As we enter the fall and begin conversations with members and legislators about the next legislative cycle, we close on what was one of the most prolific and successful session in 2015/16. As members are aware, making legislative progress is a key priority for CARW. Commercial economic development involves initiatives that extend to all areas of real estate including residential, industrial and commercial. In January 2015, the Wisconsin REALTORS Association (WRA) board of directors approved a comprehensive and ambitious list of legislative priorities for the 2015-16 legislative session. The list consisted of numerous legislative priorities designed to improve all sectors of Wisconsin’s real estate industry— and achieve a number of goals.
These goals included:
1 Removing hurdles to successful real estate transactions.
2 Making home and property ownership more affordable.
3 Keeping REALTORS® at the center of the real estate transaction.
4 Revitalizing our downtowns.
5 Making ownership of rental property less onerous.
6 Protecting private property rights.
7 Removing regulatory barriers to residential and commercial development.
Throughout the legislative session, the legislative affairs team worked closely with Gov. Walker’s administration and legislators on both sides of the aisle to pass our legislative priorities. From reducing property taxes to protecting property rights to modernizing the regulations affecting real estate brokers and salespeople, state lawmakers showed tremendous support for As the issues that are important to the real estate industry. For example, we received unanimous support for our top legislative priority, which was 2015 Wis. Act 258, which contained, among other things, a two-year statute of limitations for real estate licensees and a safe harbor to protect the independent contractor status of real estate licensees. Many of the other WRA legislative priorities also received unanimous or bipartisan support.
We look forward to working with the members and WRA on the next session!
CLICK HERE for the full report guide.
If you are interested in being a part of the CARW Public Affairs committee, please contact Tracy Johnson at tracy@carw.com
Thanks to WRA for producing the comprehensive wrap-up guide.