debate. Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
2015 LD 174

An Act To Restrict the Raising of Money by Maine Clean Election Act Candidates		 Enacted with amendment:

H-147		 PL 2015, c. 116 No debate. Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
2015 LD 806

An Act To Strengthen the Maine Clean Election Act, Improve Disclosure and Make Other Changes to the Campaign Finance Laws		 N/A IB 2015, c. 1

Approved at referendum:

Nov. 3, 2015

Yes: 119,992
No:  98,343 		No debate. N/A Yes
2017 LD 408

An Act To Prohibit Taxpayer-funded Campaign Expenditures from Being Used on Post-election Parties		 Enacted with amendment:

S-20		 PL 2017, c. 31 No debate. Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.

News Clips:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.		 Yes
2017 LD 459

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		 Enacted with amendment:

H-183
 Res. 2017, c. 13 House, June 6, 2017
p. H-754-H-755

Senate, June 7, 2017
p. S-927-S-928		 Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.

 Yes
2017 LD 1802

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		 N/A Res. 2017, c. 37 No debate. Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
2019 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		 N/A Res. 2019, c. 6 No debate. Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
2019 LD 1721

An Act To Amend the Campaign Reports and Finances Laws and the Maine Clean Election Act		 Enacted with amendment:

S-195		 PL 2019, c. 323 No debate. Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
2019 LD 1902

An Act To Define the Term "Caucus Political Action Committee"		 Enacted with amendment:

S-391		 PL 2019, c. 635 Senate, February 25, 2020
p. S-1467-S-1468

House, March 3, 2020
p. H-1285-H-1286

House, March 10, 2020
p. H-1303-H-1305
 Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.

News Clips:  Please contact a Reference Librarian.		 Yes
2021 LD 1377

An Act Regarding Campaign Finance Disclosure and the Filing of Statements of Sources of Income		 Enacted with amendment:

H-157		 PL 2021, c. 132, §§10-15 No debate. Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes
2021 LD 1485

An Act to Modify the Requirements for Political Action Committees and Ballot Question Committees		 Enacted with amendment:

H-306		 PL 2021, c. 217, §12 No debate. Committee File:  Please contact a Reference Librarian. Yes