The Nebraska Society of CPAs plays a vital role in advocacy—it’s one of the most important things we do. We spend a great deal of time getting to know legislators, building connections with the Nebraska Department of Revenue, cultivating our relationship with the team at the Nebraska Board of Public Accountancy, and engaging with leaders of other like-minded organizations.
We also offer opportunities for you to build relationships with your state legislators. Relationships are critical to the legislative and political effectiveness of the CPA profession. For several decades now, the Nebraska Society has held its annual State Senators’ Reception and Dinner prior to the start of the Nebraska Legislature. The 2023 event was held Jan. 3 at The Cornhusker Marriott, Renaissance Room, in Lincoln, with more than 70 registrants, including 24 state senators—an excellent showing of both senators and our members. This long-standing tradition provides a welcome opportunity for CPAs to connect with state senators and for senators to reconnect with one another prior to the start of the legislative session the following day. You will see a few photos of the event in this article.
Each year, numerous pieces of legislation are introduced in the Nebraska Legislature that can impact you, your profession, your organization, and your clients. At the end of day 10 of the first session of the 108th Legislature, senators had introduced 812 bills and several resolutions calling for constitutional amendments.
On Jan. 23, Society lobbyist Korby Gilbertson of Radcliffe, Gilbertson & Brady led a review at the Society office and via Zoom of proposed legislation of potential interest to the profession. Members of the Society Board, Political Education Committee, Legislation Committee, and Taxation Committee participated in the discussion to recommend the Society’s positions on 80-some bills.
Committee hearings began the week of Jan. 23, with all-day hearings commencing the week of Jan. 30. Bills are now advancing from committee to the floor of the Legislature for debate.
Over the past few years, we’ve seen very aggressive efforts across the U.S. to eliminate licenses for many occupations and professions. What most people don’t immediately recognize is that this type of legislation puts the CPA license at risk because anti-licensure proponents frequently do not consider the very technical, complex nature of the profession. The NESCPA monitors any proposed legislation that could impact our profession and leverages relationships with key legislators to ensure they understand the importance of the CPA license. During the last legislative session, the Society and our lobbying team worked alongside the State Board to educate the sponsor of a bill (LB 263) regarding the negative impacts this type of legislation would have on the CPA license. As a result, CPAs were excluded from the legislation, although it failed to pass. When a similar bill (LB 16) was introduced this legislative session, exclusion of the profession thankfully carried over. While the goal of the legislation—to reduce barriers to employment for people moving into the state—sounds positive on the surface, the bill would have weakened the experience and education requirements of the CPA profession and other learned professions in Nebraska had the exclusion not been included. The devil is in the details, as they say. We will continue to monitor LB 16, as it has not yet crossed the finish line.
The Society has provided input and suggested language on a number of tax-related bills this year, with the help of Taxation Committee members and our lobbyists. We’ve also offered formal support on bills that would allow taxpayers to opt in to receive notices from the tax commissioner by email and another that would change provisions relating to the taxation of partnerships. We remain opposed to any legislation that would impose a sales tax on accounting services, including the bill to adopt the EPIC Option Consumption Tax Act, which would be very damaging to our overall economy.
Without the wisdom of our members who so freely volunteer their time and talents, we couldn’t do what we do in the legislative and political arena.
(Left to Right) Society member and Nebraska Chamber President Bryan Slone, Gov. Jim Pillen, and Society Past Chairman and Nebraska Chamber Chairman Ryan Parker
Society Past Chairman Don Kluthe
As you know, Gov. Jim Pillen appointed former Gov. Pete Ricketts as Nebraska’s newest U.S. Senator in January. In all, 111 individuals applied for the seat. Nine candidates were interviewed. Of the nine finalists, two—Don Kluthe and Bryan Slone—are members of the Nebraska Society of CPAs. Kluthe is presently managing director of AmeriFirst, a division of First National Bank of Omaha. He is also a past chairman of the Nebraska Society and a past president of the Foundation of the Nebraska Society of CPAs. Slone is currently president of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry and has previously served as tax counsel to a member of the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee and as legislative liaison to the IRS commissioner. He also is a frequent speaker at Society conferences and courses.
Thanks to both Don and Bryan for their willingness to serve and put themselves out there, and for their ongoing commitment to make a difference in our state. Know that your work and efforts do not go unnoticed, and we appreciate you!
Another Society member who should be recognized for his service is Ryan Parker. He was recently elected chairman of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and is president and CEO of Endicott Clay Products in Fairbury, Neb. Parker is also a past chairman of the Nebraska Society. Congratulations to Ryan on this achievement. We know your dedication and leadership will serve the Chamber and the state of Nebraska well!
Building the Next Generation of CPAs
Addressing CPA pipeline issues is another priority—both at the state and national level. Those who are involved with the profession are well aware of the ongoing accounting workforce shortage. Stakeholders including the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA), the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA), state societies, state boards, firms, high school and university faculty, and individual CPAs are all working to address various aspects of the problem.
During the 2019-2020 academic year, the number of accounting graduates decreased by 2.8% at the bachelor’s level and by 8.4% at the master’s level, according to the AICPA 2021 Trends report. (View the report at www.aicpa.org/professional-insights/download/2021-trends-report). Total hiring of new accounting graduates in 2020 decreased by 10%, and the number of candidates who passed the CPA Exam decreased 5.5% between 2020 and 2021.
The Nebraska Society and State Board plan to form a joint task force this year in an attempt to address some of the potential barriers to entry into the profession. At the national level, the AICPA has put together an “eight-point plan” that includes, among other things, an integrated education and experience program to help bridge the gap between education and practice and offer an alternative for students to earn up to 30 hours of credit. Also being considered is extending the 18-month exam window for CPA candidates to pass all four sections of the exam, creating accounting AP courses to provide college credit while in high school, urging the passage of federal legislation to include accounting in STEM, and shifting the AICPA Foundation strategy to focus on scholarships to students with a financial need and greater collaboration with firms on scholarships and internships.
We are not going to solve the CPA pipeline problems overnight, but we can find ways to tackle these challenges and advance the profession together.
Thank you for your membership and involvement in the Nebraska Society of CPAs as we welcome a new year and new adventures!
Joni Sundquist is president and executive director of the Nebraska Society of CPAs. You may contact her at (402) 476‑8482 or joni@nescpa.org.
