House Bill No. 5341 aims to establish a comprehensive electronic portal for applications related to all state-funded grant programs, expanding the current Municipal Grant Portal managed by the Office of Policy and Management (OPM). The bill mandates that by July 1, 2027, the OPM Secretary must create and maintain this portal, which will now be referred to as the "State Grant Portal." The new portal will include a dedicated webpage for state-funded municipal grant applications and reimbursement request forms, as well as a searchable database for locating information about all state-funded grants. Additionally, it will feature tools to promote active recruitment and participation from municipalities and other interested parties in the grant application process.

The bill also repeals the existing language that specifically references municipal grants, thereby broadening the scope to encompass all state-funded grants administered by state agencies. This change reflects a shift from a municipal-focused approach to a more inclusive state-wide grant application system. The implementation of this portal is expected to incur a one-time cost of $200,000 in fiscal year 2027 for consulting services to assist in its development. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 4-68dd
GAE Joint Favorable: 4-68dd
File No. 193: 4-68dd