Committee advances bill requiring annual inventory of vacant school district land

Representative Nicks introduced PCS for HB 1147, describing a measure that would require school districts to submit an annual inventory of vacant unimproved real property to the Department of Education to support planning and public transparency. She emphasized that the bill applies only to vacant, unimproved land and does not affect school buildings or assets used to educate children.

Members asked how the DOE would use the inventory and whether the requirement would impede acquisitions; Nicks said districts would report land after acquisition and that a centralized data pool would reduce public-record burdens. Testimony from a Monroe County school board member described local processes for tracking land and urged caution about a statewide registry. Representative Mooney and others supported transparency, citing examples of large acreage holdings in some districts.

Following debate about purpose and perception, the committee voted to report the PCS favorably by roll call (12 yays, 3 nays). The measure will proceed to further committee consideration.