Producer Licensing & CE Bills, Winter Conf Early-Bird Deadline, Feb Education Calendar, Young Agent Scholarships, New Texting Guide, More

Independent Insurance Agents of Nebraska E-Bulletin

February 6, 2018

Register For 41st Annual Winter Conference By Today For Discount

February 20-21, 2018 - Holiday Inn - Kearney

Don't delay - we have a great event planned for this year's Winter Conference! We're bringing top national agribusiness expert Casey Roberts to Kearney to deliver the latest on Farm Liability and Pollution, along with challenges from Drones, Robotics, and other developing technologies - plus respected insurance guru Sam Bennett will be there to explain why "It's Best To Be You" in commercial lines policies, and the coverage challenges that come with the "sharing economy" - whether it's Uber, Lyft, Airbnb, VRBO, or couch-surfing!

You can earn up to 12 CEUs, including 3 Ethics!

And that's not all - D.C. insider Phillip Hayes will give you an update on what's happening with the new Farm Bill, and be your drill sargent for a hard-hitting Social Media Boot Camp, sponsored by Nextgen, IIAN's young agents. And speaking of young agents - there's a special conference rate of $99 for you - along with a Nextgen reception and whiskey+wine bottle toss!

And with over 45 exhibitors, the Winter Conference Trade Fair is where it's at for connecting with agents, companies, markets, and services - including refreshments, great food, and tons of prizes!

This year you won't want to miss our "Guns, Roses & Whiskey"
auction
to benefit the IIAN Foundation and IIAN's new Talent Network program - featuring a limited edition, Agricultural Heritage Edition Henry H001 22 rifle with Nebraska sesquicentennial engraving, premium whiskeys, hunting/fishing gear, jewelry, luxury spa package, and more!

UNICAMERAL UPDATE


	Sen. Lindstrom and Sen. Kolterman (Center), with IIAN Ambassadors Andy Bassett (Left) and Greg Zimmer (Right)

2018 Day at the Capitol

January 31 Luncheon at the Mansion with Senators

IIAN's third annual "Day at the Capitol" event on Wednesday, January 31, drew over 65 Big "I" member "Ambassadors", Nebraska senators and staffers, and Insurance Department officials to the Nebraska Capitol. The event featured another sold-out luncheon at the Governor's Mansion attended by Nebraska senators and staff, along with IIAN members from their districts. Senator Brett Lindstrom, chairman of the Banking, Commerce & Insurance Committee, and Senator Mark Kolterman spoke about bills introduced this year affecting insurance and agents.

The luncheon followed an issues briefing by IIAN legislative representative Jim Cavanaugh, along with individual meetings in senators' offices to discuss IIAN's top issue, LB 553

, sponsored by Senator John Lowe of Kearney.

Interested in getting more involved in Big "I" advocacy? Click here to find out more about IIAN's Legislative Advisory Council and Ambassadors program.

One-Third Of Unicameral Session Over - No Bills Passed Yet

The 2018 Unicameral session is more than one-third over - to date no bills have passed, but Speaker Jim Scheer has announced that this week bills will be heard on Final Reading (last step before passage). IIAN's Legislative committee, chaired by Bob Hoppe of Columbus, met on January 22, and determined positions on bills impacting IIAN members and the industry this year. Click here to see the 18 new bills on IIAN's "watch list", along with bills carried over from the 2017 session.

Bills Impacting Producer Education, Producer Licensing On The Move

IIAN supports LB743 , which was advanced to Select File (second round of voting) on February 1. IIAN leaders met with Insurance Department officials last November to provide input on the provisions of LB 743, which would adopt the Public Adjusters Licensing Act, eliminate the pre-licensing education requirement for insurance producers, and require course providers to file for re-approval of approved continuing education courses every four years. IIAN legislative representative Jim Cavanaugh testified in support at the bill's hearing on January 16. The Banking, Commerce & Insurance Committee has designated priority status - it's headed for passage. More detailed information.

