Kaine and Warner reintroduce bill to extend federal tax credit to help modernize schools

Virginia’s two U.S. Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner have reintroduced the School Infrastructure Modernization Act, legislation to help modernize schools in Virginia and across the nation to adjust the current federal historic rehabilitation tax credit to make school buildings that continue to operate as schools eligible for the credit.

Under current law, the credit only applies to buildings renovated to serve a different function than before. This bill would waive this ‘prior use’ clause for school renovation projects, allowing school districts with aging infrastructure and tight budgets to partner with private entities to finance renovations that the districts otherwise would not be able to afford. Older schools can often be renovated for less money than the cost of new construction. Representative Dwight Evans (D-PA-3) introduced companion legislation on the House side.

While Mayor of Richmond, Kaine led a coalition to utilize the historic tax credit to finance the renovation of a closed public school and reopen it as the Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School for Government and International Studies.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has further underscored the need to ensure our schools are modern and safe learning environments,” said the Senators. “By modernizing schools, we can help more students learn, support local economies with construction jobs, and maintain the character of these historic institutions.”

The Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives Program has played a role in rehabilitating historic structures and revitalizing communities for more than 35 years. In the Commonwealth alone, the Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit (HTC) has helped restore more than 1,200 structures since 1997. According to a June report from the Virginia Department of Education, over half of all schools in Virginia—more than 1,000 schools—are at least 50 years old.

Kaine is a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee and the Senate Budget Committee. Senator Mark R. Warner js a member of the Senate Budget Committee and the Senate Finance Committee.