January 7, 2025
Dear Credit Union Leaders,
The Holidays have come and gone, and we are preparing to return to legislative session already. As the weather gets colder, here are the updates you need.
Announcements
Compliance Office Hours resumes this Friday at 9:00am. For more information, please contact Brad (Bradley.Willett@mcul.org).
Advocacy
In Washington, D.C., the U.S. Congress has been sworn in but legislative activities have not yet resumed. The results of last year’s election have been certified, and President-Elect Trump’s inauguration will take place on Jan. 20. As we wait for Committee assignments to be finalized, we do know that U.S. Rep. Lisa McClain (R) will join U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga (R) as a majority member on the U.S. House Financial Services Committee. Rep. McClain has also been elected to serve as the House Republican Conference Chair, the fourth-ranking Republican member in the Conference. Todd (Todd.Jorns@mcul.org) from our Advocacy Team joined credit union league advocates from around the country and America’s Credit Unions’ team for the swearing in ceremonies of the new Congress and the vote to install U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) as Speaker of the House. Our team along with local credit unions has also met with newly elected U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett (R) here in Lansing and will be scheduling a meeting with newly elected U.S. Rep. Kristen MacDonald-Rivet (D) in the very near future.
In Lansing, the state legislature will reconvene on Jan. 8 for the 2025-26 legislative sessions. The makeup and committee structure of the state Senate has not changed, but the House will seat a 58-52 Republican majority. New committees in the House have not yet been announced, but details are expected soon. Rep. Matt Hall (R) will assume the role of Speaker of the House, Rep. Bryan Posthumus (R) will become Majority Floor Leader, and Rep. Rachelle Smit will be Speaker Pro Tempore. Rep. Ranjeev Puri (D) will be the House Minority Leader, and Rep. John Fitzgerald (D) will serve as the House Minority Floor Leader.
Lansing saw a wild ending to its Lame Duck session last month, with a record-setting Senate Session that lasted nearly 30 total hours to end the action. The House attempted one last effort to bring absent members in the night before, but failing to do so, adjourned abruptly, with both chambers adjourning sine die at the end of the year. We were successful in stopping quite a few initiatives that, while well intended, would have had significant and harmful impacts on credit unions. These include amendments to the state Consumer Protection Act, multiple data privacy measures, highly restrictive background check reforms, and reforms to FMLA and workers compensation. Legislation enacting reforms to state law bankruptcy and garnishment did pass, but in significantly amended and weakened fashion from the originally introduced version. Legislation to amend recently re-instated paid sick leave and minimum and tipped wage reforms was not taken up, but incoming leadership in the House has indicated it will be in the forefront of their legislative priorities as session resumes this year. For more information on the results of the Lame Duck session, contact DaeSean (DaeSean.Ashby@mcul.org) or Kieran (Kieran.Marion@mcul.org).
For a full update on state and federal regulatory action, please see the “Reg Corner” update in this edition of MILeague Minute.
Grassroots and Advocacy Funding
As mentioned in our prior editions, with regard to federal PAC permission agreements, please keep an eye out for communications about renewal if you are still currently expired for 2025. Thank you to everyone that has already completed theirs and sent it in! Completing and submitting these forms is not an agreement to participate in any particular programs, and we will not solicit your members or employees without the permission of your credit union. This is purely a compliance requirement on our end. Please feel free to contact Todd or any member of our team with any questions.
Communications on the 2025 Lapel Pin Program have been sent out, and you can find information on the program and how to order yours here. Thank you to everyone that has already ordered! If you have any questions please contact DaeSean (DaeSean.Ashby@mcul.org) or Kieran (Kieran.Marion@mcul.org). For those participating in the 2024-25 Plush Program, all of our current toys and backstock from previous years is still sold out. Our team is still taking waitlist orders as we begin 2025 for any returned animals, and please contact Laura (Laura.Osminski@mcul.org) to be added.
As always, thank you for all that you do for Michigan’s credit unions! And GO LIONS!!
Sincerely,
Patty Corkery and the MCUL Advocacy Team
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