Housing

failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1098: Relating to: local regulation of landlords and tenants.

This bill would allow local governments in Wisconsin to create rules governing how landlords and tenants handle lease renewals and property showings. It enables cities, villages, towns, and counties to require landlords to make good faith offers to renew leases unless there is a valid reason not to, and to set standards for determining what counts as valid reasons. The legislation also permits local ordinances to regulate when landlords can show properties to new tenants and to establish penalties for violations, including requiring relocation assistance for affected tenants. Additionally, the bill ensures that these local rules cannot be overridden by individual lease agreements.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill strengthens tenant protections by requiring landlords to make good faith lease renewal offers and regulating property showings, advancing housing stability for tenants.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Landlords Tenant Rights

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failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1095: Relating to: the property tax deferral loan program administered by the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority.

This bill modifies Wisconsin's property tax deferral loan program to increase the maximum loan amount from $3,525 to $5,000 annually. It also establishes an annual adjustment mechanism that ties the loan limit to changes in the consumer price index, ensuring the amount keeps pace with inflation. The legislation applies these changes to loans where applications are filed after the bill's effective date. Additionally, the bill allows the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority to use up to 5 percent of allocated funds for marketing the program. Eligible participants must still meet existing income requirements, earning no more than $20,000 or 80 percent of the area median income.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill increases property tax deferral loan limits and adjusts for inflation, providing tax relief to homeowners and strengthening fiscal assistance programs.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill increases property tax deferral loan limits for housing assistance, strengthening affordable housing access and protecting homeownership.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax Tax Incentives Property Development Property Taxes

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failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 30, 2026

AB 1096: Relating to: a revolving loan program to provide gap funding for workforce housing programs and granting bonding authority. (FE)

This bill creates a revolving loan program to provide gap funding for workforce housing projects that have already received some financial assistance but still need additional funds to complete construction. It authorizes the state housing authority to issue up to $50 million in bonds to establish a dedicated fund for these loans, which will be repaid by developers and reused to fund future projects. The program targets residential housing where costs do not exceed 30% of 120% of the area median income, benefiting developers and local governments that partner on eligible workforce housing initiatives. The bill also amends existing statutes to exempt these new bonds from certain spending limitations and requires coordination with the state building commission before issuing any bonds.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill authorizes $50M in bonds to fund workforce housing gap funding, strengthening state budget allocation for essential housing programs.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill creates revolving loan program and authorizes $50M in bonds to fund workforce housing projects, directly advancing affordable housing development.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Debt & Bonds Affordable Housing Housing Finance

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failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1178: Relating to: creating the Wisconsin Climate Corps program, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. (FE)

This bill establishes the Wisconsin Climate Corps program, a state initiative designed to create jobs in environmental restoration, home weatherization, and climate resilience projects while providing employment training for underserved communities. The program would be managed by a nonprofit organization under the oversight of a new board that includes state officials, legislators, and representatives from conservation and youth training groups. Key provisions require that at least 50% of workers come from underserved populations, pay workers a minimum of $15 per hour, provide health insurance equivalent to a gold-level plan, and offer weekly housing stipends or accommodations. Projects would focus on activities such as planting trees, restoring natural lands, building community gardens, and improving energy efficiency in homes across both urban and rural areas.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates new state program with explicit appropriation, funding environmental jobs and climate resilience projects through government spending.90% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill creates Climate Corps program focused on environmental restoration, home weatherization, and climate resilience projects, directly advancing energy efficiency and renewable energy infrastructure.85% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill creates Climate Corps program focused on environmental restoration, weatherization, and climate resilience projects while providing training for underserved communities.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill funds home weatherization and climate resilience projects, which improve housing quality and affordability for underserved communities.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Energy Efficiency Conservation

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failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 25, 2026

AB 1120: Relating to: repealing the prohibition against local governments enacting or enforcing an eviction moratorium on a landlord. (FE)

This bill would remove a state law that currently prevents local governments from creating or enforcing eviction moratoriums, which are rules that temporarily stop landlords from evicting tenants. By repealing the specific statute that bans these local measures, the legislation would allow cities and counties to decide on their own whether to pause evictions within their jurisdictions. The change directly affects local governments, landlords, and tenants by potentially expanding the ability of communities to implement temporary eviction protections. This is a procedural change that alters existing legal restrictions rather than creating new substantive requirements for housing or eviction processes.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill removes state prohibition on local eviction moratoriums, allowing cities to protect tenants from displacement, directly supporting tenant rights and housing stability.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Landlords Tenant Rights

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failed · Wisconsin · Senate Apr 7, 2026

SB 1169: Relating to: a first-time home buyer purchasing assistance fund and loan program and making an appropriation. (FE)

