Legislative Update
Volume 25. Number 12
April 22, 2022
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1. JOIN PRESERVATION MONTH BRIEFING
2. SEMIQUINCENTENNIAL GRANTS OPEN
3. BILLS EXPAND STATE HTC IN KY & OH
4. STORIES FROM AROUND THE STATES
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Join Preservation Month Virtual Congressional Briefing |
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As we celebrate National Historic Preservation Month in May, Preservation Action, in partnership with the Historic Preservation Congressional Caucus, invites you to join our Virtual Preservation Month Congressional Briefing on May 10th at 12pm ET. Hear from national and state leaders in the historic preservation community to learn more about the federal preservation program and several ongoing legislative efforts to enhance and strengthen critical preservation programs. The annual briefing is designed to educate congressional staff on historic preservation programs and policies, but is open to everyone!
Historic preservation is a proven tool that spurs community revitalization, creates jobs, promotes heritage tourism, strengthens climate resiliency, and supports local economies all while preserving communities' historic resources for future generations.
The briefing will be held via Zoom. We encourage you to register and invite any congressional staff contacts you have from your members of Congress's office to attend.
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Applications Due May 3rd for Semiquincentennial Grant Program |
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Funded through the Historic Preservation Fund, the Semiquincentennial grant program honors the 250th anniversary of the United States by restoring and preserving state owned sites and structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places that commemorate the founding of the nation. Congress maintained the $10 million funding level for the program as part of the FY22 appropriations bill.
Grants are open to states, tribes, local governments, non-profits, and institutes of higher education that are working with states. The deadline for applications for the inaugural round of funding is May 03, 2022.
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Efforts to Expand State Historic Tax Credit Programs in Kentucky and Ohio Advance |
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Kentucky
Legislation to expand Kentucky's state historic tax credit program is now law. The Kentucky House and Senate recently approved HB 8, which included provisions that doubled the state's maximum historic tax credit for owner-occupied residential structures from $60,000 to $120,000 and substantially increased the per-project cap on income-producing properties rom $400,000 to $10 million. These provisions were originally introduced as HB 659, but were later included as part of the larger tax bill. The larger tax bill was vetoed by Gov. Andy Beshear, but the veto was overridden by the state House and Senate.
Kentucky's historic tax credit provides a 30% credit toward qualified rehabilitation expenses for owner-occupied properties and 20% credit for income-producing properties. The program's overall cap was increased from $5 million to $100 million in 2020. Since the credit was established in 2005, Kentucky's HTC has rehabilitated 1,166 buildings across the state, resulting in $709 million in private investment, from $51.5 million in tax credits. Check out our partners at Preservation Kentucky to learn more!
Ohio
Legislation to expand Ohio's historic tax credit unanimously passed the Senate and is being considered in the House. SB 225 would temporarily increase the Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit's annual cap from $60 million to $120 million for fiscal year 2022 and 2023, and boost the per project cap of $5 million to $10 million in fiscal years 2021, 2022, and 2023. Additionally, the bill would increase the credit from 25% of eligible rehabilitation expenses to 35% for smaller municipalities (under 71,000 people).
Since it's inception in 2006, Ohio's historic tax credit has rehabilitated over 766 historic buildings in 77 different Ohio communities and leveraged an estimated $7.3 billion in private development and federal tax credits. The bill passed the Ohio Senate in February and is currently being considered in the House Ways and Means Committee. Check our partners at Heritage Ohio to learn more!
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Stories From Around the States |
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Preservation Action is the only national non-profit dedicated exclusively to lobbying for the best preservation policies at the federal level. We seek to make historic preservation a national priority by advocating to all branches of government through a grassroots constituency empowered with information and training.
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