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Federal Policy News from the National Council
Courtesy of NDANO, a National Council of Nonprofits member |
State Nonprofit Associations Successfully Advocate to Save Nonprofit Costs Congratulations to the Connecticut Association of Nonprofits and the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits for their successful advocacy to increase audit thresholds for nonprofits in ways that protect consumers while saving nonprofits millions of dollars that can go to their missions. In Connecticut, passage of PA No.09-102 raised the legal requirement for nonprofit formal audits from $200,000 to $500,000, effective July 1, 2009. The Connecticut Society of CPAs, the Connecticut Council for Philanthropy, and the different state regulators all supported the wisdom of saving an estimated 500 nonprofits $3 million in audit fees. In Minnesota, HF 1298 (sec.191.34) increased the audit threshold from $350,000, where it has been for the last twelve years, to $750,000, effective for nonprofits with a fiscal year ending July 1, 2008, or later. Learn more about the reasons that support these increases.
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Federal Legislative and Regulatory Developments |
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Senators Baucus and Grassley Urge Senate Appropriations to Fund Nonprofit Capacity Building ProgramThe Nonprofit Capacity Building Program's champions, Senators Baucus (MT-D) and Grassley (IA-R), have written a supportive letter to the key appropriations subcommittee leaders, Senators Harkin (IA-D) and Cochran (MS-R), urging them to appropriate the full amount Congress specifically authorized for the Program - $5 million for FY 2010 (to be matched equally by private funding.) The President's proposed budget - prepared before the Serve America Act was passed - did not include funding for many programs at levels authorized by the Act and attempts to specifically remove the express reservation of funds language for the Nonprofit Capacity Building Program. Read more. |
Nonprofits Need to Watch Key Issues in Complex Health Care Reform: Credits and the Charitable Deduction Limitation
The Affordable Health Choices Act has proceeded to extensive mark up in the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee and incorporated a health insurance credit structure favorable to all small employers, including nonprofits. This kind of inclusive treatment for nonprofits is not to be found so far in the other key draft legislation being considered, which offer "small businesses" tax credits and fail to provide nonprofit small employers with comparable treatment. Meanwhile, on funding the reforms, Senator Conrad (ND-D) said President Obama's proposal to limit the value of charitable and other itemized deductions for high-income households is a contender for the package of funding offsets. Learn more.
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State Policy Developments |
Wisconsin Nonprofits Successful in Saving Property Tax Exemptions
Congratulations to the Wisconsin Nonprofits Association for their work getting important property tax legislation passed in the Wisconsin Legislature. AB75, an amendment to the Senate's budget bill, contains language that will protect property tax exemptions for nonprofit rental housing. The Governor signed the bill on June 29, 2009.
Read about new bill introductions that affect nonprofits in Advocacy and Lobbying, Fundraising and Solicitations, Institutional Structure and Management, and Tax Credits and Exemptions.
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