Advocacy Hub
Through NACo, advocate for county priorities in federal policy making
Congress passes Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act of 2025 in victory for counties
In a major victory for counties, Congress passed the bipartisan Secure Rural Schools (SRS) Reauthorization Act of 2025 (S. 356) on December 9. The bill provides payments to counties for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 and FY 2025 and reauthorizes the SRS program through the end of FY 2026, and delivers critical relief to timber-dependent counties that rely on these funds to maintain essential services and transition toward long-term fiscal stability.
SUPPORT Reauthorization Act of 2025: What it means for counties
On December 1, the bipartisan SUPPORT for Patients and Communities (SUPPORT) Reauthorization Act of 2025 (H.R. 2483) was signed into law. The reauthorization renews vital federal funding for programs that seek to prevent opioid overdoses and expand treatment and recovery options.
White House and U.S. Department of Agriculture announce $12 billion in aid to farmers
On December 8, President Trump and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced a $12 billion farm aid package to help farmers manage market disruptions and rising production costs.
HHS releases rule repealing federal nursing home staffing mandate, supporting county long term care facilities
On December 2, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published an interim final rule that repeals the federal nursing home staffing mandate, a regulation that would have required long-term care facilities to meet strict minimum staffing levels.
White House signs Executive Order on state AI lawmaking
President Trump signed an Executive Order (EO) aimed at mobilizing federal agencies to challenge existing state laws on artificial intelligence.
Advocacy Updates
Webinar Series
Inside Washington: County Impacts from the White House & Congress
Building off NACo’s First 100 Days webinar series, our biweekly Inside Washington series provides timely updates and analysis on key developments from the White House and Congress. Each session focuses on policies and actions that directly impact counties — from federal funding and regulatory changes to intergovernmental partnerships. Tune in every other week to stay informed on how these evolving federal dynamics may shape county priorities, responsibilities and operations.
American County Platform & Policy Briefs
All NACo's federal policy priorities are detailed in the American County Platform, NACo’s permanent policy document. NACo's policy briefs provide additional details by issue.
Primer for Counties: Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) and Secure Rural Schools (SRS) Programs
The second report of the National Center for Public Lands Counties (NCPLC) provides foundational PILT and SRS program information to public lands counties including brief histories of both programs, detailed “mechanics” of payment administration and county-level issues, and policy considerations for both programs.
Federal Reforms to Medicaid Financing: What Counties Should Know
Learn about proposed federal reforms to Medicaid financing and their potential implications for county budgets and service delivery.
2026 Appropriations Tracker
The annual appropriations process begins each year with the president submitting a budget request to Congress, outlining the administration's priorities for the upcoming fiscal year. The NACo 2026 Appropriations Tracker provides counties with a comprehensive overview of the federal appropriations process, tracking the progress of key spending bills and offering insights on how these will impact county funding and services.
From Crisis to Solutions: Policy Catalysts for Improved Outcomes
As leaders of America’s counties, we call for urgent action – a new vision – on how we, as a prosperous and creative nation, promote the mental health and wellbeing of our communities and people, especially those who need more access to quality care and treatment.
Legislative Analysis for Counties: Farm, Food, and National Security Act
After months of negotiations, lawmakers on the House Committee on Agriculture advanced their version of the 2024 Farm Bill, dubbed the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024, after a committee markup on May 23. The bipartisan legislative package passed 31-22 with full support from committee Republicans and four Democratic votes.
Legislative analysis for counties: P.L. 118-63, the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2024
Legislative analysis for counties: P.L. 118-63, the Federal Aviation Reauthorization Act of 2024.
Legislative Analysis: Impact of PFAS Regulations on Counties
NACo's analysis provides an in-depth examination of current and proposed regulations on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and their implications for county governments.
Implementing Infrastructure Investments at the County Level: The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (P.L. 117-58)
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is a major victory for counties, who worked closely with our partners in Congress throughout the legislative process to ensure county priorities were included. NACo's implementation tracker highlights the latest information critical for counties.
Dive Deep
Access toolkits and resources to drive your own advocacy efforts on today's pressing issues.
American Rescue Plan Resource Hub
State and Local Coronavirus Fiscal Recovery Fund provided $65.1 billion in direct, flexible aid to every county in America. In this resource hub, find stories of counties investing these resource to support our residents, technical assistance in implementing these programs in your county and our latest analysis and research.
Farm Bill Reauthorization Resource Hub
Explore NACo resources, stay up-to-date on the state of play and advocate for key county priorities in the Farm Bill.
Supreme Court Advocacy Hub
Through our partnership with the Local Government Legal Center, NACo works to raise awareness of the importance of Supreme Court cases to county governments and help shape the outcome of cases of significance at the Supreme Court through persuasive and effective advocacy.
Medicaid Inmate Exclusion Policy (MIEP) Advocacy Toolkit
Find resources designed to help county officials educate Congress, the administration and the public on the importance providing access to federal health benefits for those awaiting trial and verdict decisions.
Waters of the U.S. Resource Hub
The definition of WOTUS directly impacts county governments as owners and operators of local infrastructure.
Payments in Lieu of Taxes Resource Hub
PILT provides payments to counties and other local governments to offset losses in tax revenues due to the presence of substantial acreage of federal land in their jurisdictions.
Policy Steering Committees & Regional Caucuses
NACo's policy steering committees cover the full array of domestic policy issues impacting county governments and our local communities. These committees meet at least twice each year to review and make recommendations on public policy issues and legislation. The policy development process initiated by the steering committees is the foundation for the American County Platform.