County Countdown – April, 22, 2024
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Every other week, NACo’s County Countdown reviews top federal policy advocacy items with an eye towards counties and the intergovernmental partnership.
Watch the video above and explore NACo resources below.
ARPA Guidance Update: A Win For Counties
Last month's U.S. Treasury update offers substantial flexibility for counties using American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF), incorporating key suggestions from NACo.
- County personnel: Extended personnel costs now cover a larger list of eligible positions through the end of 2026.
- Subrecipient flexibility: Subrecipient entities are not required to comply with the Dec. 31, 2024 obligation deadline, easing pressure on county timelines.
- Reclassification of funds: After Dec. 31, if a county has funds that have been obligated but not expended, the county may reclassify those funds for other eligible uses.
- Reporting reminder: All SLFRF recipients must submit Project and Expenditure reports by April 30. For details, visit NACo’s ARPA Hub.
Counties Directly Eligible for Competitive Transportation Grants
On March 25, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced the availability of $5.2 billion in competitive funding as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Counties are directly eligible.
- Streamlined applications: A simplified process will assist counties in applying by the May 6 deadline.
- Broad funding scope: The USDOT Notice of Funding Opportunity packages the Rural Surface Transportation Grant Program, Mega grants and INFRA grants, allowing counties to apply using a single application. Learn more here.
Federal Uniform Guidance Revisions
Recent updates from the White Office Office of Management and Budget simplify federal grant processes, significantly impacting how counties manage federal funds.
- Reduced burdens: Key changes include simplified grant applications and higher thresholds for single audits.
- Implementation by FY 2025: Counties should be prepared for these changes to take effect October 1, 2024.
EPA Sets New Standards For PFAS In Drinking Water
The EPA's new regulations set stringent limits on PFAS levels, impacting counties that manage water utilities.
- Tough standards: Limits for PFOA and PFOS are set at four parts per trillion, with significant cost implications for counties.
- Stay tuned: NACo will provide updates and guidance to help counties comply with these new standards.
Insights From NACo's U.S.-Mexico Border Visit
County leaders' recent visit to the U.S.-Mexico border shed light on urgent needs and challenges at the border, emphasizing the importance of intergovernmental collaboration.
- Valuable perspectives: The trip highlighted the critical role of counties in managing border security and migrant welfare.
- NACo advocacy: Counties continue to advocate for sensible immigration reforms that support county efforts.
Treasury Department releases new obligation guidance for the ARPA State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund
On March 29, the U.S. Department of Treasury released new FAQs related to their Obligation Interim Final Rule for the ARPA Recovery Fund.
Counties directly eligible for $5.2 billion in competitive transportation grants
Counties are directly eligible for $5.2 billion in competitive transportation grants.
White House OMB releases final revisions federal Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200)
The White House OMB released final revisions to the federal Uniform Guidance that outline compliance and reporting requirements for federal financial assistance.
Urge Congress and EPA to Consult with Counties on any Future Regulations on PFAS
Urge the U.S. Congress, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other federal agencies to study the health and environmental impacts of Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) compounds and effective mitigation procedures.
County leaders seek greater coordination on migrants after border visit
A trip to the southern border in El Paso County, Texas offered county officials a chance to see how the asylum system works, amid a sustained increase in people surrendering to immigration authorities.
Census Bureau cancels key rural test sites ahead of 2030 Count
NACo advocates for the reinstatement of key decennial census testing of rural areas and other planned canceled testing criteria.
Congress reintroduces bipartisan Railway Safety Act of 2026
This winter, lawmakers in the House and Senate reintroduced the bipartisan Railway Safety Act of 2026 (S. 3903, H.R. 7748) , building on prior efforts to strengthen federal rail safety standards following the high-profile 2023 Norfolk Southern derailment in Columbiana County, Ohio.
Treasury proposes new privacy act records system for SLFRF and other federal assistance program data
Treasury proposes new database for the American Rescue Plan Act’s (ARPA) State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF).
