Maine House Bill HP1333

Maine 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 6/10/25

Caption

Joint Order, to Require the Legislative Council to Hold a Public Hearing on the Initiated Bill Enacting the Extreme Risk Protection Order Act

Summary

HP1333 is a joint order directing the Maine Legislative Council to convene a special legislative committee and hold a public hearing on L.D. 1378, an initiated bill titled the Extreme Risk Protection Order Act. The order requires that the hearing occur before adjournment sine die of the First Special Session of the 132nd Legislature. In practical terms, the measure does not itself create the extreme risk protection order law; instead, it establishes a procedural requirement to ensure the initiated bill receives a public hearing under the process set out in Maine law. The bill’s main effect is on legislative procedure rather than substantive criminal or firearms law. It invokes Title 21-A, section 907, which governs the handling of initiated bills, and would compel the Legislative Council to schedule and hold a hearing on the underlying proposal. If adopted, it would affect the Legislature’s obligations and timeline for considering the initiated measure, while leaving the policy details of the Extreme Risk Protection Order Act to the separate bill being heard.

Impact

This order would not directly amend Maine’s firearms, public safety, or court statutes. Instead, it would require legislative action under the initiated-bill process in Title 21-A, section 907 by mandating a public hearing on L.D. 1378 before the end of the special session. Its legal impact is procedural: it would shape how the Legislature handles the citizen-initiated extreme risk protection order proposal and ensure the proposal is formally heard.

Sentiment

The available record shows the bill as a procedural vehicle tied to a highly debated public-safety and gun-policy issue, but there are no committee transcripts or recorded votes included here to show direct debate or support levels. Based on the caption and the underlying subject matter, the measure appears connected to a contentious policy area involving firearm restrictions and community safety. However, the provided materials do not document any explicit sentiment from legislators.

Contention

The main point of contention is likely the underlying Extreme Risk Protection Order Act, not the hearing order itself. Supporters of the hearing requirement would generally favor giving the initiated bill a formal public forum, while opponents may view the underlying proposal as an expansion of gun restrictions or a due-process concern. Because no transcripts or votes are provided, the record does not identify specific speakers or factions, but the controversy centers on firearms policy, public safety, and the use of extreme risk protection orders.