Government Affairs Update: May 2025

The NAIOP Corporate government affairs staff has been busy working with chapters at the state, local, federal and provincial levels to represent the positions of the commercial real estate industry.

 

Nevada Day at the State Capitol 

Members from the southern and northern chapters traveled to Carson City to meet with state lawmakers. With more than 875 members and over 412 affiliated businesses in commercial development and related fields, the industry is a powerful economic driver, creating jobs and generating significant fiscal contributions to state and local economies. These contributions strengthen NAIOP’s voice on the issues facing the industry, that include economic development and tax policies, land use and growth management, infrastructure and community issues.

 

NAIOP Nevada also discussed with state leaders the need to strengthen the federal/state intergovernmental relationship to facilitate the release of additional federal lands for commercial and residential development. In addition, NAIOP President and CEO Marc Selvitelli and Associate Vice President of State and Local Affairs Toby Burke participated in the legislative day and provided updates on federal and state initiatives.

 

NAIOP Pittsburgh Goes to the Pennsylvania State Capitol 

NAIOP Pittsburgh members went to the state capitol in Harrisburg last week to discuss the issues facing commercial real estate with their representatives. Many of these discussions focused on permitting reform, and changes to the Department of Environmental Protection. Another major topic of discussion was energy policy, specifically the promotion of microgrid projects. In addition to the meetings at the state capitol, NAIOP Pittsburgh’s leadership attended the annual Harrisburg reception hosted jointly by the Allegheny Conference on Community Development and the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia.

 

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy Proposes “Tax on Everything” Truck Fee 

For the second consecutive year, Governor Phil Murphy included in his budget address a proposed $2 fee each time a truck makes a delivery to any warehouse in New Jersey. This proposal was soundly defeated last year as leadership in the Assembly and the Senate summarily dismissed this concept. This fee is a “tax on everything" and will impact the wallets of New Jersey residents, the cost of doing business in the state, and the commercial real estate industry.

 

President Donald Trump Issues “Protecting American Energy from State Overreach” Executive Order 

Last month, President Donald Trump issued an executive order instructing the attorney general to identify state laws that hinder energy production and determine whether they might be unconstitutional or pre-empted by federal law. This order comes as part of Trump’s broader plan to “unleash” American energy production on both the federal and state levels. NAIOP members around the country have faced state laws and regulations that have hindered their access to inexpensive and reliable energy, such as Energize Denver and Regulation 28 in Colorado. Legal challenges are expected.

 

Read more in the executive order: Protecting American Energy from State Overreach.

 

NAIOP Leaders Meet with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith during CABC Reception 

NAIOP President and CEO Marc Selvitelli and 2025 Chair Alex Thomson met with Premier Danielle Smith during a reception, hosted by the Canadian American Business Council (CABC), last week in Edmonton. NAIOP Corporate is a member of CABC, a nonpartisan, nonprofit, issue-oriented organization focused on the economic relationships between the United States and Canada.

 

Read O Canada! Guess Who Came to the White House? by Paul Brown, Campbell Strategies on NAIOP's Market Share blog.

 

Additional information can be found in our May GA Update, or for support, contact NAIOP Associate Vice President of State and Local Affairs Toby Burke at 703-904-7100, ext. 116.