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.

1. Congress passes the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act of 2025

In a major win for counties, the bipartisanSecure Rural Schools (SRS) Reauthorization Actof 2025has passed, providing payments to counties for fiscal years (FY) 2024 and 2025 and reauthorizing the SRS program through the end of FY 2026.

• The legislation delivers critical relief to timber-dependent countiesthat rely on these funds to maintain essential services and transition toward long-term fiscal stability.
• Advocacy impact:NACo and county leaders played an instrumental role in advancing reauthorization by reaching out to members of Congress over the past two years urging them to support reauthorization, and those persistent efforts helped build momentum for this bill's passage.
• By the numbers:In FY 2023, the SRS program provided $281 million to more than 700 counties in 41 states.

2. HUD rescinds changes to the Continuum of Care Program

On Dec. 8, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) withdrew a notice of funding opportunity that would have made substantial changes to the Continuum of Care (CoC) program, which partners with counties to provide supportive housing and wraparound services.

• What was in the change:The rescinded changes would have capped funding for the program and changed the 2-year funding cycle to a 1-year funding cycle.
• NACo action:Last month, NACo sent a letter to HUD Secretary Scott Turner urging the agency to renew the current grants for an additional year, which would support counties’ ability to respond to homelessness in our communities.
• Next steps:HUD announced that it will make revisions and issue an updated notice of funding opportunities in the coming weeks.

3. SUPPORT Act reauthorization signed into law

On Dec. 1, the bipartisan SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act of 2025 was signed into law. This reauthorization renews vital federal funding for programs that seek to prevent opioid overdoses and expand treatment and recovery options.

• The legislation included provisions for Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program coverage, as well as discretionary funding for services for individuals with substance use disorders and mental health conditions.
• Key detail:Some provisions were permanent, such as the requirement for state CHIP programs to cover mental and behavioral health services, while others were temporary and required Congressional reauthorization.
• Supporting local programs:In September 2023, many policy provisions in the original package expired, and this year’s reauthorization renews and updates these programs for FY 2026 to 2030, ensuring continued federal support for local prevention, treatment and recovery efforts.

4. $12 billion in new aid to farmers

President Trump and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced a $12 billion farm aid package to help farmers manage market disruptions and rising production costs. The package will provide one-time formula-based payments.

• Farmers can expect payments to begin by Feb. 28, 2026, and must ensure that acreage reports are finalized with the Farm Service Agency by Dec. 19, 2025.
• County impact:Counties are essential partners in supporting our nation’s farmers and ranchers through managing essential services, infrastructure, land-use planning and workforce development on which agricultural communities rely.
• NACo’s next steps:NACo will continue to monitor the rollout of these payments and provide necessary information.

5. HHS interim rule repeals federal nursing home staffing mandate

Published on Dec. 2, the interim final rule from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) would repeal of the federal nursing home staffing mandate. If enacted, this mandate would have disproportionately harm county-operated and rural long-term care facilities already facing acute workforce shortages.

• NACo strongly opposed the mandate, submitting formal comments and detailed analysis showing that the rigid staffing ratios—without any new federal funding—would reduce bed availability, increase operational costs and accelerate closures in vulnerable communities.
• County flexibility:The repeal preserves counties’ flexibility to manage staffing based on local conditions while continuing to prioritize quality care for residents.
• Continued advocacy:NACo will remain engaged with federal partners to advance sustainable workforce investments and policies that support county-run nursing homes and protect access to care, particularly in rural and underserved areas.

6. New executive order examines state and local AI policies

On December 11, President Trump signed an executive order aimed at mobilizing federal agencies to challenge existing state laws on artificial intelligence (AI), clarify legal scope for AI model regulation at the state level, and condition federal funding on the non-enforcement of select state AI laws.

• Federal policy framework:The order also calls on presidential advisors to prepare a legislative recommendation to Congress on a uniform federal policy framework for AI that preempts certain state AI laws.
• Implications for counties:Counties urge against federal overreach of state and local AI lawmaking, while welcoming opportunities for counties to actively contribute to intergovernmental conversations on establishing a national policy framework on AI.
• Read NACo's analysis here.