Local government organizations send letter in support of the BASICS Act to congressional leaders
On February 16, nearly 80 state associations of counties and municipal leagues representing local governments in all 50 states sent a letter to the leaders of the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works expressing their support for the Bridges And Safety Infrastructure for Community Success (BASICS) Act (H.R. 7437) and urging its inclusion in the next surface transportation reauthorization bill.
Pre‑Proposal Conference - Online Marketplace RFP CO-2026-0006
Wednesday, March 18, 2026 | 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. ET
Join Douglas County, Neb. and NACo’s Public Promise Procurement team for the Preproposal Conference for RFP CO‑2026‑0006 where you can learn about an opportunity to participate in a nationwide Online Marketplace and Fixed‑Price Catalogs Master Agreement. Prospective suppliers, public agency users, and county leaders will gain insights, ask questions, and connect with the team driving this transformative procurement initiative. Don’t miss this powerful kickoff to a national contract opportunity.
This webinar is brought to you by NACo EDGE, establishing people, purchasing, and performance cost-saving solutions that can be applied to counties nationwide. EDGE is owned by NACo, advised by county leaders and 100% focused on solutions for U.S. Counties. Learn more about NACo EDGE here.
For more information, visit the event page!
NACo Policy Insider Webinar Series: Understanding the Federal Landscape for Counties, March 26
Join NACo for a bi-weekly webinar offering an overview of the full federal policy landscape impacting counties.
AI Meets Information Governance in the Public Sector
Wednesday, April 8, 2026 | 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. ET
Public sector AI adoption is caught in a "regulatory paradox": a strong push for rapid innovation occurring alongside a lack of clear roadmaps and regulations for information safety. Data privacy regulations remain in full force.
For government information owners, the burden of responsibility for information governance has landed squarely on your shoulders. To innovate and modernize while keeping your information safe, you need a responsible information governance model that ensures only high-quality, compliant data is available for AI tools.
During this session, we’ll explore the four immediate steps you can take to ensure your agency’s AI adoption is secure, compliant, and trustworthy.
Enforcing information minimization
Implementing “need-to-keep” retention policies for AI tools
Demanding privacy-preserving information architectures
The importance of keeping a human in the loop
This webinar is brought to you by NACo EDGE, establishing people, purchasing, and performance cost-saving solutions that can be applied to counties nationwide. EDGE is owned by NACo, advised by county leaders and 100% focused on solutions for U.S. Counties. Learn more about NACo EDGE here.
For more information, visit the event page!
Emerging Dynamics in the Pharmacy Marketplace: Direct-to-Consumer and Plan Sponsors’ Rx Benefits
Thursday, April 9, 2026 | 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. ET
This webinar will feature Josh Fredell, Senior Vice President, PBM, Payor and Life Science Solutions at CVS Health, who will provide an expert overview of the rapidly evolving world of pharmacy benefits. Key discussion points will include the impact of the Direct to Consumer marketplace and prominent entrants such as TrumpRx, Mark Cuban’s Cost Plus model, GoodRx, and others, with a particular focus on GLP‑1 therapies.
The session will explore current industry trends, how plan sponsors are responding, and strategic considerations for navigating this shifting landscape. Attendees will gain valuable insight into market forces shaping consumer access, payer decision‑making, and future implications for benefit design.
This webinar is brought to you by NACo EDGE, establishing people, purchasing, and performance cost-saving solutions that can be applied to counties nationwide. EDGE is owned by NACo, advised by county leaders and 100% focused on solutions for U.S. Counties. Learn more about NACo EDGE here.
For more information, visit the event page!
NACo Policy Insider Webinar Series: Understanding the Federal Landscape for Counties, April 9
Join NACo for a bi-weekly webinar offering an overview of the full federal policy landscape impacting counties.
National Stormwater Policy Forum Webinar
Learn about current policy issues driving the stormwater sector today.