Unlocking Federal Reform: What the FEMA Act Means for Counties
This webinar is available on-demand. If you have issues accessing the recording, please email nacomeetings@naco.org.
Join NACo for a national membership call to learn about the newly released FEMA Act and its potential to transform how counties prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters. This session will highlight key provisions - such as the universal disaster application, improvements to Public Assistance, and increased transparency - and outline what they mean for local governments.
Watch Recording
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Speaker
Brett Mattson
Advocacy
House T&I Committee passes bipartisan FEMA reform package with major wins for counties
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee released the bipartisan Fixing Emergency Management for Americans (FEMA) Act
FEMA reform bill advances to House floor
The Fixing Emergency Management for Americans Act would overhaul Public and Individual Assistance and accelerate mitigation programs and make the Federal Emergency Management Agency an independent, cabinet-level agency.
White House to halt federal funds to jurisdictions using cashless bail
On August 25, the White House announced an EO ordering an end to cashless bail and threatening to suspend or terminate federal funds to jurisdictions that do not comply with the order.
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Federal judge temporarily halts BRIC grant program termination
August 6, 2025 Update: A federal court has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from reallocating funds from FEMA’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program after 20 states sued to halt the move, arguing it would endanger communities by undermining disaster preparedness efforts.
Podcast: County experience can improve disaster response
Kevin Leonard, executive director of the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners, and Amanda McKinney, a Yakima County, Wash. commissioner, talk about two different challenges county officials face in responding to disasters.