An Act to repeal 234.66 (1) (g) 2., 234.66 (1) (g) 3., 234.661 (1) (c) 5., 234.661 (1) (c) 6., 234.662 (1) (e) 3. and 234.662 (1) (e) 4.; to renumber and amend 234.66 (1) (b), 234.66 (4) (a) 5., 234.661 (1) (e), 234.661 (3) (b) 3., 234.662 (1) (c), 234.662 (1) (f) and 234.662 (3) (b) 3.; to consolidate, renumber and amend 234.66 (1) (g) (intro.) and 1.; to amend 234.66 (4) (a) 7., 234.66 (4) (c) 2., 234.66 (5) (c), 234.66 (5m) (b), 234.661 (1) (b), 234.661 (3) (b) (intro.), 234.661 (3) (b) 4., 234.661 (3) (b) 5., 234.661 (3) (c), 234.661 (3) (d), 234.661 (3m) (b), 234.661 (5) (b) 4., 234.662 (1) (d), 234.662 (1) (e) (intro.), 234.662 (1) (g), 234.662 (3) (b) (intro.), 234.662 (3) (b) 4., 234.662 (3) (b) 5., 234.662 (3) (c), 234.662 (3) (d) 2., 234.662 (3m) (b) and 234.662 (5) (b) 4.; to create 234.66 (1) (b) 1., 234.66 (1) (b) 2., 234.66 (4) (a) 5. b., 234.661 (1) (cm), 234.661 (1) (e) 2., 234.661 (3) (b) 3. b., 234.661 (3) (em), 234.662 (1) (c) 2., 234.662 (1) (em), 234.662 (1) (f) 2., 234.662 (3) (b) 3. b. and 234.662 (3) (fm) of the statutes; Relating to: modifications to housing programs under the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority. (FE)
Sponsored By: Clinton Anderson (Democratic), David Armstrong (Republican), Brent Jacobson (Republican), Robert Brooks (Republican), Brienne Brown (Democratic), Ben DeSmidt (Democratic), Bob Donovan (Republican), Steve Doyle (Democratic), Jodi Emerson (Democratic), Benjamin Franklin (Republican), Joy Goeben (Republican), Russell Goodwin (Democratic), Chanz Green (Republican), Andrew Hysell (Democratic), Alex Joers (Democratic), Joel Kitchens (Republican), Rob Kreibich (Republican), Scott Krug (Republican), Paul Melotik (Republican), David Murphy (Republican), Jeffrey Mursau (Republican), Greta Neubauer (Democratic), Todd Novak (Republican), Jerry O'Connor (Republican), Sylvia Ortiz-Velez (Democratic), Lori Palmeri (Democratic), William Penterman (Republican), Jim Piwowarczyk (Republican), Ann Roe (Democratic), John Spiros (Republican), Randy Udell (Democratic)
Signed by Governor
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
10 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 1 costs, 4 mixed.
Bigger repair loans for rental owners
Restore Main Street raises its rental housing repair loan ceiling from $20,000 to $50,000 per dwelling unit. The project-cost ceiling also rises from 25% to 33%. Each loan is limited to the lower of those two amounts. Interest can be at or below market rates, including zero.
Higher infrastructure loans for housing projects
The Infrastructure Access Program raises its loan ceiling for developers from 20% to 33% of total development costs. For government units, the ceiling rises from 10% to 25%. These percentages remain firm limits, not promised loan amounts.
Local housing plans gain certification option
Across the three programs, government units have another way to meet the applicable housing-plan condition. They can update the housing part of their comprehensive plan within five years before the loan application. Alternatively, they can adopt an ordinance or resolution within that same period certifying adequate housing for current and forecast demand. Applicable state planning requirements still apply.
More financing for commercial building conversions
For the conversion loans covered here, the law removes the prior $1 million project ceiling. It raises the loan share limit from 20% to 33% of costs tied to building residential housing. Those costs include land purchases. The 33% ceiling remains a limit, not a guaranteed award.
More housing loan access for tribes
Tribal housing authorities and businesses created by tribal councils can seek Infrastructure Access and commercial-to-housing conversion loans. Federally recognized tribes and bands count as government units for Restore Main Street and housing conversion loans. The relevant government unit is the one with project jurisdiction, as determined by the housing authority. Across these programs, eligible housing can include tax-exempt reservation or trust lands designated as such on the applicable provision’s effective date. Conversion program housing includes single-family and multifamily homes for rent or sale.
