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Sen. Landis’s bill would authorize 14 state land conveyances; DAS explains perpetual easement requests
Summary
Senate Bill 217 would authorize 14 specific conveyances of state land to agencies, universities and local entities, including transfers near the Dover Armory, a large Trumbull County parcel for rail development, and perpetual easements for Ohio State University; DAS testified that many requests are for perpetual rights though statutory authorization for 25‑year easements currently exists.
Sen. Landis sponsored Senate Bill 217, a land conveyance bill that would authorize 14 specified transfers of state‑owned property to state agencies, commissions, universities and local entities. Landis said the bill includes a 1.734‑acre parcel adjacent to the Dover Armory in Tuscarawas County, roughly 153 acres tied to Ohio Rail Development Commission interests in Trumbull County, and a mix of sales, leases and easements for institutions including Ohio State University.
Marcy Jeter, administrator of the Office of Real Estate and Planning at the Department of Administrative Services (DAS), told the committee the conveyances include long‑standing arrangements (some properties were acquired for armory construction in the early 20th century) and a variety of disposition methods: public auction, direct sale and transfers to identified grantees. She said some properties have been leased for nominal sums (for example, to metroparks for $1) with deed restrictions that would revert the land to the state if recreational use ceased.
Committee members questioned whether easements described as "perpetual" conflicted with statutory language that authorizes 25‑year easements for institutions of higher education. Jeter said the bill requests perpetual easements and explained: "This request is for perpetual easements. The 25 year is the current authorization. The Ohio Revised Code allows for DAS to grant 25 year easements for institutions of higher education. When we need to go beyond the 25 years, then we have to come back to the legislature and ask for that authorization." Several senators also confirmed the bill applies only to the specific conveyances listed and that any future conveyances would require separate legislative approval.
The committee held a first hearing and did not vote on the bill.
