Democrat lawmakers are now looking to amend Maine’s constitution to cap property tax increases for senior homeowners.
Sponsored by Sen. Joe Baldacci (D-Penobscot), LD 1304 would amend the state constitution to give the Legislature authority to cap property tax increases for homeowners over the age of 65 to two percent annually.
Under the proposed language, the state government would be required to reimburse municipalities for at least 90 percent of the lost revenue using funds from a two percent tax on lottery tickets and sports betting.
Cosponsoring this resolution are Rep. Dani L. O’Halloran (D-Brewer), Sen. Tim Nangle (D-Cumberland), Rep. Amy J. Roeder (D-Bangor), and Rep. Laura D. Supica (D-Bangor).
Click Here for More Information on LD 1304
Amending Maine’s Constitution, however, is not an easy task. In order to advance an amendment, at least two-thirds of the members in both the House and Senate must vote in support of the proposal.
Most kinds of legislation can be passed with just a simple majority, and today, proposals are often advanced with only partisan, or nearly partisan, support.
Given this, the bar for constitutional amendments is set exceptionally high, especially in today’s political climate.
Should an amendment ultimately gain enough support in the Legislature, it is then sent to voters for final ratification.
Despite the tough standards for amending Maine’s Constitution, there is precedence for making such changes.
As of November 2023, 117 amendments to Maine’s Constitution had been approved, with the first being ratified in 1834.
Most recently, voters ratified two amendments in the November 2023 election. Both amendments, however, were largely administrative in nature, making them substantially less divisive than many policy-heavy proposals.
For example, during the previous legislative session, Democratic lawmakers unsuccessfully attempted to advance an amendment that would have enshrined a right to abortion in the state’s constitution.
Republican lawmakers have also spearheaded efforts to amend Maine’s constitution this year.
Most notably, GOP lawmakers have proposed a now-bipartisan effort to allow Maine’s constitutional officers to be elected by voters instead of being chosen by legislators.
Among the offices that would become popularly elected under these amendments would be the Secretary of State and Attorney General.
Although the effort to make these changes originally began as a Republican-led effort, several Democrats have since signed onto an updated version of the resolution, including Sen. Craig Hickman (D-Kennebec), Rep. Laura D. Supica (D-Bangor), and Rep. Sophia B. Warren (D-Scarborough).
Click Here for More Information on LD 508
Besides amending the state constitution, many other bills have been introduced this session that aim to reduce the property tax burden for older homeowners by shifting costs to other taxpayers.
For example, GOP lawmakers are currently looking to revive the now-defunct property tax stabilization program for seniors that was previously repealed after just one year.
Originally introduced in 2022, this program allows eligible seniors to stop their property tax bills from increasing year over year, locking in the cost as of the preceding tax year.
Should this law be approved, seniors would be able to apply for the program starting with the 2026 property tax year, meaning that their taxes would be frozen at 2025 levels.
Democrats in Augusta have also sought this year to bring back a version of the defunct property tax stabilization program for Maine’s senior citizens, albeit with significant changes.
Unlike the Republicans’ legislation, this bill would allow municipalities to impose a one percent sales tax on prepared food and living quarter rentals to offset the cost of stabilization.
To adopt this tax, local residents would first need to approve of it at the ballot box.
Independent of this, local legislative bodies would be able to decide whether or not to adopt a property tax stabilization program in line with the parameters laid out in the proposed law.
Municipalities would not be required to adopt either of these programs.
A public hearing has not yet been scheduled for the proposed Democrat-led constitutional amendment that would cap property tax increases at 2 percent annually, although the Taxation Committee can be expected to schedule one in the near future.
What kind of Democrat trick is this?
Democratic lawmakers unsuccessfully attempted to advance an amendment that would have enshrined a right to abortion in the state’s constitution.
Look folks, the gubmint ought not be in the personal business of its citizens PERIOD!
Democrats MUST BE DEFEATED in 2026 .
Its THEM or its US .
We can no longer live together .
Its extremely important for elders to stay in mill’s maine. Without them the illegal’s might have to prey on layabouts or god forbid politicians.
Just another shell game.
Cap property taxes then raise state taxes so they can reimburse the towns and cities.
All property taxes are extortion. Period. This may be THE ONE thing democrats are doing right….
Before we praise too much…. The dems took out the stabilization law from a couple years ago that froze us old folk’s property tax rate, and mine when up by $3000 here in yarmouth last year alone…. To $16,000.. i have a reasonably nice house, but not a mansion!.. they are driving me out of the state,,, I still might have to leave even with freaking 2%….
The best cap of all would not to spend as muck and cut the budget.
They will just take it away again, like last time.