Advocacy in action blog

The Senate is preparing revisions to the massive budget and tax bill previously approved by the House with a goal of passing final legislation by July 4th. It is crucial to millions of Main Street businesses, many of which are owned or served by NAIFA members, that the final reconciliation bill makes the Section 199A deduction for pass-through businesses permanent and expands the deduction from 20 to 23%.

NAIFA Trustee Dennis Cuccinelli of NAIFA-New Jersey testified before the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development to voice concerns over a proposed rule that would codify the ABC test for determining worker classification.

"The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' (CMS) decision to positively adjust agent compensation for 2026 is a meaningful step in the right direction," said NAIFA CEO Kevin Mayeux, CAE. "This adjustment reflects growing recognition of the critical role licensed insurance professionals play in guiding Medicare beneficiaries through a complex and often confusing system.

The National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) strongly objects to United Healthcare’s decision to cut agent commissions on more than 100 Medicare Advantage plans across over 20 states. This action undermines the value of professional guidance at a time when seniors need it most.

NAIFA supports the bipartisan FIREWALL Act - Facilitating Increased Resilience, Environmental Weatherization and Lowered Liability - introduced by Senators Adam Schiff and Tim Sheehy. As natural disasters grow in frequency and severity, this legislation offers a proactive, fiscally responsible strategy to help protect American families and stabilize insurance markets.

A rule proposed by the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD) threatens the independent contractor status of many insurance agents and brokers and would improperly classify them as "employees" under state labor laws. Unfortunately, this would also impact consumers in the state, as the independence of licensed insurance and financial professionals allows them to effectively serve their clients by offering products and services from multiple insurance companies and financial institutions.

The House passed its version of the $6 trillion+ reconciliation bill (including a $3.8 trillion tax title), but we are still a long way from final action. Changes are expected in the Senate, and then more changes are likely as the House and Senate try to reconcile their two versions of the bill. Details are below. But first: a quick report on a highly successful NAIFA Congressional Conference last week.

NAIFA CEO Kevin Mayeux, CAE, released the following statement in response to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) press release announcing an aggressive strategy to enhance and accelerate Medicare Advantage audits:

NAIFA endorses the House budget reconciliation bill for its provisions that assist families and businesses. Ensuring the long-term stability of favorable tax policies will give families and small businesses the predictability essential for smart financial planning, empowering them to make well-informed choices, invest wisely, and strengthen their financial futures.

NAIFA is pleased the House Ways and Means Budget Reconciliation Title recognizes the need for American families and businesses to plan for their financial futures with access to knowledgeable professionals, affordable insurance products, and certainty in policy. 

A stable tax system that continues to encourage Americans to plan and save for their future is more important than ever. Families are able to protect themselves through the current tax treatment of cash value life insurance, incentives to participate in individual and employer-sponsored retirement plans, savings vehicles for education and emergencies, paid leave, long-term care insurance, and disability insurance, and employer-provided health insurance. These measures reflect sound tax policy, established over decades, that gives Americans of all backgrounds the opportunity to attain a secure financial future.  

NAIFA applauds the measure to permanently extend and increase the Section 199A deduction, which many of our members utilize to provide products and services that millions of Americans rely on to improve their financial security. The Section 199A deduction allows small- and medium-sized businesses, which are the backbone of the American economy, to remain competitive and to retain parity in corporate and passthrough income taxation. In addition: