While much of the conversation this year focused on housing, the 2025 legislative session delivered several meaningful updates that directly impact commercial real estate across Wisconsin.
The throughline is clear: more predictability, more flexibility, and a continued focus on making it easier to develop, invest, and transact.
Updates to the development approval process under 2025 Wisconsin Act 68 aim to create more clarity around timelines and earlier coordination with municipalities—an important step toward reducing uncertainty and carrying costs on projects. It’s the kind of incremental progress that helps move deals forward.
At the same time, 2025 Wisconsin Act 78 expands the state’s Business Development Tax Credit, allowing investment in workforce-supportive housing beyond employer-specific projects. For commercial real estate, that means more opportunity for capital to support mixed-use environments and the broader ecosystems that drive growth.
The session also included changes to improve transaction efficiency. 2025 Wisconsin Act 60 and Act 69 modernize aspects of property transfers and listing practices—bringing greater consistency and transparency to the deal process.
Individually, these updates may seem modest. But collectively, they reinforce a more competitive environment for development and investment across the state.
For CARW members, it’s a reminder that policy matters. The details—timelines, eligibility, process—shape what gets built, how quickly it happens, and whether deals ultimately come together.
We’ll continue to track these changes and advocate for policies that support a strong, predictable environment for commercial real estate across Wisconsin.
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