The Nebraska Credit Union League’s annual state advocacy conference dubbed “Jam the Unicam” drew a record crowd on February 3rd in Lincoln with seventy (70) attendees representing twenty-one (21) credit unions. The conference is the premier state advocacy event held in Nebraska each year.
The conference kicked off with a lunch at the Embassy Suites which featured special guest and speaker Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts. Governor Ricketts thanked credit unions for their service to their members and their strong contributions to the state’s economy. He highlighted his Administration’s priorities of lowering property taxes, attracting and retaining businesses in the state, and providing flood relief. He also provided his support for LB 853 which would give credit unions and other financial institutions greater flexibility to prevent elder financial abuse by allowing the delay of certain transactions.
The afternoon speakers included UNO Assistant Dean and Professor Randy Adkins; National Association of State Credit Union Supervisors (NASCUS) President/CEO Lucy Ito; Attorneys David Koukol and Michael Milone of Koukol & Johnson Law Firm in Omaha; Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance Director Mark Quandahl; Chairman of the Legislature’s Banking, Commerce and Insurance Committee Senator Matt Williams; and 2nd Congressional District Congressman Jeff Fortenberry.
— Randy Adkins provided insight into the 2020 Presidential, Congressional and State of Nebraska elections.
— Lucy Ito provided an update on NASCUS and issues that they are focusing efforts on in Nebraska and across the United States.
— David Koukol and Michael Milone provided insights into the NCUA v. ABA litigation dealing with the NCUA’s field of membership rule as well as other hot topic issues they are seeing in the credit union space.
— Director Quandahl provided an update on the Department and what are some key items examiners are looking at.
— Senator Williams provided an update on the Banking Committee’s work as well as several bills that impact credit unions including LB 853 (Elder financial abuse), LB 909 (State Wild Card/Parity with Federals); and LB 746 (NE Consumer Data Privacy Act).
— Congressman Fortenberry provided an update on his work and the work of the House’s Appropriations Committee of which he is a member. He thanked credit unions for their work to help Nebraskans have a stronger financial future.
The conference concluded with a reception honoring State Senators at Billy’s Restaurant near the Capitol building.
