While the state legislative session came to a close at the end of March, the work of legislators, and the work of credit union advocacy, is a year-round effort. There are countless informal meetings where issues are discussed, study committee hearings through December that weigh the merits of bills, and formal meetings where ideas for legislation are considered (along with examining trends seen in other states). One of the largest of these was held this week when more than 2,000 state legislators from across the country convened at the National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL) from July 30th through August 2nd. NCSL is a large annual event for legislators from across the country to learn what initiatives are trending in other states, get ideas for bills to introduce, and connect with other legislators and lobbyists. This meeting provided an ideal opportunity to engage on the issues, and GCUA was part of a collective effort of CUNA and other state Leagues to educate state leaders on credit unions and promote awareness.
There were more than 50 legislators and staff in attendance from Georgia, creating a window to connect throughout the conference and build relationships with individuals who vote on the bills that impact credit union operations. During the conference the aspect of federal regulatory burden was highlighted, as well as the challenges the financial industry faces in states where the marijuana industry has expanded. This is an issue that while it’s not a factor in Georgia, it likely will be in the coming years, and the proactive discussions and involvement early can help ensure that whatever the state does in the future, credit unions are not placed in a regulatory nightmare.
During the conference, GCUA, other Leagues and CUNA engaged legislators to help reiterate what makes credit unions unique as not-for-profit financial cooperatives – a point important for consumers, media AND legislators to grasp. GCUA regularly educates the media, consumers and legislators on the positive impact credit unions have in the communities they serve. NCSL is just one of the various avenues where this message is shared to help grow legislators’ understanding of credit unions.
