More than fifty members from 10 commercial real estate associations stormed the capitol on Wednesday,
March 2nd for Commercial Real Estate Government Day. Attendees heard from Craig Thompson with the Wisconsin Transportation Development Association and Dennis Winters, State of Wisconsin Chief Economist (see presentation HERE.) They also visited their legislators and networked with industry peers. “A top priority in talking with legislators is to show solidarity with industry partners,” said Tom Larson, SVP of Legislative Affairs with WRA. “Our strength is in our numbers which is over 2,000 when members of all associations are combined.”
Recent Legislative Wins:
The CARW and the WRA recently passed a number of important pieces of pro-property owner, commercial real estate, and consumer-friendly legislation in Madison. Your support and advocacy for these issues makes continued legislative success possible. Thank you!
- Chapter 452 Modernization (AB 456/SB 375): Updates Chapter 452 of the Wisconsin statutes to address a number of key issues impacting the real estate industry, including creating an independent contractor safe harbor. Status: passed.
- Private Property Rights Package (AB 582/SB 464): Better protects private property rights by improving the regulatory environment at both the state and local levels. Status: passed.
- Landlord/Tenant Bill (AB 568/SB 445): Modifies current landlord-tenant law to better protect the interests of both tenants and landlords, including the option to expedite evictions for criminal activity. Status: passed.
- Chapter 30 Reform Package (AB 600/SB 459): Makes a number of changes to the Wisconsin statutes that regulate activities near navigable waterways. Status: passed.
- Tax Increment Finance (TIF) Bills:SB 50 (AB 131): Makes several technical changes to the law regarding public notice requirements, time limits for joint review board actions, and maintaining the industrial zoning classification for only industrial TIDs
SB 51 (AB132): Makes modifications to the functions of Joint Review Boards.
SB 53 (AB134): Allows local governments to mitigate the negative impacts to TID cash flows caused by legislative and administrative actions.
SB 54 (AB 135): Provides local communities with greater flexibility as to the composition of a TID by eliminating the 25% vacant land test. - Liquor License (AB 612): While originally created to help the Titletown development, we are already hearing that other Southeastern Wisconsin projects will be benefiting from the new legislation. In a nutshell, the legislation creates two licenses for special economic development districts and allows municipalities w
ith extra licenses to rent them to neighboring communities.
*photo shows bill signing of Chapter 452 changes with leaders from the State Legislature, WRA and CARW chairman Jeff Hoffman, CCIM, SIOR