A bill that would enhance the state’s education requirements for real estate brokers and salespeople was tops on the mind of the state’s Realtors today, as they staged their annual Realtor Day on Beacon Hill with what observers said was their best turnout in years.

Currently, Massachusetts requires only 24 hours of coursework to obtain a real estate license. The national average is 66, and only Alaska requires fewer hours. The bill would also increase educational requirements for brokers, and require an applicant to have been an agent for three years instead of one before obtaining a broker’s license.

Other bills favored by local Realtors include the creation of a statewide registry for vacant property to help prevent empty houses being stripped of fixtures; giving municipalities the option to use local brokers to sell city-owned property quickly on the open market; and increasing continuing education requirements.

The day also featured a speech by Senate President Therese Murray (D-Plymouth), closed to the press, and a networking luncheon put on by the Greater Boston Real Estate Board. Sen. Richard Tisei (R-Malden), the Republican candidate for Lt. Governor (and a real estate broker himself), spoke at the networking luncheon.

Tisei’s speech highlighted the top economic issues facing the state, and the importance of housing to revitalizing the economy.