Maine Senate adjourns until April 6 after lack of quorum

The Maine Senate adjourned after a senator moved to end the session, saying a quorum was not present; the chamber was recessed until Monday, April 6 at 10:00 a.m., or until called by leadership.

Sen. Perez moved "Without a quorum present, I move the senate stand adjourned until Monday, April 6 at 10:00 in the morning, or to the call of the president of the senate and the speaker of the house," according to the transcript. The presiding officer then declared, "We are adjourned." The motion and declaration closed the brief session; no roll-call votes or seconding statements appear in the record.

The session opened with a prayer offered by Sen. Sue Bernard of Aroostook County and a short ceremonial guest appearance: a group of students and guests were invited to lead the Pledge of Allegiance before routine business was halted. The chair thanked Sen. Bernard following the prayer.

The transcript contains an inconsistent rendering of the Cumberland senator's name (appearing as both "Perez" and "Perris" in different segments); this article uses the form shown when the senator spoke and when the chair recognized the senator, and notes the inconsistency in the official record. The transcript also includes a standalone reference to the number "26" near discussion of attendance; the record does not make clear whether that number is the count of senators present, the number required for quorum, or a different figure.

No substantive legislative debate, bill consideration, or committee action took place before adjournment. The Senate is scheduled to reconvene Monday, April 6 at 10:00 a.m., or sooner if the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House call the body back into session.

(Transcript segments supporting this account begin with the chair's recognition of the senator from Cumberland and end with the presiding officer's declaration that the Senate was adjourned.)