HB2679 Summary

• Transfers the School Facilities Board from title 15 to title 41, renaming it the School Facilities Oversight Board and placing it within the Department of Administration while maintaining its governance structure.

• Establishes a new School Capital Assistance Fund ($40 million appropriated) allowing school districts to use monies for major renovations, system upgrades, and infrastructure costs on existing facilities, with distributions based on weighted student count.

• Increases Building Renewal Grant Fund appropriation to $60 million and authorizes the Department of Administration to administer it under oversight board direction, with expanded rules for project approval timelines and school district reporting requirements.

• Creates new authority for the Department of Administration regarding adjacent ways project validation and establishes standards for school facility safety improvements funded through state grants.

• Modifies funding mechanisms for school facilities by directing the Department of Administration to distribute monies from the New School Facilities Fund at the School Facilities Oversight Board's direction, rather than direct board distribution.