Unicameral Starts Jan 3, Guide To Tax Reform, January Education, Winter Conference Feb 20-21

Independent Insurance Agents of Nebraska E-Bulletin

December 20, 2017

Thank You For Your Membership & Support

IIAN's staff and Board of Directors would like to take the opportunity to thank you for your membership. We are so glad to have you as part of the Big 'I' family and appreciate your support of your association! Without your involvement we simply couldn't do what we do to help you succeed.

We wish you, your organization, and your family a merry Christmas holiday, and healthy and prosperous 2018! Contact us any time for information and assistance.

IIAN staff roster and emails IIAN Board roster and emails

Holiday Schedule: The IIAN office will be closed at noon on December 22, back open on December 26; also closed on January 1, 2018.

LEGISLATIVE NEWS


	IIAN's Annual Luncheon with Senators at the Governor's Mansion is scheduled for January 31

IIAN Is Gearing Up For Unicameral Session Starting January 3

IIAN Bill Addressing Uninsured Independent Contractors Is Still Top Priority

IIAN's Legislative committee and Legislative Advisory Council (LAC) members are gearing up for the 2018 Unicameral "short session" starting January 3 and scheduled to run until April 18. The 2017 "long" session was relatively short - 86 of 90 days - and unproductive by historical standards, with 26% of bills introduced being passed vs.the usual 33%.

IIAN Bill On Uninsured Independent Contractors Carried Over From 2017

By the end of the 2017 session, all but one of the 23 insurance-related bills on IIAN's watch list were held over for the 2018 "short" session - including LB 553, IIAN's bill to address the industry-wide problem of independent contractors who are not insured for workers' compensation.

"This issue remains a big problem for our members and their clients," says IIAN Legislative committee chairman Bob Hoppe. "We'll be working with our bill sponsor, Sen. John Lowe of Kearney, along with the six additional senators who co-sponsor LB 553, to advance the bill early in the session."

"The relationships with state senators which our LAC Big "I" Ambassadors have been cultivating over the last two years will be crucial to our efforts," adds LAC Chairman John Deardorff. "We know that 2018 will be challenging, and our Ambassadors will be communicating with their clients about the impact and importance of getting LB 553 passed. It is patterned after a 2015 Iowa law which has been working well in the marketplace."

Members interested in joining over 100 Big "I" Ambassadors and becoming an LAC "insider", can find more information on the IIAN
LAC page. And all members are invited to IIAN's 2018 Day at the Capitol issues briefing and Senators Luncheon at the Governor's Mansion on January 31, 2018. It's a great way to "make a difference" in just one morning, and you'll get all the information you need to succeed!

More information and online registration - register by January 24. It's free!

Congress Gives Final Approval To Sweeping Tax Reform Today

Late last Friday, tax conferees in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate released their final version of tax reform legislation. After the House approved the package yesterday, the Senate approved the legislation early today, but had to send it back to the House for another vote to fix three provisions which didn't comply with Senate budget rules. The House passed the tweaked legislation this morning, and President Trump is expected to sign it soon.

Members can log in to the Big "I" government affairs tax webpage to view a two-page summary of the major provisions of the bill.

The centerpiece of the legislation is tax reform for businesses, particularly corporations, which will see their statutory tax rate lowered from a top rate of 35% to 21% starting next month. The legislation also includes changes to the way pass-through businesses, such as S-corps, partnerships and sole proprietorships, are taxed. While income from pass-through businesses will continue to be taxed at the relevant individual rates, owners and shareholders of smaller insurance agencies organized as pass-throughs will be able to deduct 20% of "qualified business income." While many groups have been on the outside looking in during the tax reform debate, your Big "I" federal affairs team has truly been on the inside, exerting influence on your behalf. Among other progress, significant legislative changes were made to make treatment of pass-through entities more favorable.

Read more

ASSOCIATION NEWS


Capitol City Crushers, L. to R.: Colten Zamrzla, Alex Zimmer, Brian Bradley, Chase Bassett, and IIAN's Jeremiah Gudding

Kearney Hitmen Beat Lincoln Crushers
Holiday Bowling and Ugly Sweater Contests

Big "I" young agents celebrated the holidays on December 14 with a fun bowling and ugly sweater contest between Lincoln and Kearney teams. It was a close match, but in the end the Hinterland Hitmen led by Zak Morken and Doug Brummels took home the crown. Their five man team was on fire as they laid down an impressive two-game combined score of 1329. Tony Purvis, John Hongsermeir and Michael Graves rounded out the crew, leading them to a 311 pin victory over the Capitol City Crushers.