Bill H.4488

FILED ON: 3/14/2024

HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 4488

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

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An Act financing improvements to municipal roads and bridges.

Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to finance improvements to the commonwealth's transportation system, therefore it is hereby declared to be an emergency law, necessary for the immediate preservation of the public convenience.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1. To provide for a program of transportation development and improvements, the sums set forth in section 2 for the several purposes, and subject to the conditions specified in this act, are hereby made available, subject to the laws regulating the disbursement of public funds. The sums made available in this act shall be in addition to any amounts previously appropriated or made available for these purposes.

SECTION 2.

MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Highway Division

6122-2127 For the construction and reconstruction of municipal ways as described in clause (b) of the second paragraph of section 4 of chapter 6C of the General Laws; provided, that a city or town shall comply with the procedures established by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation; provided further, that a city or town may expend, without further appropriation, for these projects amounts not in excess of the amount provided to the city or town under this item upon preliminary notice of such amount, which shall be provided by the department to the city or town not later than March 1 of each year; and provided further, that the commonwealth shall reimburse a city or town under this item, subject to the availability of funds as provided in section 9G of chapter 29 of the General Laws, within 30 days after receipt by the department of a request for reimbursement from the city or town, which request shall include certification by the city or town that actual expenses have been incurred on projects eligible for reimbursement under this item and that the work has been completed to the satisfaction of the city or town according to the specifications of the project and in compliance with applicable laws and procedures established by the department...................................................................$200,000,000

6122-2128 For the rural road program to support the construction and reconstruction of municipal ways established by chapter 27 of the Acts of 2023; provided that funds shall be distributed to all municipalities based on a formula with the following weighed factors: 20% local road mileage; 20% population; and 60% whether the municipality is considered rural; provided further that a municipality shall be considered rural for purposes of this item if it has a population of less than 10,000 and a population density under 500 people per square mile……………………………………………………………………………………$25,000,000

SECTION 3. Item 6121-2157 of section 2A of chapter 383 of the acts of 2020, as most recently amended by section 3 of chapter 27 of the acts of 2023, is hereby further amended by striking out the figure “$165,000,000” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $190,000,000.

SECTION 4. Item 6121-2118 of section 2B of said chapter 383, as most recently amended by section 4 of said chapter 27, is hereby further amended by striking out the figure “$150,000,000” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $175,000,000.

SECTION 5. Item 6121-2138 of said section 2B of said chapter 383, as amended by section 5 of said chapter 27, is hereby further amended by striking out the figure “$105,000,000” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $130,000,000.

SECTION 6. Item 6921-2111 of section 2I of said chapter 383, as most recently amended by section 6 of said chapter 27, is hereby further amended by striking out the figure “$100,000,000” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $125,000,000.

SECTION 7. Item 6921-2112 of said section 2I of said chapter 383, as most recently amended by section 7 of said chapter 27, is hereby further amended by striking out the figure “$100,000,000” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $125,000,000.

SECTION 8. Item 6921-2114 of said section 2I of said chapter 383, as most recently amended by section 8 of said chapter 27, is hereby further amended by striking out the figure “$75,000,000” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $100,000,000.

SECTION 9. Section 33 of said chapter 383, as most recently amended by section 9 of said chapter 27, is hereby further amended by striking out the figure “$2,220,000,000” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $2,295,000,000.

SECTION 10. Section 40 of said chapter 383, as most recently amended by section 10 of said chapter 27, is hereby further amended by striking out the figure “$2,390,698,500” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- $2,465,698,500.

SECTION 11. To meet the expenditures necessary in carrying out section 2, the state treasurer shall, upon request of the governor, issue and sell bonds of the commonwealth in an amount to be specified by the governor from time to time but not exceeding, in the aggregate, $225,000,000. All bonds issued by the commonwealth as aforesaid shall be designated on their face, Commonwealth Transportation Improvement Act of 2025, and shall be issued for a maximum term of years, not exceeding 30 years, as the governor may recommend to the general court under section 3 of Article LXII of the Amendments to the Constitution. All such bonds shall be payable not later than June 30, 2059, pursuant to said section 3 of said Article LXII. All interest and payments on account of principal on these obligations shall be payable from the General Fund or the Commonwealth Transportation Fund. Notwithstanding any other general or special law to the contrary, bonds issued under this section and interest thereon shall be general obligations of the commonwealth.