IIAN also supports
LB 486
, which was advanced to Select File on January 24. LB 486 would allow up to 6 CEUs (out of 24 every 2 years in Nebraska) for "active participation in a professional insurance association" - by attending a formal meeting of the association; active service on a board or committee; or participation in industry, regulatory, or legislative meetings. LB 486 has a chance for passage.

"Limited License" For Owners of Self-Storage Units

IIAN is monitoring LB 1012, which was heard before the Banking, Commerce and Insurance Committee on January 30. The bill w ould exempt owners of self-storage units from having to qualify as a licensed producer in order to sell insurance on their customers' property while it is stored or in transit; instead it provides for a "limited license". IIAN recently worked with the Department of Insurance and the bill's sponsor to amend LB 1012 to include more stringent education requirements and consumer protections. Representatives of the Self Storage Association testified in support at the hearing, Director of Insurance Bruce Ramge testified neutral.

Check "Member Update" at www.iian.org every Monday for Jim Cavanaugh's "Week In Review" report for updated status on all of the bills IIAN is watching.

Go to www.nebraskalegislature.gov to see the full text and status of any bill.

ON THE HILL

Young Agent Scholarships Available - Apply By March 15


	Click above for Young Agent video.

If you're a Young Agent (age 45 or under, or 6 or less years in insurance), and you'd like to join IIAN's officers and hundreds of other agents from across the country for IIABA's annual Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C., May April 18-20, f ax or e-mail your application for one of two $1,500 scholarships to the IIAN office by March 15, 2018!

Each $1,500 scholarship should be sufficient to cover conference registration, air fare, and up to two nights' lodging - and most meals are provided by the Big "I".

Click here to download scholarship application. WE NEED YOUR VOICE!
See conference schedule. Read about the issues.

Cadillac Tax & NFIP Extension

The Congressional deal to reopen the federal government after a three-day shutdown had two insurance-related pieces:

It added another two-year delay of the Affordable Care Act's 'Cadillac' tax which has now been delayed until 2022. If enacted, this harmful tax would hit many of our small business members and their clients, potentially forcing them to choose between paying the tax or reducing benefits for their employees.
It temporarily reauthorized the National Flood Insurance Program. Lapses in the program - the primary insurer of flood risk for more than five million policyholders nationwide - can be incredibly disruptive. Earlier congressional inaction caused the program to lapse four times over the last decade.

How Does Tax Reform Impact You?

The Big "I" has published a new ten-page white paper outlining the most salient provisions of the new tax law that could impact independent insurance agents and their agencies. Members can log in to the Big "I" government affairs tax web page to access continually updated information.
Impact On Agency Valuation & M&A's
According to an analysis by Reagan Consulting , a firm that advises independent agents and brokers, insurance agencies currently organized as C-corporations, as well as smaller pass-throughs in states with low income tax rates, are most likely to see increased valuations. However, because taxes for pass-through entities are based on every owner or shareholder's individual tax picture, it is impossible to determine general impacts with certainty. The analysis also notes that the new tax law will likely have a minimal impact on larger pass-through insurance agency valuations, and that converting to a C-corporation may or may not be beneficial because in most cases it still costs less in taxes to get cash out of a pass-through entity than a C-corporation. Read more . . .

TECHNOLOGY

Texting - New Tools To Help Meet FCC Requirements
Text messaging gives independent agents a quick and simple way to communicate with clients, on an individual or aggregate basis, regarding policy reminders, new product offerings and risk management tips. But the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has broadly interpreted the federal Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) to regulate nearly all commercial text messaging, even if a text is sent to one person rather than multiple recipients. To help you meet the requirements of the TCPA, the Agents Council for Technology (ACT), in conjunction with the Big "I" Office of the General Counsel, has released a sample text messaging opt-in form and sample terms and conditions.

EDUCATION CALENDAR - FEBRUARY

New! Lightning Learning from the Big "I" Virtual University strikes with quick and impactful monthly live webinars! Catch each session live or via the link to on-demand recording. It's easy and cost-effective with ONE registration for three 20 minute sessions with new topics every month. Start off February with a review of Homeowners' Replacement Cost, Special Limits & Dog Bite Issues. Use as content for your next agency meeting or as training for a new staff member! (not approved for CE credit). Register here.

Learn More