Bonds

On Monday, July 17, the Appropriations Committee held hearings on the 13 bond bills outlined below.

On July 19, the committee, recommended the three highlighted bills to the full legislature and carried the remaining bills forward consideration next year.

On July 20, the legislature enacted the $105M transportation bond bill LD 1552 and tabled until August 2 the $55M R&D bond bill LD 1613 and the student loan bond bill LD 1163.

News reports:

• Maine lawmakers back roads bond; GOP stalls LePage-backed student debt relief, Bangor Daily News
• Lawmakers should back college debt relief bond, Press Herald

Bond bills

• Research and Development
  • LD 546: An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue To Support Biological Research in Maine, Senator Jackson, Representative Hubbell – $5M
  • LD 1613: An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue To Assist in the Commercialization of Maine Products and Services, Senator Volk – $50M
    • AFA Committee amendment – $55M
      • Senate floor amendment, Senator Katz
      • House floor amendment, Representative Hubbell
• Postsecondary education
  • LD 139: An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue for Maine’s Community Colleges, Representative Hubbell – $15M
  • LD 836: An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue To Build Maine’s Workforce Development Capacity by Modernizing and Improving the Facilities and Infrastructure of Maine’s Public Universities, Rep. Jorgensen – $100M
  • LD 1163: An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue To Provide Funding for a Program of Student Debt Payment and To Provide for the Establishment of That Program, Senator Libby – $250M
    • AFA Committee amendment A – $40M
• Transportation
  • LD 292: An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue To Invest in Maine’s Rail Infrastructure and Expand Passenger Rail Service, Rep. Sheats – $50M
  • LD 316: An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue for Railways, Sen. Miramant – $50M
  • LD 317: An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue To Improve Highways, Bridges and Multimodal Facilities, Sen. Miramant – $100M
  • LD 590: Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue To Invest in Maine’s Rail Infrastructure, Sen. Jackson – $50M
  • LD 638: An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue for Transportation Projects – Rep. McLean – $50M
  • LD 743: An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue To Promote and Improve the Intermodal Transportation System in Maine, Rep. Sheats – $25M
  • LD 964: An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue To Upgrade Municipal Culverts at Stream Crossings, Rep. Fredette – $10M
  • LD 1552: An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue To Improve Highways, Bridges and Multimodal Facilities and Upgrade Municipal Culverts, Sen. Collins – $100M
    • AFA Committee amendment – $105M