This bill creates a new fund and loan program to help first-time home buyers in Wisconsin cover costs like down payments, closing costs, and mortgage insurance. The program is managed by the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority and provides interest-free loans up to $35,000 or 10 percent of the home's purchase price, whichever is less. Eligible borrowers must be first-time home buyers or those who lost their home to foreclosure, have household income at or below 100 percent of the area median income, complete a home buyer education course, and agree to live in the home as their primary residence. The loans are forgiven in installments over ten years if the borrower keeps the home as their primary residence, with larger forgiveness amounts at five and ten-year intervals. The bill also appropriates $150 million for the fund in the 2025-26 fiscal year and allows the authority to invest unused funds in safe, low-risk investments.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates a new fund and loan program with appropriation to assist first-time home buyers, directly supporting budget and fiscal management through funding essential housing programs.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill creates funding and loan program to assist first-time home buyers with down payments and closing costs, directly advancing affordable housing access95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Procurement Homeownership Mortgages Property Development

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failed · Wisconsin · Assembly Mar 23, 2026

AB 1195: Relating to: creating an Office of Civil Legal Aid to be overseen by a Civil Legal Aid Board, providing a right to the appointment of counsel at state expense for residential tenants in eviction actions, and making an appropriation. (FE)

This bill creates a new Office of Civil Legal Aid overseen by a nine-member Civil Legal Aid Board to provide legal representation for residential tenants facing eviction. The legislation establishes a right to appointed counsel at state expense for tenants in eviction actions, requiring landlords to include notices about this right in rental agreements and eviction notices. A nine-member board, appointed by the state supreme court with at least five being licensed attorneys, would oversee program operations, manage budgets, and appoint lawyers to represent tenants who request assistance. The bill also authorizes funding for the office and sets up procedures for tenants to request appointed counsel by appearing in court or contacting the clerk before the eviction hearing date.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill mandates state funding for civil legal aid in eviction cases, directly increasing government spending on essential public services and tenant protections.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill establishes right to appointed counsel for tenants facing eviction, directly protecting tenant rights and strengthening housing protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Tenant Rights

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failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 944: Relating to: levy increase limits in political subdivisions with qualifying parking lot redevelopment. (FE)

SB 944 adjusts how property tax limits are calculated for cities and towns (political subdivisions) that redevelop parking lots into new commercial, residential, or mixed-use buildings. Specifically, it adds 1.5 times the value increase from qualifying parking lot redevelopment to the annual development percentage used in tax levy calculations. Qualifying redevelopment requires at least 40% of the parcel area to have been paved parking in the prior year. This change applies to all political subdivisions with qualifying projects but specifically includes tax increment districts in Evansville and Stevens Point, plus new districts after 2024. The bill aims to account for redevelopment value in tax levy limits without increasing the overall tax burden.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAdjusts tax levy calculation to permit higher property tax revenue from qualifying redevelopment projects, enabling increased local government funding.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill enables residential redevelopment by adjusting tax levies for parking lot conversions, directly supporting housing development as defined in the topic.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax Community Development Property Development Property Taxes

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failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 942: Relating to: changes to the low-income housing tax credit. (FE)

SB 942 amends state tax statutes to clarify how the low-income housing tax credit is claimed by entities and their members. It specifies that partnerships, limited liability companies, and tax-option corporations cannot claim the credit directly, but their individual partners, members, or shareholders may claim it based on the entity’s eligible costs. The bill requires entities to calculate and distribute credit amounts to members and mandates that individuals claiming credit under written agreements must submit those agreements with tax returns. It also adds a specific provision allowing insurers (as shareholders) to claim the credit based on costs incurred by the entity they are part of. This bill directly affects housing developers, investors, and insurers involved in low-income housing projects financed with tax-exempt bonds.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesClarifies tax credit claiming process for low-income housing, enabling individuals to access relief, supporting tax credit program implementation.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingClarifies tax credit claiming for low-income housing, enabling more efficient funding of affordable housing developments through tax incentives.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits Affordable Housing Housing Finance Property Taxes

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failed · Wisconsin · Senate Mar 23, 2026

SB 1057: Relating to: access to prospective tenants’ credit scores and consumer credit reports.

SB 1057 limits landlords' ability to use credit reports when screening tenants. It caps fees for credit checks at $25 (with prior notice) and requires landlords to provide tenants with a copy of the report. Crucially, it prohibits landlords from demanding access to a tenant's credit score or report, instead mandating that landlords offer an alternative screening method if a tenant declines to share this information. The bill directly affects landlords and prospective tenants in housing applications, shifting the process to prioritize tenant choice while maintaining screening options.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingRestricts landlord credit check access, mandates alternatives for tenants declining, caps fees - strengthens tenant protections against credit-based discrimination85% confidence

Sub-Topics Landlords Renters Tenant Rights

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