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Green Bay Reporter

Wednesday, September 10, 2025

Rep. Behnke authors Wisconsin Assembly bill expanding workforce housing and childcare tax credits

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Elijah Behnke, Wisconsin State Representative for 6th District | Facebook

Elijah Behnke, Wisconsin State Representative for 6th District | Facebook

A new bill authored by State Rep. Elijah R. Behnke in the Wisconsin Assembly seeks to broaden tax credit eligibility for investments supporting workforce housing and childcare programs, according to the Wisconsin State Assembly.

According to the Wisconsin State Legislature's official website, the bill was described as follows: "workforce housing and childcare awards under the business development tax credit. (FE)".

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill modifies workforce housing and childcare investment awards under the business development tax credit. Currently, individuals or businesses can claim tax benefits up to 15% of their investment in workforce housing or employee childcare programs, but these investments are limited to capital expenditures. The bill expands eligible investments to include contributions made to third parties responsible for building or rehabilitating workforce housing or establishing childcare programs, including local revolving loan fund programs. The bill removes the requirement that the housing and childcare programs primarily serve employees. It is effective for taxable years beginning Jan. 1, 2025.

The bill was co-authored by Senator Dan Feyen (Republican-20th District), Representative Barbara Dittrich (Republican-99th District), Representative Rick Gundrum (Republican-58th District), Representative Dean Kaufert (Republican-53rd District), Representative Joel Kitchens (Republican-1st District). It was co-sponsored by Senator Kristin Dassler-Alfheim (Democrat-18th District), Senator Jodi Habush Sinykin (Democrat-8th District), and Senator Howard L. Marklein (Republican-17th District), along 10 other co-sponsors.

Elijah R. Behnke has co-authored or authored another 132 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with none of them being enacted.

Behnke graduated from Toccoa Falls College in 2005 with an AA.

Behnke, a Republican, was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2025 to represent the state's 6th Assembly district, replacing previous state representative Peter Schmidt.

In Wisconsin, the legislative process starts when a senator, constituent, group, or agency proposes an idea for a bill. After drafting, the bill is introduced, numbered, and referred to a committee for review and public input. If approved, it moves through three readings and votes in both the Senate and Assembly. Once both chambers pass the same version, the bill goes to the governor, who can sign it, veto it, or let it become law without a signature. Only a small share of bills introduced each session ultimately become law. You can learn more about the Wisconsin legislative process here.

Bills Introduced by Elijah R. Behnke in Wisconsin Assembly During 2025 Regular Session

Bill NumberDate IntroducedShort Description
AB28005/30/2025Workforce housing and childcare awards under the business development tax credit. (FE)
AB27005/19/2025A school psychologist loan program. (FE)
AB26705/19/2025Waiver of fees for admission to state parks on Earth Day. (FE)
AB25905/19/2025Criminal trespass at a campground and providing a penalty. (FE)
AB24705/08/2025Local building permit fees for certain improvements of residences of disabled veterans. (FE)
AB24205/02/2025Tampering with telecommunication or electric wires and providing a penalty
AB23605/02/2025The rights of sexual assault crime victims
AB18704/15/2025Training completion awards for volunteer firefighters. (FE)
AB18404/15/2025Coverage of individuals with preexisting conditions and benefit limits under health plans
AB17904/15/2025Requirements for lighting on police vehicles
AB17804/15/2025Expanding the treatment alternatives and diversion programs. (FE)
AB15804/02/2025Changing the conditions of liability for worker’s compensation benefits for emergency medical responders, emergency medical services practitioners, volunteer firefighters, correctional officers, emergency dispatchers, coroners and coroner staff, and medical examiners and medical examiner staff. (FE)
AB14903/17/2025The nomination of presidential electors
AB14403/17/2025Eliminating a judgeship from district IV of the court of appeals and establishing an additional judgeship for district III of the court of appeals
AB13603/13/2025Classification of the crime of impersonating law enforcement officers, fire fighters, and certain other emergency personnel and providing a penalty
AB13503/13/2025The right to repair motor vehicles and providing a penalty. (FE)
AB13303/13/2025Investment securities under the Uniform Commercial Code
AB12803/11/2025Requiring first responders to be trained to administer epinephrine delivery systems. (FE)
AB10303/04/2025School board policies related to changing a pupil’s legal name and pronouns
AB9302/28/2025The distribution and labeling of fertilizers and soil or plant additives produced from manure. (FE)
AB9102/28/2025The requirement that first class cities and first class city school districts place school resource officers in schools. (FE)
AB8802/28/2025Civil action for injury or damages resulting from riot or vandalism, participation in a riot, prohibiting certain limitations or restrictions on law enforcement responses to riot or vandalism activity, and providing a penalty
AB7602/28/2025Creating an individual income tax deduction for certain income earned by an individual from the practice of psychiatry or from providing psychiatric or mental health services. (FE)
AB7402/28/2025Parental notification of alleged sexual misconduct by a school staff member. (FE)
AB6602/24/2025Dismissing or amending certain criminal charges and deferred prosecution agreements for certain crimes
AB6402/24/2025An income tax subtraction for certain expenses paid by a school teacher. (FE)
AB4202/17/2025Local regulation of fowl
AB3802/17/2025An income tax exemption for cash tips paid to an employee. (FE)
AB3602/17/2025Law enforcement and firefighter annuitants in the Wisconsin Retirement System who are rehired by a participating employer. (FE)
AB3002/17/2025Prohibiting a foreign adversary from acquiring agricultural or forestry land in this state
AB2602/17/2025Battery or threat to jurors and providing a penalty
AB1802/06/2025Fee waivers for state park vehicle admission receipts to pupils with Every Kid Outdoors passes. (FE)
AB402/03/2025Required instruction in civics in the elementary and high school grades, high school graduation requirements, and private school educational program criteria. (FE)
AB302/03/2025Incorporating cursive writing into the state model English language arts standards and requiring cursive writing in elementary grades. (FE)

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