Chava McKeel, GCSAA’s director of government affairs, attended and spoke at the Club Management Association of America (CMAA) Leadership/Legislative Conference in Raleigh, N.C. on Friday, Sept. 13, 2019. As part of its conference, the CMAA hosted an advocacy panel discussion to highlight the most pressing trends in the golf industry.

Over 150 club managers heard directly from the club industry’s leading associations on the latest federal, state and local legislative and regulatory activities, and how these entities work together. Panel participants included McKeel and Joe Trauger, National Club Association; Ronnie Miles, National Golf Course Owners Association, and Melissa Low, CAE, CMAA.

McKeel focused her remarks on the state of the Trump Administration’s effort to repeal the 2015 WOTUS rule and to replace it with a new rule by the end of the year. She also provided an update on repeal of Clean Water Act NPDES pesticide general permits and efforts by golf to secure $3 million in funding for the National Turfgrass Research Initiative.

What’s going on at the local, state and federal levels of government regarding registration and use of pesticides and fertilizers was also covered in McKeel’s remarks. Specific focus was on glyphosate and chlorpyrifos and state and local fertilizer and pesticide bans and attempts to overturn pesticide and fertilizer preemption in many states.

Lowe spoke about state and federal minimum wage issues and also other business-related bills impacting golf clubs across the country including the recently passed independent contractor bill in the state of California. The definition of an independent contractor is being narrowed and most employees at a golf facility will no longer be classified as an independent contractor including caddies, tennis coaches, teaching pros, etc.

Miles spoke about state and federal tax issues impacting golf facilities as well as ADA compliance and the status of the H-2B visa program.

Trauger provided a 2020 election overview and also provided an update on the Trump Administration’s overtime pay rule and union organizing legislation in the pipeline. He also touched upon Affordable Care Act healthcare legislation.