Legislative & Regulatory Update with Taylor

​From leadership development and grassroots advocacy to PAC support and policy wins, DakCU members are helping shape the future of the credit union movement across the Dakotas and beyond.

By Taylor Stricklin, DakCU Director of Political & Grassroots Affairs
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Leadership, New Ideas and Advocacy in Action
It has been a busy few days for Dakota Credit Union Association (DakCU) in the Bismarck-Mandan area, with credit union leaders from across the Dakotas coming together for our Leadership Exchange, New Ideas Conference, and a successful evening supporting the ND PAC.

After spending last week in Washington, D.C., advocating on behalf of credit unions, it has been great to bring those conversations back home and spend time with the people who make the credit union movement strong across the Dakotas.

Building Stronger Credit Union Leaders
We kicked off the week on Tuesday with DakCU's Leadership Exchange, bringing together credit union leaders for meaningful conversations about leadership, advocacy, and the challenges and opportunities shaping our industry. We were also pleased to welcome Scott Simpson, President and CEO of America's Credit Unions, who shared valuable insights on the evolving credit union landscape, the importance of advocacy, and how collaboration can strengthen the movement for the future.

Events like the Leadership Exchange are more than professional development. They strengthen the connection between leadership and advocacy, reinforcing that strong credit unions and strong advocacy go hand in hand. The more our leaders understand the issues impacting the credit union movement and actively engage in the advocacy process, the stronger our collective voice becomes, helping ensure credit unions can continue serving members and communities for generations to come.
 
New Ideas and New Conversations
One of the things I appreciate most about these events is the opportunity to hear directly from you. Whether the conversation is about a challenge you are facing, an emerging trend, or an idea that could benefit the broader movement, those discussions help us better understand what is happening on the ground.

​For me, those conversations are particularly valuable as we continue preparing for the 2027 North Dakota legislative session. Some of our best advocacy ideas don't begin at the Capitol. They begin with a conversation when someone says, "Here's something we're running into."

A Successful Night for the ND PAC
Tuesday evening also marked our inaugural ND PAC Bourbon and Wine Tasting Fundraiser at First Community Credit Union in Mandan.

I want to thank everyone who came out and supported the event, as well as those who helped make the evening possible. Between the bourbon and wine tasting, cigars, food and plenty of great conversation, it was a fun evening, but more importantly, it was a successful night for credit union advocacy in North Dakota.

The ND PAC is an important part of maintaining a strong credit union voice in Bismarck. Support for the PAC helps us remain engaged in the political process and build relationships with policymakers who understand the credit union model and the issues affecting our industry. The success of Tuesday's event was encouraging, and I hope we can continue building on it in the future. Thank you again to everyone who participated, donated and helped make our first bourbon tasting a success.

An Advocacy Win on Interchange
While we've been busy here at home, there was also significant news this week for credit unions nationally. On Tuesday, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois granted a permanent injunction preventing the state's Interchange Fee Prohibition Act (IFPA) from being applied to federal credit unions.

Illinois law seeks to prohibit the collection of interchange fees on the tax and gratuity portions of certain card transactions. America’s Credit Unions, the Illinois Credit Union League and other organizations challenged the law after its enactment in 2024. The latest decision confirms that federal credit unions are protected from the interchange fee prohibition under federal preemption.

While the ruling directly concerns an Illinois law, the issue has implications beyond Illinois. State-level restrictions on interchange can create questions about the consistency and operation of the broader payments system, making this an issue the credit union movement continues to watch closely.

America's Credit Unions and its partners are continuing the legal efforts on behalf of credit unions that are not covered by the latest injunction.

Keeping the Momentum Going
From Washington last week to North Dakota this week, the past several days have been a good reminder that advocacy happens in many different places.

It happens in meetings with members of Congress. It happens at conferences when credit union leaders share the challenges they're experiencing. It happens when we come together to support the ND PAC. And it happens when organizations across the credit union movement work together on issues like interchange.

As we continue preparing for the 2027 legislative session, I encourage you to stay involved, keep sharing your experiences and continue building relationships in your communities.

The stronger our engagement is today, the stronger our voice will be when we need it tomorrow.

Stay Connected
If your credit union is experiencing an issue at the state or federal level, please reach out to me. The perspectives and experiences of our credit unions help inform our advocacy efforts and strengthen our conversations with policymakers.