Governor's Bill No. 85, effective July 1, 2026, authorizes the issuance of state bonds totaling up to $31,500,000 for various projects, including $20,000,000 for replacing the fleet garage in Wethersfield, $1,500,000 for a new mesonet system for the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, and $10,000,000 for security upgrades for the Department of Correction. The bill also allows for the redirection of any excess proceeds from bond sales to complete other projects or to be deposited into the General Fund. Additionally, it amends existing statutes to increase the bond authorization limit for school building projects from $14.96 billion to $15.012 billion, repealing Section 10-287d and replacing it with new provisions that ensure accountability in the use of state funds.

The bill further increases the total bond authorization limit for the State Bond Commission from $741,290,000 to $775,890,000 and raises funding for the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner from $28,000,000 to $62,600,000. It establishes a Supplemental Graduate Loan Program under the Connecticut Higher Education Supplemental Loan Authority, funded through a nonlapsing account. The bill also introduces amendments regarding federal transportation bonds, removing the requirement for financial assistance to come specifically from the U.S. Department of Transportation and allowing for any federal program to provide such assistance. It clarifies that debt service requirements will be secured by a lien on pledged revenues and allows for the issuance of taxable federal transportation bonds, with provisions for their maturity aligned with federal program timelines.

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Governor's Bill: