Advocacy in action blog

NAIFA’s advocacy team and grassroots army have been engaged from the beginning of conronavirus-related shutdowns with Congress, state legislatures, and federal and state regulators on proposals to provide economic relief and recovery assistance to individuals, families, and small businesses. We provided input to Congress as they shaped the first three phases of COVID-19 legislation, including the Paycheck Protection Program.

NAIFA will celebrate its 130th anniversary Thursday, June 19, with an online Town Hall meeting “The State of NAIFA on Our 130th Anniversary Celebration.”

When Colorado legislators on June 8 introduced changes to the state’s tax laws that would impact insurance companies, consumers, and retirement savers, NAIFA’s state advocacy team sprang to action. The original version of the “Adjust Tax Expenditures For State Education Fund Act” (HB20-1420) would have expanded the state’s tax on some insurance premiums to include a broader range of annuity products. It also would have removed a credit applied to existing premium taxes for insurance companies that maintain home offices in Colorado.

Registered index-linked annuity (RILA) products offer a good option for some consumers who want to benefit from market growth while reducing their exposure to market losses. These are long-term, tax-deferred investments that are often well-suited for investors who are preparing for retirement, especially those who are retired or are nearing retirement and wish to reduce the impact of market downturns.

NAIFA-WI teamed up with other trade associations representing the insurance and financial services industry to push back on a potential regulatory proposal that would complicate existing data privacy and security laws. 

Colorado’s Implementation of Colorado Secure Savings Program bill, SB 200, is on a trajectory to pass. NAIFA, along with the American Council of Life Insurers, Insured Retirement Institute, and National Federation of Independent Business, worked diligently to counter the measure. There was limited time for debate. Also, the proposal is an initiative of the House Speaker. These factors make it all but impossible to defeat.

Arizona Governor Doug Ducey signed into law SB 1557 on Friday June 5, 2020. The measure will amend the state’s requirements governing annuity recommendations and sales by requiring producers and insurers to act in the best interest of annuity purchasers and to not put their own financial interests ahead of the consumers’ interest. These revisions track amendments made earlier this year by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners to the NAIC Suitability in Annuity Transactions Model Regulation, which aligns well with the SEC’s Regulation Best Interest and will raise the standard of care required of financial professionals while preserving consumers’ access to valuable financial advice, services and products.

Last week NAIFA issued a joint statement with industry association partners to denounce racial injustice. NAIFA has always advocated for financial security for all and the responses we received to our statement were overwhelmingly positive. Our active pursuit of racial equality does not support violence or any activity that works against financial security—including looting, marring our national monuments and destroying private property. We are further saddened by the damage done through rioting and in no way condone these activities as a method of protest.

The U.S. Senate has passed the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act that would increase the program’s loan period for borrowers seeking forgiveness from eight weeks to six months. The legislation would also expand the ability of small businesses to use PPP funds to pay rent, mortgages, utilities, and other essential business costs. The bill keeps the obligations requiring recipients seeking loan forgiveness to avoid layoffs and provide worker protections. The House of Representatives had previously passed the bill, and the president is expected to sign it into law.

Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) had some interesting things to say on the Politico "Morning Money" program about the economic recovery and the potential for future COVID-19 legislation. As a former financial professional and NAIFA member in the days before he entered politics, Scott shows a strong understanding of the issues important to agents and advisors and their Main Street clients.