County Countdown – February 11, 2025
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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.
First 100 days update
The first 100 days of the Trump administration have been marked by executive orders and related court decisions.
- State of play: A federal judge paused a memorandum that would have frozen federal aid, prompting the Office of Management and Budget to rescind it. Meanwhile, the U.S. House and U.S. Senate are working on their respective fiscal blueprints in hopes of passing a reconciliation bill addressing priorities like energy, tax and immigration.
- Stay engaged: NACo’s First 100 days webinar series explores how counties are affected by these developments.
- Tune in: Click here to register for our next first 100 days webinar, taking place Thursday, Feb. 13 at 4 p.m. EST. View last week's recording here.
Testimony on rural road safety
This week, