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132nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
FIRST REGULAR SESSION-2025
Legislative Document No. 362
S.P. 153 In Senate, February 3, 2025
An Act to Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue to Replenish the
Land for Maine's Future Program
Received by the Secretary of the Senate on January 30, 2025. Referred to the Committee
on Appropriations and Financial Affairs pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator BLACK of Franklin.
Cosponsored by Senators: BENNETT of Oxford, CYRWAY of Kennebec, GROHOSKI of
Hancock, PIERCE of Cumberland, RENY of Lincoln, Representatives: DUCHARME of
Madison, HENDERSON of Rumford, THORNE of Carmel.
Page 1 - 132LR1400(01)
1Preamble. Two thirds of both Houses of the Legislature deeming it necessary in
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,
4Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
5Sec. 1. Authorization of bonds. The Treasurer of State is authorized, under the
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.
10Sec. 2. Records of bonds issued; Treasurer of State. The Treasurer of State
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.
14Sec. 3. Sale; how negotiated; proceeds appropriated. The Treasurer of State
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.
22Sec. 4. Interest and debt retirement. The Treasurer of State shall pay interest
23 due or accruing on any bonds issued under this Act and all sums coming due for payment
24 of bonds at maturity.
25Sec. 5. Disbursement of bond proceeds from General Fund bond issue. The
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.
29DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY
30Land for Maine's Future Board
31 Provides funds to be used for the acquisition of land and interest in land for conservation;
32 water access; wildlife or fish habitat including deer wintering areas; outdoor recreation,
33 including hunting and fishing; working farmland preservation; and working waterfront
34 preservation.
Total $50,000,000
35Sec. 6. Contingent upon ratification of bond issue. Sections 1 to 5 do not
36 become effective unless the people of the State ratify the issuance of the bonds as set forth
37 in this Act.
39Sec. 7. Appropriation balances at year-end. At the end of each fiscal year, all
40 unencumbered appropriation balances representing state money carry forward. Bond
41 proceeds that have not been expended within 10 years after the date of the sale of the bonds
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42 lapse to the Office of the Treasurer of State to be used for the retirement of general
43 obligation bonds.
3Sec. 8. Bonds authorized but not issued. Any bonds authorized but not issued
4 within 5 years of ratification of this Act are deauthorized and may not be issued, except
5 that the Legislature may, within 2 years after the expiration of that 5-year period, extend
6 the period for issuing any remaining unissued bonds for an additional amount of time not
7 to exceed 5 years.
8Sec. 9. Referendum for ratification; submission at election; form of
9question; effective date. This Act must be submitted to the legal voters of the State at
10 a statewide election held in the month of November following passage of this Act. The
11 municipal officers of this State shall notify the inhabitants of their respective cities, towns
12 and plantations to meet, in the manner prescribed by law for holding a statewide election,
13 to vote on the acceptance or rejection of this Act by voting on the following question:
14 "Do you favor a $50,000,000 bond issue to be used by the Land for Maine's
15 Future Board for the acquisition of land and interest in land for
16 conservation; water access; wildlife or fish habitat including deer
17 wintering areas; outdoor recreation, including hunting and fishing;
18 working farmland preservation; and working waterfront preservation?"
19 The legal voters of each city, town and plantation shall vote by ballot on this question
20 and designate their choice by a cross or check mark placed within a corresponding square
21 below the word "Yes" or "No." The ballots must be received, sorted, counted and declared
22 in open ward, town and plantation meetings and returns made to the Secretary of State in
23 the same manner as votes for members of the Legislature. The Governor shall review the
24 returns. If a majority of the legal votes are cast in favor of this Act, the Governor shall
25 proclaim the result without delay and this Act becomes effective 30 days after the date of
26 the proclamation.
27 The Secretary of State shall prepare and furnish to each city, town and plantation all
28 ballots, returns and copies of this Act necessary to carry out the purposes of this
29 referendum.
30SUMMARY
31 The funds provided by this bond issue, in the amount of $50,000,000, will be used by
32 the Land for Maine's Future Board for the acquisition of land and interest in land for
33 conservation; water access; wildlife or fish habitat including deer wintering areas; outdoor
34 recreation, including hunting and fishing; working farmland preservation; and working
35 waterfront preservation.
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