Committee adds reverse repealer and lease option and reports DPS property bill out

The Public Property committee on Jan. 31 accepted amendments to Senate Bill 2599, inserting a reverse repealer and expressly allowing a ground-lease option, and reported the bill out on a committee substitute.

DPS representative Allen McDaniels told the committee that Compass Data Centers had approached DPS about purchasing property currently housing a troop station and the driver service bureau. McDaniels said no contract had been signed and that the bill language would require statutory appraisal procedures (two appraisals averaged) and prohibit sale for less than that average. "We would have the ability to sell it for any amount above that," McDaniels said.

Chair and other members said a reverse repealer was prudent so that any final conveyance would follow an executed contract; Senator Bridal proposed adding the option to grant a ground lease, noting the parties might prefer leasing. The committee accepted that amendment and the reverse repealer and then voted to report the committee substitute out of committee.

The transcript records the committee action but includes no roll-call vote tallies. Committee members said they expect brief follow-up meetings but did not record further details of negotiations with Compass Data Centers in committee.