Housing applicants must document cost savings
Applicants across the three programs must submit a cost-saving analysis on the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority’s form. The owner or developer and the head of the government unit’s governing body must sign it. It covers qualifying measures taken on or after January 1, 2023, including project-specific and broadly applied housing measures. It must estimate time or dollar savings and percentage housing-cost reductions for each measure. Conversion applicants must document voluntary local changes such as faster approvals, greater density, or lower fees, parking requirements, and building costs.
Housing cost cuts guide loan priority
Restore Main Street and commercial-to-housing conversion programs use twice-yearly application cycles. When money cannot cover all qualifying, acceptable applications, the housing authority must favor projects in places showing area-wide cost reductions. Restore Main Street priority focuses on rental housing costs; conversion priority focuses on residential housing costs. Other eligible projects receive lower priority, and no applicant is guaranteed a loan.
Mixed-use housing conversions face size minimums
Vacant commercial buildings can qualify for conversion loans when mixed-use projects include workforce or senior housing. Projects need at least 16 dwelling units in government units with more than 10,000 people. In units with 10,000 people or fewer, projects need at least 4 dwelling units. Eligible conversion projects can also use tax increment district support and historic tax credits.
New guarantee rules for housing developers
The full amount of covered conversion loans must have one or more unlimited personal or company guarantees. For other covered housing loans, the housing authority can require these guarantees. An exception applies only when the developer gives no personal or company guarantee on any project first mortgage. Total project debt must also be no more than 75% of collateral value, as determined by the housing authority.
Regional caps spread housing loan money
Restore Main Street and conversion funds have regional limits on qualifying deposits from the 2023–25 budget period. The rule covers money still uncommitted on the applicable provision’s effective date. To the extent feasible, loans to any region cannot exceed 12.5% of the applicable fund’s qualifying deposits. Regions follow regional planning commission service boundaries as of the law’s effective date. Counties outside those boundaries collectively form one region.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
Clinton Anderson
Democratic • House
David Armstrong
Republican • House
Brent Jacobson
Republican • House
Robert Brooks
Republican • House
Brienne Brown
Democratic • House
Ben DeSmidt
Democratic • House
Bob Donovan
Republican • House
Steve Doyle
Democratic • House
Jodi Emerson
Democratic • House
Benjamin Franklin
Republican • House
Joy Goeben
Republican • House
Russell Goodwin
Democratic • House
Chanz Green
Republican • House
Andrew Hysell
Democratic • House
Alex Joers
Democratic • House
Joel Kitchens
Republican • House
Rob Kreibich
Republican • House
Scott Krug
Republican • House
Paul Melotik
Republican • House
David Murphy
Republican • House
Jeffrey Mursau
Republican • House
Greta Neubauer
Democratic • House
Todd Novak
Republican • House
Jerry O'Connor
Republican • House
Sylvia Ortiz-Velez
Democratic • House
Lori Palmeri
Democratic • House
William Penterman
Republican • House
Jim Piwowarczyk
Republican • House
Ann Roe
Democratic • House
John Spiros
Republican • House
Randy Udell
Democratic • House
Cosponsors
Jill Billings
Democratic • House
Kristin Dassler-Alfheim
Democratic • Senate
Dan Feyen
Republican • Senate
Jodi Habush Sinykin
Democratic • Senate
Jenna Jacobson
Democratic • House
John Jagler
Republican • Senate
Jesse James
Republican • Senate
Karen Kirsch
Democratic • House
Vincent Miresse
Democratic • House
Brad Pfaff
Democratic • Senate
Romaine Quinn
Republican • Senate
Melissa Ratcliff
Democratic • Senate
Amaad Rivera-Wagner
Democratic • House
Jeff Smith
Democratic • Senate
Lee Snodgrass
Democratic • House
Mark Spreitzer
Democratic • Senate
Angela Stroud
Democratic • House
Shelia Stubbs
Democratic • House
Jamie Wall
Democratic • Senate
Robert Wirch
Democratic • Senate
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
Bill Text
Assembly Amendment 1
10/7/2025
Assembly Amendment 2
10/7/2025
Bill Text
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