Now that the calendar has rolled over into another new year, I am reflecting on the importance of focusing on what members of MFDA do for a living and what the funeral profession does for Montana’s local communities. This is because, as the author E. Stanley Jones stated, “Whatever gets your attention . . . gets you.”
For the last several years, Montana’s funeral providers have had to focus their attention on the fiscal and social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Part of this focus was on protecting internal business operations and employee health. But, of course, part of this focus was helping grieving families navigate the most unprecedented societal disruption of the last 100 years.
As I write this column in early January of 2023, I am optimistic that this year marks the year where MFDA’s members and associate members can put the pandemic crisis in the rear-view mirror and double down their attention on the one intangible that defines MFDA the best: serving the local communities and the people that live in them in the most compassionate manner they can.
MFDA is proud of the way its membership stepped up to the plate and made a positive, if not vital, impact on public health during the pandemic. We are gratified that, with your continued membership in MFDA, we will jointly align our business and community values in 2023.
As for the MFDA in the coming year, the Association will also be refocusing on its core mission — that mission being to serve our membership. One of the primary ways in which the Association serves its members is through legislative advocacy and promoting good public policy both at the state and federal level.
Currently, the Montana Legislature is about two weeks into the 2023 legislative session, slated to end in late April. Some of the big issues for the session appear to be Governor Gianforte’s proposals to provide tax relief, both in terms of property and income tax, to fund state building repairs and improvements, to revise Montana’s system of licensing alcohol sales and ownership, and to improve telecommunications services and opportunities.
The 2023 Legislature once again sees the Republican Party controlling both the State House and Senate chambers. Republicans have an unprecedented majority this session — holding 103 of the possible 150 legislative seats. Thus, as has been the case since the 2005 Montana legislative session, a Republican legislature will be driving the agenda and the policy-making decision process.
MFDA has a somewhat busy agenda for the 2023 session. Much of the Association’s policy focus will be on its own bills to (1) lift the statutory cap on the amount of funeral insurance that can be sold from $15,000 to $20,000 and to (2) revise Montana code to allow the one-year internship to be conducted prior to or after passing the exam. These were statutory changes requested by MFDA members.
However, in addition to advancing its own legislative agenda, the Association is tracking legislation related to revising the way licensing boards operate in Montana. To this end, the Governor has embarked on a red tape removal initiative that would, among other things, prohibit members of the Board of Funeral Services from serving as officers in MFDA, as well as place financial decisions in the hands of the Department of Labor — effectively removing the Board of Funeral Service from budget setting. This last provision could result in the industry being unable to control the disposition of the licensing fees it pays to operate the Board of Funeral Service as well as the Board’s ability to control the rate by which licensing fees will grow to cover board expenses and costs. The Association is working to amend the Governor’s red tape bill to mitigate or remove these provisions.
For the 2023 session, the Association has hired Brad Longcake to serve as MFDA’s lobbyist. Brad grew up in the Sweet Grass hills area of northern Montana and has extensive experience lobbying the Montana Legislature. The MFDA Board is pleased to bring Brad aboard for the session.
As the legislative process moves forward, we at MFDA are interested in hearing directly from you as to legislation the Association should or should not support on your firm’s behalf. And, in turn, the Association will keep its membership abreast of legislative developments on a weekly to biweekly schedule.
Setting public policy matters aside, in early January, the Association submitted its written comment on proposed revisions to the FTC’s funeral rule. In addition to submitting its own comments, MFDA encouraged its members to submit their own separate comments detailing the problems stemming from the application of the current rule as well as the additional business-related issues that could be created by the proposed “updates” to the rule. Read more about the proposed amendments here.
MFDA has a busy year ahead of it, offering multiple opportunities for MFDA’s members to meet their CE requirements. The Association will be hosting its annual convention in Miles City in June. Further, as 2023 is a legislative year, the Association will be hosting its biannual Mid-Winter Conference in Helena in February. As part of the Mid-Winter Conference, the Association will once again host its legislative reception. This reception is a great way for you to interact personally with the legislators representing you and to tell them directly what your policy priorities are. And, of course, MFDA will be hosting its popular Montana dinner during the NFDA national convention, which will be held in Las Vegas in September. MFDA encourages you to attend these great social and educational events.
In closing, let me take this opportunity to wish you a prosperous 2023. Thanks for being a part of the MFDA team.
