Pub. 11 2022 Issue 2 15 Continued on page 16 — Government Relations & Staff Attorney Kelly VanZwoll. The panel showcased different views on how the state legislature should address tax reform, redistricting, KPERs funding, and best practices for getting engaged in the political process. Panelists included Senate Majority Leader Larry Alley (R-Winfield) and Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes (D-Lenexa). House Majority Leader Dan Hawkins (R-Wichita) and House Minority Leader Tom Sawyer (D-Wichita) were scheduled to participate, but couldn’t make it due to legislative floor work. Following lunch, KBA President & CEO Doug Wareham and KBA Board Chairman-Elect Shan Hanes of Heartland Tri-State Bank in Elkhart hosted a panel discussion with ABA VP-Congressional Relations Dan Martini. Martini talked about the status of KBA supported Enhancing Credit Opportunities in Rural America Act (ECORA) which would provide an exemption from federal taxation, agricultural real estate, and rural home loans. Martini also talked about the status of President Biden's nominees before the U.S. Senate and his thoughts on what Congress will look like after the 2022 election. The 2021 Bank Leaders of Kansas (BLOK) class finally received recognition for completing the BLOK training regimen after two years of rescheduling and patience due to COVID-19. They were presented the traditional BLOK awards from KBA Board Chairman Ewy. The 2022 BLOK class also attended the conference as part of their first training session in the year-long program. The class also had an opportunity to participate in KBA's Board meeting and visit the statehouse to be recognized by Kansas Senate and Kansas House leaders. KBA President and CEOWareham and Alex Orel, KBA's SVP — Government Relations, provided bankers with updates on KBA's state and federal legislative issues. In addition, Wareham gave a federal election outlook and updated attendees on other Current KBA Chairman Mike Ewy (Community State Bank, Coffeyville) and Kansas Governor Laura Kelly Grant Paitz (INTRUST Bank, NA, Wichita) and Dan Bolen (Bank of Prairie Village, Prairie Village) Acting Comptroller of Currency Michael J. Hsu and KBA EVP & General Counsel Kathy Taylor Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt, Natalie Haag (Capitol Federal® Savings Bank), and KBA President & CEO Doug Wareham Craig Heideman (Kaw Valley Bank, Topeka), Patrick Wiederholt (Flint Hills Bank, Hartford) and District 17 Rep. Jeff Longbine
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