# Maine LD 1091: An Act to Reinforce Free Speech at Town Meetings by Requiring Opportunity for Public Comment

Maine LD 1091, An Act to Reinforce Free Speech at Town Meetings by Requiring Opportunity for Public Comment, is a 132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026) House bill sponsored by Benjamin Hymes (Republican); status became law, last action 2025-06-22 (ACTPUB Chapter 409) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD1091-132
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Maine LD 1091
- State: Maine
- Session: 132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026)
- Title: An Act to Reinforce Free Speech at Town Meetings by Requiring Opportunity for Public Comment
- Status: became law
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-03-14
- Last action: 2025-06-22, ACTPUB Chapter 409
- Sponsor: Benjamin Hymes (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 7
- Subjects: MUNICIPALITIES, MUNICIPALITIES - TOWN MEETINGS
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Public comment required at local meetings: mixed, low. Local governing bodies must allow public comment at their regular public meetings. You can speak on items the body is addressing. This does not apply to subcommittee meetings. Towns and cities may set reasonable rules, like time limits and conduct standards.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Benjamin Hymes (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Alicia Collins (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Craig V. Hickman (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: David Boyer (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Gary Drinkwater (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Matt A. Harrington (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Reagan Paul (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Tracy Quint (Republican), House

## Actions (7)

- 2025-06-22: ACTPUB Chapter 409
- 2025-06-09: PASSED TO BE ENACTED, in concurrence. (Senate)
- 2025-06-09: PASSED TO BE ENACTED. Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH. (House)
- 2025-06-05: Report READ and ACCEPTED, in concurrence.READ ONCE.Committee Amendment "A" (H-509) READ and ADOPTED, in concurrence.Under suspension of the Rules, READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED BY Committee Amendment "A" (H-509), in concurrence.Ordered sent down forthwith. (Senate)
- 2025-06-04: CONSENT CALENDAR - FIRST DAYUnder suspension of the rules CONSENT CALENDAR - SECOND DAY.The Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (H-509).Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH. (House)
- 2025-03-21: Carried over, in the same posture, to the next special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature, pursuant to Joint Order SP 519. (House)
- 2025-03-14: Received by the Clerk of the House on March 14, 2025.The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to Joint Rule 401. (House)

## Bill text

- Amendment C-A (H-509), adopted by House & Senate: [PDF](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0713&item=2&snum=132)
- Enacted: [PDF](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0713&item=3&snum=132)
- Introduced: [PDF](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0713&item=1&snum=132)

## Related bills

- LD 1522: An Act to Establish the Maine Eviction Prevention Program (failed)
- LD 2067: An Act to Include Community Mental Health Workers Under the 1998 Special Plan for Retirement (failed)
- LD 1665: An Act to Provide Property Tax Relief to Maine Families (failed)
- LD 1872: An Act to Reinvest in the Pension Funds of the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (failed)
- LD 1611: An Act to Decrease the Retirement Contributions Required for Teachers and State Employees (failed)
- LD 1294: An Act to Expand the Dependent Exemption Tax Credit (failed)

## Sources
- [Amendment C-A (H-509), adopted by House & Senate (PDF)](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0713&item=2&snum=132)
- [Enacted (PDF)](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0713&item=3&snum=132)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0713&item=1&snum=132)

## Related
- [LD 1522: An Act to Establish the Maine Eviction Prevention Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD1522-132)
- [LD 2067: An Act to Include Community Mental Health Workers Under the 1998 Special Plan f…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD2067-132)
- [LD 1665: An Act to Provide Property Tax Relief to Maine Families](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD1665-132)
- [LD 1872: An Act to Reinvest in the Pension Funds of the Maine Public Employees Retiremen…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD1872-132)
- [LD 1611: An Act to Decrease the Retirement Contributions Required for Teachers and State…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD1611-132)
- [LD 1294: An Act to Expand the Dependent Exemption Tax Credit](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD1294-132)
- [Maine bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/maine/bills)
- [Maine state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/maine)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD1091-132 (as of 2026-10-17).