Support the Historic Preservation Tax Credit “Repair” Bill (AB 375)
Help pass this bill!
AB375 was passed unanimously by the Assembly in November, and now it’s time for the Senate to bring it to the floor.
Contact your state senator to urge their support for the Historic Tax Credit Repair Bill.
Repair in the Works for Wisconsin’s Historic Tax Credit Program
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 (AB 375)—a smart, bipartisan fix that restores clarity, accessibility, and economic value to the program.
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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.
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 AB 375 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.
Creates more flexibility for long-term reuse: Keeps the current $3.5 million per-parcel cap, but only within a rolling 15-year window. This allows future phases or additional rehabilitation work over time.