MassachusettsH 4307194th General Court (2025-2026)HouseWALLET

An Act financing long-term improvements to municipal roads and bridges

Sponsored By: House Committee on Ways and Means

Signed by Governor

House Ways and Means

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Major upgrades to bridges, roads, and safety

The law invests $500 million to manage bridge and pavement life cycles, including engineering, repairs, climate resilience, and bike and pedestrian improvements. It provides $200 million to modernize culverts and small bridges under 20 feet, with design and resilience work, in consultation with the energy and environmental secretary. It adds $185 million for projects that ease congestion and improve safety, like intersections, rail crossings, shared‑use paths, ADA sidewalks, traffic signals, and roadway repairs. Funds can also support matching grants to cities and towns. Projects must consider resilient, long‑lasting designs.

More aid and faster pay for town roads

The law provides $300 million to build and fix city and town roads. Up to $100 million is split by how many local road miles each community has. MassDOT sends a preliminary notice by March 1 each year, and towns can spend up to that amount without another vote. The state must reimburse towns within 30 days of a request, if funds are available. To get paid, towns must certify costs, completion to plan specs, and compliance with laws and MassDOT rules. MassDOT also encourages long‑term capital plans for how the money will be used.

State borrows $1.185 billion for transportation

The state treasurer may issue bonds up to $300 million for municipal road work and $885 million for other transportation programs. Bonds can run up to 30 years and must be fully paid by June 30, 2065. Payments come from the General Fund or the Commonwealth Transportation Fund. The Governor may ask for special obligation bonds paid from the transportation fund that are excluded from some state debt‑limit calculations. This financing lets projects start now but adds state debt that must be repaid over time.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

House Committee on Ways and Means
Affiliation unavailable

Cosponsors

Maura T. Healey
Affiliation unavailable

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 312 • No: 0

House vote • 7/31/2025

Enacted

Yes: 156 • No: 0

House vote • 7/23/2025

Passed to be engrossed