SB 658 creates a tax credit for insurance companies that invest in community development entities (CDEs) focused on low-income communities. Insurers can claim a credit equal to 0% of their investment for the first two years and 10% for the next five years, based on the investment amount, against certain insurance fees. The credit applies only to investments where CDEs use at least 100% of funds to support qualified low-income businesses with operations in Wisconsin's rural counties ($125 million allocation) or metro counties ($125 million allocation). This policy directly affects insurers, CDEs, and qualifying businesses in targeted communities, aiming to incentivize private investment in economic development.
SB 480 modifies Wisconsin's rules for residential tax incremental districts (TIDs), which are special tax zones used to fund local development projects. It allows towns with sewer systems to create residential TIDs using city-level powers (previously limited to cities), extends the standard TID lifespan to 20 years (up from 15), and adds conditions for extensions: cities must provide an independent audit proving they cannot repay project costs within 20 years to request a 3-year extension. The bill also clarifies that project costs for residential TIDs can include expenses for newly platted single-family homes and adjusts lot size requirements for residential developments. These changes apply to TIDs created on or after October 1, 2004, with specific adjustments for districts approved after March 3, 2016.
SB 476 modifies a state workforce home loan program to set maximum home purchase prices by county, based on annual data from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development. It prohibits fees on these loans and requires qualified organizations (like approved lenders) to verify applicant eligibility using state-provided forms. The bill directly affects low-to-moderate income homebuyers seeking affordable mortgages through this program. Key changes include adding county-specific price limits to underwriting guidelines and requiring the state authority to distribute loan funds electronically. The bill is pending final passage after committee approval.
SB 427 establishes new rules for renting mobile and manufactured homes in communities. It requires annual leases for sites (unless both parties agree to a shorter term), prohibits denying leases based on a home's age, and lists specific, allowed reasons for terminating tenancy (like failure to sign a lease or violating community rules about multiple homes). The bill also mandates 90 days' written notice to all residents before permanently closing a community or site. These changes directly affect mobile home park residents and operators by clarifying lease terms and termination procedures.
AB 182 amends state tax statutes to clarify how low-income housing tax credits are allocated to owners in multi-entity business structures. It specifies that partnerships, limited liability companies, and tax-option corporations cannot claim the credit directly; instead, partners, members, or shareholders must claim it based on their ownership share or a written agreement. A new provision (76.639(3)(b)) explicitly allows insurers who are partners/members/shareholders to claim credits based on their stake in qualifying housing projects. The bill requires entities to calculate and provide credit allocations to owners, with written agreements needed for non-proportional allocations, and holds individual claimants responsible for tax disputes.
AB 628 allows renters who are veterans or surviving spouses to claim the property tax credit previously only available to homeowners. It amends state law to define "rent constituting property taxes" and lets eligible renters deduct their rent payments toward this credit when filing taxes. The credit can offset income tax liability, with unused portions paid directly by the state. This change applies to taxable years beginning January 1, 2026, and directly affects qualifying renters in Wisconsin.
SB 142 bans the use of algorithmic software by landlords to set rental rates or occupancy levels in residential housing. It prohibits selling, licensing, or providing such software (defined as tools using private competitor data on rent/occupancy to inform pricing decisions) to landlords, with exceptions for aggregated rental data publications and affordable housing tools. The law imposes penalties of up to $1,000 per violation per unit, allowing tenants to sue for actual damages or $1,000 per violation, and enables state enforcement through the attorney general. It directly affects landlords, property management companies, and software providers that develop or sell such tools.
Assembly Bill 220 seeks to expand anti-discrimination protections across various aspects of life. The bill proposes to amend numerous state statutes to prohibit discrimination based on gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation. This would directly affect individuals in areas such as employment, housing, public accommodations, education, insurance coverage, and adoption. Key provisions include requiring government contractors not to discriminate on these grounds, while clarifying that affirmative action requirements may not apply to these new protected characteristics in certain contracts.
SB 577 provides tax exemptions for compensation paid to individuals wrongfully imprisoned, including amounts received from the claims board or legislature. It establishes health care coverage for these individuals for up to five years, with costs shared between the state and the recipient (matching state employee premium rates), and requires departments to create transition plans within five days of release to connect individuals with housing, job assistance, and health services. The bill directly affects people who were convicted of crimes they claim to be innocent of, were released after March 13, 1980, and received compensation under §775.05. Key mechanisms include exempting compensation from income tax (§71.05), creating health coverage rules (§40.516), and mandating transition planning (§301.051).
Assembly Bill 202 primarily removes residential rental agreements from the scope of the Wisconsin Consumer Act. It changes how certain problematic provisions in residential leases are handled, allowing tenants to elect to void the entire agreement or sever only the voidable clauses, rather than the agreement being automatically void. Such voidable clauses include those that authorize landlords to take action against tenants for contacting law enforcement or health services, or for being a victim of a crime. If a tenant voids the agreement, it converts to a periodic tenancy under similar terms, or if a provision is severed, the rest of the agreement remains in effect. Tenants who suffer financial loss due to these voidable provisions can sue for double damages, costs, and attorney fees, excluding rent payments.
