COCPA members recently traveled to Washington, D.C. and met with congressional staff from Representatives Brittany Pettersen, Gabe Evans, and Jason Crow to discuss timely policy issues that impact CPAs, their clients, and the future of the profession.

With the tax bill reconciliation process moving forward, it was a crucial time to be in D.C. Tobias Clary, CPA, COCPA's immediate past Chair, brought clarity and depth to the conversation, helping legislative staff understand the practical implications of complex tax policy proposals.

Key Policy Priorities

COCPA members came to the Hill ready to engage on several federal issues that directly affect the accounting profession—particularly around workforce development, tax fairness, and professional credentialing. Here’s what we discussed:

1. Recognizing Accounting as a STEM Profession

We encouraged members of Congress to support the Accounting STEM Pursuit Act (H.R. 2911), which would allow K–12 STEM education grant funds to be used for accounting education and awareness.

This legislation would help expand early exposure to the profession, particularly in underrepresented and rural communities. It recognizes that today’s accountants are not just number crunchers—they’re technology-savvy professionals working at the intersection of data, ethics, and financial reporting.

Alexandria Romero, CPA, MPAcc, COCPA's Vice Chair/Chair Elect emphasized how accounting’s inclusion in STEM initiatives could help close the pipeline gap by reaching students earlier and broadening access to the profession.

2. Preserving the Pass-Through Entity Tax (PTET) Deduction

COCPA members expressed strong concerns about provisions in the House’s proposed tax legislation that would eliminate the ability of CPA firms and other service-based businesses to deduct state and local taxes at the entity level.

The current PTET structure helps level the playing field between corporations—which can fully deduct state and local taxes—and pass-through businesses, which are otherwise subject to a $10,000 deduction cap. The proposed changes would reverse this progress and increase the tax burden on CPA firms and their clients.

This issue isn’t just about tax mechanics. It’s about fairness—and ensuring that small and mid-sized firms are not disadvantaged compared to large corporations.

3. Expanding the Use of 529 Plans for Credentialing

We advocated for the Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act (H.R. 1151 / S. 756), which would expand eligible uses of 529 education savings plans to include costs associated with professional credentials, including exam prep and continuing education.

The cost of pursuing the CPA license can exceed $3,000. Allowing 529 plans to cover these expenses would reduce financial barriers for candidates entering the profession—and support lifelong learning as laws and standards evolve.

This legislation is supported by the AICPA and a coalition of more than 800 organizations nationwide. It’s a practical, forward-thinking solution to address the CPA pipeline challenges and invest in workforce readiness.

Engagement and Impact

COCPA’s meetings were met with genuine interest and thoughtful questions. Congressional staff appreciated the profession’s perspective on how these policies affect not just CPAs, but also the clients, businesses, and communities they serve.

Looking Ahead

These conversations on Capitol Hill underscore the importance of showing up and staying engaged. Policy decisions made in Washington have real consequences for the CPA profession in Colorado—and COCPA is committed to making sure our members’ voices are heard.

Our work doesn’t end in D.C.—we’ll continue to advocate for smart policy, equitable tax treatment, and solutions that strengthen the pipeline into the profession.