PIA Connection Online

In 2025, PIA Advocacy delivered long-sought victories for independent insurance agents. From tax and crop insurance wins in budget reconciliation to the growing support of the reform or repeal of the Federal Insurance Office (FIO), PIA’s voice has made a difference and helped independent agents get ahead.

For nearly a decade PIA fought to reinstate the annual administrative and operating (A&O) inflation adjustment for crop agents that the Risk Management Agency (RMA) eliminated in 2016. During the 118^th Congress, PIA closely aligned with Rep. Austin Scott (R-GA) to develop and introduce the bipartisan Ensuring Access to Risk Management Act with original cosponsors Tracey Mann (R-KS) and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) to reinstate the inflation adjustment. In 2024, PIA successfully advocated for the inclusion of the legislation’s key provisions in the Farm Bill, however the Farm Bill eventually stalled and failed to become law. In 2025, PIA saw an opportunity to include the provisions in President Trump’s sweeping domestic policy and tax package, the One Big Beautiful Bill. PIA was active in shoring up support on Capitol Hill throughout the budget reconciliation process and the immense grassroots support from agents strengthened PIA’s voice. PIA is proud that at long last the effective commission cut for crop agents is over and the annual inflation adjustment is the law once again.

As a result of PIA’s advocacy, many independent agents will also avoid a large tax increase in 2026. As part of the 2017 Tax Cuts & Jobs Act (TCJA), eligible S corporations received an up to 20% passthrough tax deduction. This key tax deduction, which unlike the similar tax deduction provided to C corporations, was not made permanent and was set to expire at the end of 2025. For years, PIA supported the Main Street Tax Certainty Act to make permanent the passthrough tax deduction and grew support on Capitol Hill. Originally introduced by the now Chairman of the House Ways & Means committee Rep. Jason Smith (R-MO), the bill was led in recent years by Rep. Lloyd Smucker (R-PA) and Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT). Extending to 20% passthrough tax deduction became a priority for the Trump administration and Republicans in Congress with over 190 cosponsors on the bill in the House and 45 cosponsors in the Senate. Similar to the crop inflation adjustment, the permanent extension of tax deduction was swept up into the One Big Beautiful Bill and signed into law by President Trump on July 4^th.

PIA also stood up against dangerous legislative giveaways to tech industry giants and protected the authority of state insurance departments to properly regulate the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in their respective states. The House-passed budget reconciliation bill included a provision that would have prevented states from making any law or regulation regarding AI for 10 years. This state-level moratorium would have handcuffed the ability of state insurance regulators to quickly respond to the developing technology. In fact, state insurance regulators are already at the forefront of AI regulation. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) adopted a Model Bulletin in 2023 that requires insurers to implement AI governance programs in accordance with all existing state and federal laws. It also offers a template by which insurance commissioners can communicate their expectations to their domiciliary carriers. As of May 2025, nearly 30 states had already adopted the NAIC’s model bulletin on the use of artificial intelligence systems by insurers.

PIA remained a leader in grassroots advocacy in 2025 thanks to an engaged and experienced membership. PIA members once again descended on Capitol Hill in 2025 to take part in PIA’s annual Advocacy Day, where hundreds of independent agents had the opportunity to meet with their elected representatives to discuss the issues most important to their agency and the insurance industry at large. While on Capitol Hill, agents focused on growing support for the reform or repeal of the FIO and how legislators can protect consumers and agents as FEMA prepares to launch Phase 2 of its direct-to-consumer platform. While meeting with legislators PIA members secured cosponsors for the FIO Elimination Act, introduced Members of Congress and their staff to new legislative issues, and presented Rep. Austin Scott with the 2025 Legislator of the Year Award.

As we look forward to 2026, PIA will continue its industry leading advocacy to reform or repeal the Federal Insurance Office and protect the agent’s role in the National Flood Insurance Program. PIA will also be focused on ending deceptive marketing practices in healthcare and closing third-party litigation loopholes that allow foreign entities and corporations to profit from the American judicial system. Other issues including crop insurance and data privacy remain a priority for PIA in 2026, and we are looking forward to another year of advocacy wins for independent agents.