NAIFA’s North Carolina chapter (NAIFA-NC) held a virtual Advocacy Day, Monday, April 26. Insurance and financial professionals who attended benefited from an update on state legislative and regulatory activity by NAIFA-NC lobbyists Michelle Frazier and David Ferrell.

NAIFA’s national Senior Vice President for Government Relations Diane Boyle and Government Relations Director Mike Hedge provided an update on the federal PRO Act, which has passed the House of Representatives but has not yet passed the Senate. The legislation would reclassify many NAIFA members as “employees” rather than “independent contractors” under federal labor laws, having harmful consequences impacting their business models and ability to serve the best interests of their clients. Boyle and Hedge highlighted the results of a recent survey indicating that well over 90% of NAIFA members who currently operate as independent contractors do not want to be reclassified as employees.

Highlighting NAIFA-NC Advocacy Day were discussions by state Senator Todd Johnson (R-Union) and Rep. Chris Humphrey (R-Lenoir, Pitt) on the importance of political involvement and ways NAIFA members can develop impactful relationships with lawmakers. They also spoke about bills before the Legislature that are of interest to NAIFA members and answered attendees’ questions.