Human Services & Education Policy Steering Committee
About the Committee
All matters pertaining to children’s issues, foster care, public assistance and income support, services to senior citizens and individuals with disabilities, immigration policy, social services, and elementary, secondary and post-secondary education.
Policy Platform & Resolutions 2025-2026
Every county in the U.S. administers and funds part of the cost of strengthening communities and protecting and enhancing families. The NACo Human Services & Education Steering Committee exists to support counties in this work.
Featured Initiative
Early Childhood Development Initiative
Counties play a crucial role in fostering communities that support positive outcomes for young children. Resources and peer learning opportunities are available to help counties advance programs and policies for children from birth to age three.
Resource
County Policy Priorities for Transforming the Child Welfare System
USDA and HHS release new dietary guidelines
On January 7, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. unveiled the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030.
U.S. Congress pass minibus funding package
U.S. House and Senate appropriators passed a “minibus” appropriations package containing Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Interior-Environment, Commerce-Justice-Science and Energy-Water spending bills.
House passes legislation to increase the Crime Victims Fund
On January 12, the House passed the Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act (H.R. 909) by a voice vote.
Federal district court issues ruling preventing the federal government from imposing immigration compliance mandates on grant recipients
On November 4, a federal judge in Rhode Island ruled that the U.S. Department of Transportation cannot condition federal grant funding on a recipient’s cooperation with federal immigration enforcement efforts.
Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act of 2025 signed into law in victory for counties
On December 18, 2025, President Trump signed the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act of 2025 (P.L. 119-58) into law. The reauthorization of the SRS program is a major victory for counties and ensures that timber-dependent counties will receive critical funding to maintain essential local government services such as public education and transportation infrastructure.
Resource
The County Human Services and Education Landscape
Human Services & Education Policy Briefs
Committee Chair
View all committee members here.
Hon. Shannon Jones
Committee Contact
Julia Cortina
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