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MNCPA Perspectives: Legislative & Government Affairs

MNCPA calls on Congress to address IRS service levels
January 31, 2022  |  By Geno Fragnito
As a CPA, you have, no doubt, seen a significant reduction in IRS service levels. It’s nearly impossible to connect with a representative to ask questions... Read more
Your voice matters — use it
February 24, 2022  |  By Geno Fragnito
Your voice — the CPA voice — is invaluable to Minnesota lawmakers. Be heard today. Read more
Unresolved issues at the Capitol and still no deal on a special session
June 6, 2022  |  By Geno Fragnito
The 2022 legislative session ended on time, but it did not end as most people had hoped it would end... Read more
Auditors: You’re in luck
August 30, 2022  |  By Kinzie Jensen
A $4 billion industry! Minnesota generates more charitable gambling income than any other state, according to a recent Gambling Control Board (GCB) Gaming News issue... Read more
Elections matter: Your participation is important
September 9, 2022  |  By Geno Fragnito
This year’s election has an election dynamic that happens only once every 20 years. After redistricting this year, there are elections in all 201 legislative districts... Read more
Be a voter and leader
October 6, 2022  |  By Linda Wedul, CAE
Every Minnesota state senator, representative, state office holder (governor, attorney general, secretary of state, auditor) are on the ballot, along with... Read more
The ins and outs of Election Day
October 19, 2022  |  By Anne Janotta Erickson
I served as an election judge in 2016. It was a fascinating opportunity to learn more about the rules of voting in Minnesota. But even for those of us who are more involved... Read more
MNCPA members: What concerns us most about upcoming tax season
January 10, 2023  |  By Corey Butler
We asked our members as part of the annual MNCPA Tax Survey about what concerns them most about this upcoming tax season... Read more
A front-row seat to tax conformity bill signing
January 16, 2023  |  By Geno Fragnito
Last week, Gov. Tim Walz signed a federal conformity bill after it moved through both the Minnesota House (132-0 vote) and Minnesota Senate (67-0) this week. This hit a suggested deadline by Paul Marquart... Read more
Broadening the path to CPA licensure
January 31, 2023  |  By Linda Wedul, CAE
Last month, MNCPA members received an email that the MNCPA board approved moving forward with drafting legislation to broaden the path to CPA licensure in Minnesota... Read more
The questions (and questions) about Minnesota federal tax conformity
February 21, 2023  |  By Corey Butler
Following the surprising, but well-received passing of an early federal tax conformity bill last month there were, naturally, lots of questions about what this meant for tax preparers, businesses and individuals... Read more
An agile accounting profession requires adaptable licensing requirements
February 23, 2023  |  By Linda Wedul, CAE
There are not enough CPAs now nor expected in the future to meet the needs of communities, entities and clients, setting up a perfect scenario for future financial failures. Introducing legislation was driven by several years of MNCPA member concerns and feedback... Read more
Response to Journal of Accountancy article, Feb. 10, 2023, ‘NASBA upholds 150-hour education requirement’
February 27, 2023  |  By Linda Wedul, CAE
We believe we are closer to the AICPA and NASBA in finding solutions for this critical issue than the article leads readers to believe... Read more
MNCPA submits amicus brief to the Minnesota Supreme Court
March 31, 2023  |  By Geno Fragnito
Recently, the MNCPA submitted a brief as amicus curiae to urge the Court to determine that Minnesota Tax Court decisions serve as binding precedent upon the Revenue commissioner... Read more
Broadening the pathways to CPA licensure discussion will continue
May 22, 2023  |  By Geno Fragnito
The MNCPA board-approved bill, with bipartisan support in both the Minnesota House and Senate, did not become law this year, but this is not the end of this bill... Read more
Why should a school district care about CPA licensure?
August 4, 2023  |  By Val Mertesdorf
Working in public education, I am acutely aware of how difficult it is to hire quality staff, but I never took a step back to think about what this means in other sectors throughout Minnesota... Read more
Experiential learning: An evolution in how knowledge is obtained by prospective CPAs
August 15, 2023  |  By Joseph Petito, Esq.
As the AICPA and NASBA consider new ways to enhance the attractiveness of the profession to counter a drop in accounting student enrollments and retain them... Read more
The CPA pipeline: Students are the future
August 29, 2023  |  By Julia Shiota
The 2023 MNCPA Annual Meeting this month provided an opportunity to reflect on challenges by discussing areas of the profession that still need addressing, such as the CPA pipeline... Read more
We must change the conversation around pathways to CPA licensure
October 5, 2023  |  By Boz Bostrom, CPA
It is no secret the field of accounting has both pipeline and diversity problems. There are many actions that should be taken to address these problems, and one of those is to follow Minnesota’s lead... Read more
Choice in auditors is good for Minnesota
December 7, 2023  |  By Linda Wedul, CAE
It is imperative residents engage with local governments and there is spending oversight. Whether we are discussing private businesses, not-for-profit or governmental entities... Read more
Recent grads dish on 150 hours, CPA licensure
December 13, 2023  |  By Corey Butler
Hear from six current and recent students from two Minnesota universities to see how they view the accounting profession, the requirements around accreditation and how these weighed into their professional choices... Read more
Reaching high school students: Ideas from CPAs
February 13, 2024  |  By Corey Butler
As part of our annual MNCPA Tax Survey, we recently asked members a score of questions, including their ideas about what they have done or suggest for encouraging more students to get involved in the accounting industry... Read more
CPA licensure bills return to Minnesota Legislature
February 14, 2024  |  By Linda Wedul, CAE
The 2024 Minnesota legislative session convened this week and bills introduced last year automatically rolled over into the second year of the biennium... Read more
Make your voice heard
February 20, 2024  |  By Geno Fragnito
Why attending CPA Day at the Capitol matters
CPAs hold a unique position of being a trusted adviser, expert on financial matters and a pillar of economic stability for individuals, businesses and communities across Minnesota... Read more
Connect with legislators concerning CPA pathways licensure bills
February 27, 2024  |  By Geno Fragnito
Can one voice have an influence? Yes! When you share how an issue affects you, your business or your clients, it elevates an issue for legislators... Read more
Pathways CPA licensure bill advances in Senate
March 8, 2024  |  By Geno Fragnito
The MNCPA-backed bill to broaden the pathways to CPA licensure, advanced in the Minnesota Senate today. Watch the hearing now... Read more
Township association supports proposal to increase number of Minnesota CPAs
March 7, 2024  |  By Jeff Krueger
To be frank: CPA firms are needed to audit many of the townships in Minnesota, and there simply are not enough of them! Something urgent needs to be done... Read more
Member testimony on Senate File 1660
March 14, 2024  |  By Corey Butler
The following texts are excerpts from each individual’s prepared remarks... Read more
A clearer pathway to CPA licensure vital to the financial health of Minnesota nonprofits
March 20, 2024  |  By Nonoko Sato
The current shortage of CPAs has hit the nonprofit sector especially hard because nonprofits cannot easily increase their funding to pay higher rates for the CPAs that are available ... Read more
CPA licensure and mobility: A deeper, updated look
May 15, 2024  |  By Linda Wedul, CAE
With a growing number of states, including Minnesota, Hawaii, Arkansas, Oregon and California, now discussing or actively pursuing changes to broaden the pathways to CPA licensure ... Read more
Update: CPA licensure bills at the Minnesota Legislature
May 16, 2024  |  By Geno Fragnito
I write today with an update about the MNCPA bills at the Minnesota Legislature seeking to broaden the pathways to CPA licensure and tackle the talent pipeline challenge... Read more