Support the Historic Preservation Tax Credit “Repair” Bill (LRB 2879/3841)

Wisconsin’s Historic Preservation Tax Credit (HTC) program is a vital tool for protecting our state’s architectural and historical heritage. By encouraging the rehabilitation of historic buildings—from downtown storefronts to factories and former schools—the program helps safeguard the unique character of Wisconsin’s communities. At the same time, these preservation projects generate significant economic returns by attracting private investment, creating jobs, and revitalizing main streets across the state.

But in recent years, unintended changes to both the state and federal HTC programs have made it harder—especially for smaller projects—to benefit from this critical incentive. The result: worthwhile rehabilitation efforts are delayed or abandoned entirely due to technical red tape.

That’s why the Wisconsin Trust for Historic Preservation has taken a leadership role in shaping the Historic Preservation Tax Credit “Repair” Bill (LRB 2879/3841)—a smart, bipartisan fix that restores clarity, accessibility, and economic value to the program.

Now, we need your voice to move this bill forward.

TAKE ACTION TODAY

Look up your legislators and send them the pre-drafted email below. Let’s preserve Wisconsin’s history and invest in its future.

ACT NOW: Urge Your Legislators to Co-Sponsor This Bill

The legislation is now being circulated for co-sponsors in the Wisconsin Legislature. This is a crucial moment: your lawmakers need to hear from you today to know this issue matters to their constituents.

  • Email your legislators - predrafted copy above — personalize it or send as-is. (Takes less than 3 minutes)

The deadline for co-sponsorship is Thursday, July 10 — don’t wait!

Our Role, Your Impact

The Wisconsin Trust for Historic Preservation has been on the front lines of this reform effort, working with lawmakers, state agencies, policy experts, and preservation professionals to ensure the bill truly meets the needs of communities statewide.

Now we’re counting on you to help get it across the finish line.

 

What the “Repair” Bill Does

Working closely with our partners—especially the Wisconsin Economic Development Association (WEDA)—the Wisconsin Trust helped identify key obstacles and propose language to repair the state’s HTC program.

Key fixes in LRB 2879/3841 include:

  • Expands eligibility for small projects: Removes a federal adjusted basis requirement for projects seeking only the state credit, while maintaining the $50,000 minimum. This change opens the door for smaller-scale rehabs in rural and urban communities.

  • Accelerates return on investment: Allows the entire credit to be claimed in one year, instead of over five years—helping projects get off the ground faster and making the credit more attractive to investors.

Creates more flexibility for long-term reuse: Keeps the current $3.5 million per-parcel cap, but only within a rolling 10-year window. This allows future phases or additional rehabilitation work over time.