National Stormwater Policy Forum Webinar
The virtual component of this event will take place on Zoom Webinar. Please email nacomeetings@naco.org with any questions regarding registration or login issues.
The National Stormwater Policy Forum, a half-day event co-led by the Water Environment Federation (WEF) and the National Municipal Stormwater Alliance (NMSA), will take place on Monday, April 13, 2026, during Water Week. Co-hosted by the National League of Cities (NLC) and the National Association of Counties (NACo), the event provides an opportunity for members of WEF, NACo, NMSA, NLC, as well as others who are interested, to learn about current policy issues driving the stormwater sector today.
Who should attend?
The National Stormwater Policy Forum is geared toward municipal stormwater program managers, local elected officials, stormwater-oriented private consultants, academia and technology manufacturers.
Forum overview
The National Stormwater Policy Forum will open with a keynote speaker to provide remarks on critical national policy matters that affect stormwater management. Panels of speakers from Capitol Hill as well as federal agencies will share insights on priority legislative and regulatory actions impacting the stormwater sector.
The Forum will also include an interactive “hot topics” panel discussion that provides a platform for thought leaders in the stormwater sector to present cutting-edge information related to the most dynamic and pressing issues of the day. Finally, attendees will learn about legislative priorities to share with Congressional members and staff during the Water Week Fly-in activities.
Counties make their cases for permitting reform
County officials spoke out at a Capitol Hill briefing about the delays and costs resulting from permitting challenges and the reforms they’d like to see passed by Congress.
NACo submits comments on 2030 Census Address Update Program
On April 20, 2026, NACo submitted formal comments to the U.S. Census Bureau on the proposed reinstatement of the Local Update of Census Addresses (LUCA) Operation for the 2030 Census. The Bureau had issued a Federal Register notice in February 2026 opening a 60-day public comment period on the program's design before submitting it to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval.
Senate passes budget resolution kicking off reconciliation 2.0 to fund DHS and CBP
On April 21, U.S. Senate Budget Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) unveiled a budget resolution to advance a party-line reconciliation package focused on immigration enforcement and funding for agencies within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The resolution is the first step in a two-part process aimed at producing final legislation by June 1.
U.S. Representatives introduce bipartisan CERTAIN Act to uphold county participation and streamline federal permitting
On April 15, congressional leaders introduced the bipartisan Create Expedited Reviews to Transform American Infrastructure Now (CERTAIN) Act. Led by Reps. Scott Peters (D-Calif.), Gabe Evans (R-Colo.), Andrew Gabarino (R-N.Y.), Adam Gray (D-Calif.), Juan Ciscomani (R-Ariz.), Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.) and Jen Kiggans (R-Va.), the CERTAIN Act would strengthen county consultation and set actionable deadlines for federal environmental permitting processes.
U.S. Department of Agriculture announces new environmental review regulations
On April 7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) published a final rule issuing new regulatory guidance for the department’s environmental review processes. The new rule affects how USDA implements the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and affects projects funded by the agency or occurring on land managed by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS).
