AUGUSTA — The Maine House on Thursday advanced a bill to help local cities and towns repurpose old schools into housing.

Across the state, 24 former schools have been identified as potential sites for housing redevelopment, Rep. Traci Gere (D-Kennebunkport) said during debate in the House. 

“Converting vacant schools into housing is a commonsense approach to creating affordable and attainable housing and this bill will help provide housing that is desperately needed,” she said.

As amended, the bill, LD 2164 allocates $5 million a year to the Maine Redevelopment Land Bank Authority for the creation of a new Maine School Conversion Fund program. 

Speaking in opposition, Rep. Amanda Collamore (R-Pittsfield), said the authority is relatively new and not well positioned to administer another program. Also, she said $5 million a year likely won’t come near to covering the costs of a school renovation, particularly given the need to address asbestos and groundwater issues.

“It’s probably only going to support one school building instead of multiple,” she said. 

The Democratically controlled House voted 79-65 in support of the measure, which now heads to the Senate.

In a separate vote Thursday, the House also advanced a bill to help low to moderate income homebuyers make their down payments. The $20 million a year fund would provide $15,000 to help qualified buyers cover the cost. 

That bill also faces additional votes.