CPAs making moves in Saint Paul
A look at CPA Day at the Capitol 2025
Julia Shiota, MNCPA communications coordinator | April/May 2025 Footnote
More than 20 MNCPA members descended on the Minnesota Capitol on Feb. 26 for CPA Day at the Capitol, an annual event connecting CPAs with their elected officials to discuss issues affecting the profession, the clients CPAs serve and the businesses they represent.
This year’s event felt particularly exciting in light of the strides being made in the Minnesota Legislature regarding additional pathways to CPA licensure and automatic mobility. Bills supporting this initiative were introduced in the House and Senate in February and received hearings in March.
Other topics discussed with legislators included a potential tax on professional services, establishing a private letter ruling program and legislation about Tax Court rulings.
Minnesota State Auditor Julie Blaha kicked off the event with members, highlighting the important work CPAs do as well as her office’s advocacy for the MNCPA’s pathways bills.
“We are working with a shortage across the board when it comes to accounting, so my office is highly supportive of the pathways legislation,” Blaha said. “This initiative will help us across the state and I think it’s great for this profession to be open to everyone who wants to join it.”
The recent invigoration of legislation came about through the years-long advocacy and committed dedication of MNCPA members sharing their knowledge and their stories.
“It’s powerful for legislators to hear directly from CPAs,” said Geno Fragnito, MNCPA director of government relations. “Not only are CPAs subject-matter experts, but they also provide a window into the experiences of the clients and businesses they serve. Grounding complex tax topics in the daily lives of people they serve has a significant legislative impact.”
Becky Keran, former MNCPA board chair and regular attendee of CPA Day at the Capitol, has seen the effect sharing these stories had on her own legislator, Sen. Matt Klein (DFL).
“I remember the first time I spoke to him; he was open to listening but because it was his first year, you could tell he didn’t have a strong knowledge base for what I was sharing,” Keran said. “But when I met with him this time around, he had a lot more familiarity with the topics I brought to him and was enthusiastic about many of our initiatives.”
While many attendees have participated in CPA Day for years — even decades — there were also a number of first-time and second-time attendees. Ahmed Hassan, a newer MNCPA member, jumped right into the event with passion.
“This is my first MNCPA event ever,” Hassan said. “What a fantastic way to connect with legislators and network with other CPAs who are just as enthusiastic as you are.”
The latest on pathways legislation
Broadening the Pathways to CPA licensure
House File 1458 and Senate File 1536 both received positive advancement in their respective bodies. Visit the MNCPA Broadening Pathways to CPA Licensure webpage to learn more about the bills and to find the latest information about pathways progression throughout the U.S.
