OBBBA - HR, Are You Ready? Legal & Accounting Perspectives

OBBBA - HR, Are You Ready? Legal & Accounting Perspectives

Renea Saade, JD & Desiree Gill, CPP, SHRM-SCP

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), a major U.S. federal law signed in July 2025, enacts wide-ranging tax and spending policy changes. Several changes affect how organizations manage payroll, benefits, compliance, and workforce communication.   While many provisions focus on tax deductions and updates to employee benefits, the law also prompts employers to reassess some of their current systems and processes.

The OBBBA includes permanent extensions of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) and significant new provisions impacting individuals, businesses, healthcare, and immigration. HR will feel the impact through changes to executive compensation, employee tax deductions for overtime and tips, and elimination of tax-free bike commuter benefits starting in 2026. Additionally, employers can expect increased immigration enforcement, including more frequent I-9 audits. HR must also monitor indirect impacts on benefits planning due to potential shifts in health coverage needs resulting from changes to Medicaid and ACA subsidies. 

Alaska’s unique wage and hour laws add another layer of complexity, with daily overtime thresholds and stricter employer obligations. Join us to review calculation of gross wages, identify qualified overtime premiums, and avoid common payroll pitfalls. Whether you manage HR or you partner with payroll teams, this session will equip you with the tools and insights to lead confidently in a changing regulatory landscape.

Suggested pre-reading: https://www.shrm.org/topics-tools/employment-law-compliance/15-takeaways-hr-pros-from-one-big-beautiful-bill-act

Length: 2.5 hours

Date: November 20, 2025

Location: BP Energy Center

Networking begins at 11:30 AM – Share announcements, opportunities, and insights with fellow professionals.

Program begins at 11:45 AM – ASHRM updates and information.

Speaker presentations 12:00 PM - 2:30 PM – Guest Speakers will deliver a 2.0 hour session, followed by closing remarks from the ASHRM President at 2:20 PM.

Objectives:

1. Clarify the impact of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) on HR policies, payroll practices, and employee tax deductions for overtime and tips.


2. Identify new tax cuts, expanded deductions, and targeted incentives for businesses and apply to recruitment and development strategies, benefits, payroll practices.

3. Recognize updated tax thresholds to new work eligibility requirements

4. Identify requirements to stay compliant and maximize available credits through accurate tracking, reporting, and documenting.

5. Equip HR leaders with communication tools to advise management regarding strategic impact on profitability; educate employees; and collaborate with payroll/accounting teams on compliance and reporting.

About the Speaker

Renea Saade

Legal & HR Professional

https://www.linkedin.com/in/reneasaade/

Renea is a legal and HR professional with more than 25 years of experience working in house and in private law firm practice. She provides practical advice, assistance with workplace investigations, and on-site training for her clients on the various topics including (preventing harassment and discrimination in the workplace and other trainings pursuant to a conciliation or settlement agreement), wage/hour compliance, leave laws, performance reviews and hiring/firing. Over the course of her career, Renea has assisted employers with various labor and employment law matters, including drafting, revising, and enforcing their employee manuals, non-compete/non-solicitation agreements, and employment contracts. While in private practice, she regularly appeared before federal and state courts and defended employers against lawsuits and represents their interests in agency audits and investigations.

About the Speaker

Desiree Gill, CPP, SHRM-SCP

Payroll and Accounting Expertise

https://www.linkedin.com/in/desiree-gill-cpp-shrm-scp-20b568a/

Desiree Gill is an accomplished Human Resource and Payroll Professional with more than 20 years of experience leading strategic people, payroll, and compliance initiatives across diverse, multi-state organizations. As Human Resource Director for The Kuskokwim Corporation, Desiree serves as a trusted partner to the executive leadership team, overseeing human resources, benefits, compensation, and payroll operations for 18 subsidiaries across 35 states.

Desiree’s expertise spans labor relations, organizational policy, and workforce development, coupled with a strong commitment to ethical leadership, inclusion, and operational excellence. In addition to her professional role, Desiree served as President of the Northern Lights Alaska Chapter (NLAC) from 2018 to 2021, where she was recognized as NLAC Payroll Professional of the Year in 2018. She currently contributes to advancing the HR profession as an active member of the ASHRM Workforce Readiness Committee (2024–2025). Desiree is a Certified Payroll Professional Certificate (2011) and SHRM Senior Certified Professional (2019).

Continuing education credit: 2 PDCs