Missouri and Pennsylvania both recently passed legislation to increase and improve their State Historic Tax Credits (HTC).

The recent increase in Pennsylvania's state historic tax credit marks a significant victory for historic preservation efforts across the state as a result of a dedicated and diligent statewide coalition.

State Representative Steve Samuelson (D-Lehigh County) championed the effort in the House, proposing to raise the tax credit from $5 million to $20 million.

This proposal gained rapid approval, navigated the budget negotiations, and culminated in Governor Josh Shapiro's signature last Thursday. Legislators highlighted the dual benefits of historic preservation: celebrating Pennsylvania's rich history and driving economic growth by converting historic structures into income-producing properties. The data supports this, showing that every $1 million invested in historic rehabilitation projects creates over 12 jobs, both directly and indirectly. This increase propels Pennsylvania out of its previous last-place ranking in the region and sets the stage for future enhancements to the historic tax credit program.

In Missouri, State Senator Steven Roberts (D-St. Louis) sponsored the Historic, Rural Revitalization and Regulatory Streaming Act, which was later amended into House Bill 2062 and signed into law by the governor on July 9. The new bill increases the HTC in counties outside of St. Louis and Kansas City from 25% to 35% of the total costs of rehabilitation.