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Bill > AB916


WI AB916

WI AB916
A home repair program and making an appropriation. (FE)


summary

Introduced
01/28/2026
In Committee
01/28/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

2025-2026 Regular Session

Bill Summary

This bill directs the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority to establish a home repair program for the following purposes: 1. To ensure that residential housing units are fit for human habitation; free from defective conditions or health and safety hazards, including asbestos, mold, pests, and lead; and free from conditions preventing the installation of measures to improve energy or water efficiency and lower utility costs. 2. To implement energy efficiency measures. 3. To make residential housing units accessible for individuals with disabilities. The bill requires WHEDA to award grants, not to exceed $25,000 per residential housing unit, to homeowners with annual household incomes of less than 100 percent of the area median income, and interest-free loans, not to exceed $25,000 per residential housing unit, to landlords that, in a landlord’s capacity as a landlord, have an ownership stake in no more than five properties and no more than 15 residential housing units, which the landlord rents for use as affordable housing. In the bill, “affordable housing” is defined in part as housing for occupancy by individuals whose annual household income does not exceed 100 percent of the area median income. Under the bill, WHEDA must prioritize awarding grants to homeowners with disabilities and homeowners with children five years of age or younger, and WHEDA may not award a grant or loan for a residential housing unit that was constructed more than 40 years nor less than 10 years before the homeowner or landlord applied for the grant or loan. Under the bill, if a homeowner sells a residential housing unit within four years after receiving a grant under the bill, the homeowner is immediately liable to WHEDA for a portion of the grant amount. If a landlord sells a residential housing unit within four years after receiving a loan under the bill, the landlord is immediately liable to WHEDA for the unpaid remainder of the loan amount. WHEDA may contract with a county or a nonprofit organization to administer the program in the bill and must provide annual reports to the Joint Committee on Finance and relevant standing committees of the legislature on certain information about the program. The program created under the bill is funded by a portion of the amount transmitted to this state by counties in this state from the real estate transfer fee collected from the conveyance of real property from one person to another. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

AI Summary

This bill directs the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) to establish a home repair program funded by a portion of real estate transfer fees, aimed at improving the safety, efficiency, and accessibility of residential housing units. The program will offer grants of up to $25,000 per unit to eligible homeowners whose annual household income is less than 100 percent of the area median income, which refers to the median family income in a county adjusted for family size. Priority for these grants will be given to homeowners with disabilities and those with young children. Additionally, the bill provides interest-free loans of up to $25,000 per unit to eligible landlords who own no more than five properties and a total of 15 residential units that are rented as "affordable housing," meaning housing for individuals earning no more than 100 percent of the area median income. Both grants and loans can be used for repairs to ensure housing is fit for human habitation, free from hazards like asbestos, mold, pests, and lead, and to facilitate energy or water efficiency upgrades and accessibility for individuals with disabilities. However, neither grants nor loans can be used for homes built less than 10 years or more than 40 years ago. The bill also includes a "clawback" provision, requiring homeowners who receive a grant to repay a portion of it if they sell the home within four years, and landlords who receive a loan to repay the full outstanding amount if they sell the property within the same timeframe. WHEDA may contract with counties or non-profit organizations to administer the program and must submit annual reports to the legislature detailing program activities and outcomes.

Committee Categories

Housing and Urban Affairs

Sponsors (39)

Deb Andraca (D)* Margaret Arney (D)* Mike Bare (D)* Brienne Brown (D)* Ben DeSmidt (D)* Steve Doyle (D)* Jodene Emerson (D)* Joan Fitzgerald (D)* Russell Goodwin (D)* Kalan Haywood (D)* Andrew Hysell (D)* Alex Joers (D)* Tara Johnson (D)* Karen Kirsch (D)* Darrin Madison (D)* Renuka Mayadev (D)* Vincent Miresse (D)* Supreme Moore Omokunde (D)* Greta Neubauer (D)* Lori Palmeri (D)* Christian Phelps (D)* Pricilla Prado (D)* Amaad Rivera-Wagner (D)* Ann Roe (D)* Joe Sheehan (D)* Christine Sinicki (D)* Lee Snodgrass (D)* Shelia Stubbs (D)* Lisa Subeck (D)* Sequanna Taylor (D)* Angelito Tenorio (D)* Randy Udell (D)* Robyn Vining (D)* Dianne Hesselbein (D),  LaTonya Johnson (D),  Chris Larson (D),  Jeff Smith (D),  Mark Spreitzer (D),  Bob Wirch (D), 

Last Action

Read first time and referred to Committee on Housing and Real Estate (on 01/28/2026)

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