An Act To Establish The Municipal Stream Crossing Fund

132nd Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Lydia Crafts and 4 co-sponsors

Establishes the Municipal Stream Crossing Fund to finance a competitive Maine DOT grant program for municipal culvert, bridge, and stream-crossing projects.

Signed by Governor

#municipalstreamcrossingfund #planning #transportationdepartment

Purpose

LD 1340 creates a dedicated funding mechanism — the Municipal Stream Crossing Fund — within the Maine Department of Transportation (Maine DOT). The fund is intended to support a competitive grant program administered by Maine DOT for projects related to municipal stream crossings (e.g., replacement, repair, or improvements to culverts, bridges, or other stream crossing infrastructure).

Key provisions

Establishes the Municipal Stream Crossing Fund as an account within the Department of Transportation.

Directs Maine DOT to administer a competitive grant program from the fund (the fiscal note explicitly refers to a competitive grant program).

Committee Amendment C "A" (S-116) was adopted prior to final passage; the engrossed version was passed and sent to the Governor.

(Note: The bill text itself would contain more detail on eligible projects, application and award criteria, eligible applicants, match requirements, and other program rules. Those specifics are not included in the fiscal notes provided.)

Fiscal impact

The fiscal notes (approved 4/28/25 and updated 5/22/25) establish base allocations of $500 to each of the following beginning in FY 2025-26 and continuing in the projections through FY 2028-29:

Other Special Revenue Funds: $500 (annual base)
Federal Expenditures Fund: $500 (annual base)

The fiscal note states any additional costs to Maine DOT to set up and administer the competitive grant program are expected to be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources.

(Amounts are reported in the fiscal note as $500 for each fund and year; the fiscal note does not provide further breakdown or additional dollar detail beyond this recurring base allocation.)

Who is affected

Municipalities and other local entities that own or manage stream crossings will be primary potential recipients/beneficiaries of grant funding.

Maine Department of Transportation will administer the fund and competitive grant program.

State budget and fund accounting: creation of a new fund and modest recurring allocations as shown in the fiscal notes.

Legislative timeline / procedural history (selected)

2025-03-28: Referred to Committee on Transportation

2025-04-24: Work session; committee voted OTP‑AM (report out as amended)

2025-05-21 to 05-22: Committee Amendment adopted; bill passed to be engrossed and placed on Consent Calendar

2025-05-27: Final passage to be enacted (in concurrence), ordered sent forthwith

2025-05-30: Signed by Governor — bill enacted

Notes / Next steps

For specifics on eligibility, grant application procedures, allowable uses, and any matching or prioritization criteria, consult the enacted bill text and any implementing rules or guidance issued by Maine DOT.

The fiscal note indicates the program can be administered with minimal additional state operating cost; however, the total grant funding available each year depends on funds credited to the new fund beyond the baseline allocations noted in the fiscal note.

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