2023 Western Interstate Region Conference
About the Conference
The NACo Western Interstate Region (WIR) Conference brings together county officials from across the nation to focus on pressing issues facing counties and our residents. Each year the conference is hosted by a county within the fifteen Western states – Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawai'i, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming – and provides attendees with the opportunity to interact with federal, state and regional policymakers, participate in educational sessions and take home tools to address challenges.
County News
WIR showcases Utah counties
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.
DOI announces creation of new U.S. Wildland Fire Service
On September 15, the U.S. Departments of the Interior (DOI) and Agriculture (USDA) announced major joint directives to change how the agencies will coordinate and provide wildfire response, including the creation of a new U.S. Wildland Fire Service within Interior.
U.S. House of Representatives passes SPEED Act and other permitting reform bills
On December 18, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the SPEED Act (H.R. 4776). The SPEED Act would strengthen county involvement in decision-making and make needed commonsense reforms to the federal environmental review process.
House Natural Resources Committee advances the Endangered Species Act Amendments Act of 2025
On December 17, the House Natural Resources Committee advanced the Endangered Species Act (ESA) Amendments Act of 2025 (H.R. 1897). The version passed by the committee adopted several changes from the initial bill and would address key county concerns by improving the implementation of the ESA. The legislation now awaits a floor vote before the whole U.S. House of Representatives.
County Countdown – Dec. 15, 2025
Every other week, NACo's County Countdown reviews top federal policy advocacy items with an eye towards counties and the intergovernmental partnership.
Counties Celebrate Passage of Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act
Over 700 counties to receive essential resources supporting education, transportation, public safety