As part of their ongoing state-level advocacy work, NAIOP members from chapters in Ohio, Michigan and North Carolina engaged policymakers at their state capitals this week. NAIOP members from these states traveled to their respective state capitols to engage and educate lawmakers about the key role of commercial real estate development in spurring economic growth and job creation.
Nearly 80 members from the four Ohio chapters traveled to Columbus for meetings with lawmakers and administration officials to advocate for policies that promote smart economic growth, streamline regulatory processes and fund state programs supporting transformative development across the state. These state programs include the Transformational Mixed-Use Development Program, Opportunity Zone Tax Credit, Brownfield Remediation Program, and Historic Preservation Tax Credit. In addition, NAIOP of Ohio is supporting legislation that modernizes development processes, establishes timelines for local land use decisions, and ensures more predictability to annexation processes and Community Reinvestment Area approval processes.
The Annual Meeting and Legislative Day booklet also included a review of data center development in Ohio. The state alliance recognizes data center’s role as part of the state’s economic infrastructure and as drivers of innovation across multiple sectors of the state’s economy. NAIOP of Ohio supports “a balanced, informed and forward-looking policy framework that allows Ohio to remain competitive while responsibly addressing community, infrastructure and environmental considerations.”
In the mid-Atlantic, members from the three North Carolina chapters – Charlotte, North Carolina Piedmont Triad and Raleigh Durham – traveled to Raleigh this week to advance their 2026 legislative priorities within the state capitol. Their legislative day included meetings with House Speaker Dustin Hall, Senate President Phil Berger and other state lawmakers. NAIOP of North Carolina supports policies that support the state’s continued economic growth, invests in workforce development, funds needed transportation and infrastructure improvements, and provides more transparency and predictability to regulatory processes.
It is worth noting that there are efforts in Ohio to reduce and eliminate property taxes to provide owners with economic relief. However, some policymakers are concerned that the elimination of property taxes will result in increased taxes and fees in other sectors to make up for the lost revenue and maintain a balanced budget. Proponents in Ohio have pledged to continue their effort next year if the necessary requirements are not met for the initiative to qualify for the November ballot.
The core mission of NAIOP of Detroit, one of NAIOP’s newest chapters, is for the state to provide a foundation for continued commercial real estate development and strengthen Michigan’s competitiveness in attracting and retaining private sector investments. This includes effective advocacy at each level of government to ensure public policies are enacted to support growth.
The chapter took its first steps towards this objective with members traveling to Lansing for the initial introduction of NAIOP to lawmakers and the industry’s contribution to the state economy and workforce. The meetings established a relationship within the state capitol that will lead to future policy discussions impacting the development industry.
Legislative days at the state capitol provide valuable opportunities for NAIOP members to build relationships and discuss the issues impacting commercial real estate development directly with state decisionmakers. Member engagement in the legislative process ensures the industry’s voice is heard and taken into consideration.
