At PastForward 2025, two policy sessions brought people together around one powerful idea: smart public policy is essential to preserving the historic places we love—and local voices play a vital role in shaping that policy.

The first session, Shaping Policy, Saving Places, offered a behind-the-scenes look at how keen advocacy at the local level helps secure support for preservation at the federal and state levels.

Experts discussed federal funding, including critical grant programs in the Historic Preservation Fund like Save America’s Treasures and Semiquincentennial Grants, as well as the unfunded African American Burial Grounds grant program. This section emphasized the importance of keeping up the pressure to protect these resources in Congress.

Another policy area discussed was the Historic Tax Credit. Attendees learned how proposed updates could make the credit more accessible to nonprofits, support smaller projects, and bring faster benefits to communities. Real-world examples showed how combining state and federal programs can transform places and spark new investment.

The session also looked ahead to the future of preservation law, highlighting the need to modernize the National Historic Preservation Act to better respond to today’s challenges—from climate change to affordable housing. As preservation evolves, so must the tools used to protect places that matter.

Later in the conference week, the Federal Policy Networking Breakfast built on these ideas with a lively, interactive format that brought together dozens of advocates, professionals, and newcomers. Participants sat at topic-specific tables to share insights, ask questions, and explore ways to make preservation policy more effective, inclusive, and responsive to community needs.

Conversations ranged from the technical—like federal review processes and building standards—to big-picture questions: How can preservation support climate resilience? What role can it play in advancing equity and affordability? How do we ensure that preservation works for everyone?

Across both sessions, one message came through clearly: when people come together to share stories and advocate for the places they care about, they help shape a stronger, more relevant preservation movement.

These conversations laid important groundwork for future advocacy and reminded us that policy isn't just made in Washington, D.C.—it starts in our communities.