Hike the Hill connects credit union representatives directly with federal legislators and talk about top issues that credit unions in Minnesota are facing. During Hike the Hill visits, credit union professionals and board members will meet with the entire Minnesota Congressional Delegation.

This year, MnCUN will be organizing our Hike in conjunction with our Tristate partners, Montana and Wisconsin. A tentative schedule of events is below; attendees should plan to arrive by late morning on Tuesday, September 9th for events. Meetings with legislators will be scheduled throughout the day on Wednesday, followed by Regulator visits (tentative) and attendees can plan to fly out by Thursday afternoon.
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Tentative schedule:
Tuesday, September 9th – arrive by late morning/briefings
Wednesday, September 10th – Legislative visits
Thursday, September 11th – Regulator visits (tentative)/Fly out

More details to come!
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​With questions about Hike the Hill, contact MnCUN Chief Advocacy Officer Ryan Smith by email or at 651-288-5533

Federal and State Legislative Update: Last week, the focus in Washington, D.C. was Congress passing a continuing resolution to fund the government through the end of the fiscal year. 

Trump Executive Order Curtails CDFI Fund: President Trump signed an Executive Order limiting the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund to its statutory functions to the minimum permitted by law.

Minnesotans in DC for GAC: Last week, over 120 Minnesota credit union professionals and board members were in Washington D.C. for a record-breaking Governmental Affairs Conference along with more than 6,000 credit union leaders from across the country. 

State Releases Updated Budget Forecast: The big news in Minnesota was the release of the state’s budget forecast late last week. 

​Special Election Results in House Tie: Yesterday, a special election was held to fill the vacancy in House District 40B (Roseville, Shoreview).

Over 120 Minnesota credit union professionals and board members are in Washington D.C. for a record-breaking Governmental Affairs Conference along with more than 6,000 credit union leaders from across the country. The credit union industry's largest advocacy event, GAC, is an opportunity to amplify our collective voice in advocacy and ensure lawmakers fully understand the impact of credit unions on their communities.

​​Yesterday, the delegation met with Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith, and this afternoon, Minnesota attendees  are scheduled to meet with members of the U.S. House and their staff.​

Last weekend, two Minnesota credit union leaders, Debora Almirall, Minnesota Power Employees CU, and Brian Sherrick, Ideal CU were inducted into the Credit Union House Hall of Leaders in honor of their significant contributions to the credit union industry. Members of the Hall of Leaders are exceptional individuals that have dedicated their lives to perpetuating the credit union mission and philosophy.  ​

Also at GAC, Pat Pierce, President/CEO of City & County Credit Union, was elected as the Chair of America's Credit Unions Board of Directors. He will serve a one-year term.

​“I am honored to lead America’s Credit Unions Board of Directors after a monumental year of progress for our industry,” said Pierce. “2025 has started fast, with the potential for significant change for our industry, and I have full faith that Jim and his team will move the needle to ensure the credit union industry continues to thrive. As this momentum builds, I look forward to working alongside credit union leaders to ensure we are all working together to advocate for the movement we are all deeply passionate about.”

Humphrey reflected on the six pillars of credit unions which make them so impactful in Minnesota: “partnership, community, excellence, innovation, respect, and value.”

​Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman, Senate GOP Leader Mark Johnson, and Senator Judy Seeberger addressed attendees. Speaker Emerita Hortman reflected on the contributions of Minnesota’s credit unions, thanking them for “being such good financial citizens of the state and encouraging financial literacy not only amongst your members but also the work you do with high school students, which is especially inspiring.” Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson reflected on the bipartisan support for credit unions, remarking that, “Republicans and Democrats are working on good fiscal policies that could get votes on both sides of the aisle.” The program underscored the strong support for Minnesota credit unions across both sides of the aisle and demonstrated credit unions and their success as a priority for the Legislature. 

​Additionally, Governor Tim Walz joined the event and gave an address at the rally. The Governor spoke in strong support of Minnesota’s credit unions, underscoring their positive contributions to local economies across the state. In praising the model of credit unions serving as forces for good in Minnesota, Governor Walz told credit unions that, “You are the pathways to financial stability and financial freedom in your communities.” 

Several Minnesota credit unions were represented in the program, including Blaze Credit Union, TruStone Financial Credit Union, and Arise Community Credit Union. Arise, Minnesota’s newest chartered and first and only Black-led credit union, represents a bright future for credit unions and their positive impact on the lives of Minnesotans, empowering individuals and communities to build wealth. 

Photos of the event can be viewed on our Google Photo Album.

The celebration of 100 years of credit unions will continue during ACCELERATE 25, April 21–23 at the Mystic Lake Center in Prior Lake. You won’t want to miss this landmark event celebrating a century of service and community impact for Minnesota Credit Unions.

U.S. House Passes CU Board Modernization Act; MnCUN Meets with Revenue Commissioner on Proposed Sales Tax Expansion: ​Last week, the Credit Union Board Modernization Act passed unanimously in the House. 

The Advocacy Fund Committee met recently to approve a budget for 2025. The Advocacy Fund Committee supports MnCUN’s governmental affairs advocacy efforts by providing additional resources to strongly position credit unions politically at the state and national level through: 

• Promotional materials to increase visibility and highlight the credit union advantage,
• Grassroots mobilization and organization building,
• Influencing decision makers including legislators through public affairs and public relations,
• MnCUN staff attendance at the National Council of State Legislators, and
• Sponsorship of the Wrong About Everything podcast.

"Thank you to the credit unions who contributed to the fund. Your support is critical in enabling MnCUN to execute a robust advocacy program on behalf of all credit unions," said MnCUN Chief Advocacy Officer Ryan Smith.

Solicitation for the Advocacy Fund occurs each year in conjunction with MnCUN's membership dues invoice, as well as on an as-needed basis. The Advocacy Fund Committee oversees expenditures and reports them to the MnCUN Board on a regular basis.

President Trump Issues Executive Order on Accountability for All Agencies: On February 18, the President issued an executive order entitled “Ensuring Accountability for All Agencies” requiring all federal departments, agencies, and independent agencies under the executive branch to submit all proposed and final regulatory actions to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) before publication in the Federal Register.