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131st MAINE LEGISLATURE
FIRST SPECIAL SESSION-2023
Legislative Document No. 1957H.P. 1259House of Representatives, May 18, 2023
An Act to Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue to Invest in Maine's
Railroad Infrastructure
(AFTER DEADLINE)
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule
205.
Reference to the Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs suggested and ordered
printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative COLLINGS of Portland. Page 1 - 131LR2390(01)1
2 accordance with the Constitution of Maine, Article IX, Section 14 to authorize the issuance
3 of bonds on behalf of the State of Maine to provide funds as described in this Act,
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6 direction of the Governor, to issue bonds in the name and on behalf of the State in an
7 amount not exceeding $50,000,000 for the purposes described in section 5 of this Act. The
8 bonds are a pledge of the full faith and credit of the State. The bonds may not run for a
9 period longer than 10 years from the date of the original issue of the bonds.
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11 shall ensure that an account of each bond is kept showing the number of the bond, the name
12 of the successful bidder to whom sold, the amount received for the bond, the date of sale
13 and the date when payable.
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15 may negotiate the sale of the bonds by direction of the Governor, but no bond may be
16 loaned, pledged or hypothecated on behalf of the State. The proceeds of the sale of the
17 bonds, which must be held by the Treasurer of State and paid by the Treasurer of State
18 upon warrants drawn by the State Controller, are appropriated solely for the purposes set
19 forth in this Act. Any unencumbered balances remaining at the completion of the project
20 in this Act lapse to the Office of the Treasurer of State to be used for the retirement of
21 general obligation bonds.
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23 due or accruing on any bonds issued under this Act and all sums coming due for payment
24 of bonds at maturity.
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26 proceeds of the sale of the bonds authorized under this Act must be expended as designated
27 in the following schedule under the direction and supervision of the agencies and entities
28 set forth in this section.
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30 Provides funds for investments in railroad infrastructure to expand passenger rail
31 service, prioritizing railroad track corridors that could support passenger and freight
32 intermodal operations and enhance the movement of agricultural products.
Total
$50,000,000
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34 become effective unless the people of the State ratify the issuance of the bonds as set forth
35 in this Act.
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38 unencumbered appropriation balances representing state money carry forward. Bond
39 proceeds that have not been expended within 10 years after the date of the sale of the bonds
40 lapse to the Office of the Treasurer of State to be used for the retirement of general
41 obligation bonds.
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2 within 5 years of ratification of this Act are deauthorized and may not be issued, except
3 that the Legislature may, within 2 years after the expiration of that 5-year period, extend
4 the period for issuing any remaining unissued bonds for an additional amount of time not
5 to exceed 5 years.
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8 a statewide election held in the month of November following passage of this Act. The
9 municipal officers of this State shall notify the inhabitants of their respective cities, towns
10 and plantations to meet, in the manner prescribed by law for holding a statewide election,
11 to vote on the acceptance or rejection of this Act by voting on the following question:
12 "Do you favor a $50,000,000 bond issue for investments in railroad
13 infrastructure to expand passenger rail service, prioritizing railroad track
14 corridors that could support passenger and freight intermodal operations
15 and enhance the movement of agricultural products?"
16 The legal voters of each city, town and plantation shall vote by ballot on this question
17 and designate their choice by a cross or check mark placed within a corresponding square
18 below the word "Yes" or "No." The ballots must be received, sorted, counted and declared
19 in open ward, town and plantation meetings and returns made to the Secretary of State in
20 the same manner as votes for members of the Legislature. The Governor shall review the
21 returns. If a majority of the legal votes are cast in favor of this Act, the Governor shall
22 proclaim the result without delay and this Act becomes effective 30 days after the date of
23 the proclamation.
24 The Secretary of State shall prepare and furnish to each city, town and plantation all
25 ballots, returns and copies of this Act necessary to carry out the purposes of this
26 referendum.
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28 The funds provided by this bond issue, in the amount of $50,000,000, will be used for
29 investments in railroad infrastructure to expand passenger rail service, prioritizing railroad
30 track corridors that could support passenger and freight intermodal operations and enhance
31 the movement of agricultural products.
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