Governor Signs Package of Workforce Housing Bills Recently Approved by Lawmakers
Gov. Tony Evers yesterday signed four bipartisan bills strongly supported by WEDA to help address Wisconsin’s housing shortage. The following four bills will help expand access to affordable housing for working families, strengthen the state’s workforce, and ultimately lay the foundation for future economic growth across Wisconsin:
- Assembly Bill 264 (2023 Wisconsin Act 14) – Creates a residential housing infrastructure revolving loan fund program, allowing a residential housing developer to apply to the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) for a loan to cover the costs of installing, replacing, upgrading, or improving public infrastructure related to workforce housing or senior housing.
- Assembly Bill 265 (2023 Wisconsin Act 15) – Creates a main street housing rehabilitation revolving loan funding program, allowing an owner of rental housing to apply to WHEDA for a loan to cover the costs of an improvement to workforce housing to maintain it in a decent, safe, and sanitary condition or to restore it to that condition.
- Assembly Bill 268 (2023 Wisconsin Act 18) – Creates a commercial-to-residential conversation revolving loan fund program under WHEDA, allowing a developer to apply to WHEDA for a loan to cover the costs of converting a vacant commercial building to workforce housing or senior housing.
- Assembly Bill 267 (2023 Wisconsin Act 17) – Makes various modifications to the Workforce Housing Rehabilitation Loan Program administered by WHEDA.
In addition, last night, the Joint Finance Committee – the Legislature’s powerful budget-writing committee – approved $525 million as part of the 2023-25 state budget to fund these four workforce housing bill.
