Sugar Creek is a recognized leader in legislative efforts across the country to create, preserve, and enhance state housing credit programs. We have had a hand in creating many of the programs active today.
Legislative sessions can be difficult to keep up with on top of all your deal closings and application deadlines, so here’s a quick round up:
Georgia
What’s going on?
Multiple bills have come out of the Georgia Senate seeking to reduce the state Housing Credit to 50% of the federal award and to limit the existing tax credit market. While continued negotiation is expected through the end of the session, the industry has made significant progress in defending against these efforts.
What is Sugar Creek doing?
We have made investments to bolster and coordinate the lobbyists working on this issue under the Gold Dome. We are closely monitoring existing and new efforts to push this policy change and working to raise awareness among legislators and stakeholders.
What can you do?
It’s time to remain vigilant and hopeful. Where you have an existing relationship, residence, office, or development in Georgia, this is a good time to focus on a personal touch point, contacting your House and Senate members to tell them how critical the Georgia Housing Credit is for families, businesses, and communities across the state. Feel free to reach out if you need help identifying a legislator or getting a script together.
Michigan
What’s going on?
Governor Whitmer just endorsed a state Housing Credit in her State of the State address, and bipartisan legislation is expected to be introduced in the coming days.
What is Sugar Creek doing?
Sugar Creek is helping lead the coalition of partners advancing this legislation and we have secured a contract lobbyist. Our General Counsel Kim Brown is actively leading drafting efforts with legislative staff, and Philip Gilman and Connor Jones have made multiple trips to Lansing to engage and coordinate with legislators, the administration, and MSHDA.
What can you do?
If you are not already a member, the Michigan Housing Council is also leading the charge. And if you are willing to host a legislator at one of your properties this Spring, reach out to MHC or the team here and Sugar Creek.
Colorado
What’s going on?
Colorado is navigating a difficult budget season and juggling how to maintain their primary policy goals. In this fiscal environment, it is common for legislators to look for program savings and no-cost policy mechanisms to advance their priorities.
What is Sugar Creek doing?
Yolanda Marshall was recently in Denver testifying in opposition to a bill that would limit CHFA’s autonomy to administer the Housing Credit programs. Yolanda serves on the Housing Colorado board and works closely with industry partners to continue protecting and prioritizing the state Housing Credits.
What can you do?
Stay up to date with Housing Colorado and don’t hesitate to reach out to Yolanda if you need any support from our on-staff and contract lobbying teams.
Arizona
What’s going on?
While the Arizona Housing Credit unfortunately expired at the end of 2025, a rural-focused state Housing Credit bill is progressing through the legislature. It has passed the House and awaits action in the Senate.
What is Sugar Creek doing?
Chris Hite recently testified before lawmakers, encouraging passage of this bill and the need for a long-term expansion of the proposed program size and scope. We expect these efforts will roll into the upcoming state budget negotiations and we will be working closely with legislators in both chambers.
What can you do?
Connor Jones will be in Phoenix meeting with legislators in the coming weeks. We encourage local industry members to please reach out to Connor if you are interested in participating in these meetings.
Additional Legislative Work
Kansas
Philip Gilman and Connor Jones recently traveled to Topeka to meet with legislative leaders to address concerns raised earlier this session. We will be helping to coordinate site visits for legislators throughout this session and in the lead up to the 2027 session.
Hawaii
Kim Brown and Philip Gilman have offered Zoom testimony in support of legislation to expand the potential investor base and bolster Housing Credit investments.
Wisconsin
Yolanda Marshall has hosted legislative leaders on multiple site visits across Wisconsin, and Philip Gilman testified on behalf of the Housing Credit program earlier this session.
Ongoing Legislative Engagement
Sugar Creek has active contracts for lobbying support in many of our markets across the country and we are already getting to work on future legislation around the country. If you would like to get more involved or need to strengthen your relationships with your local legislators, let us be a resource!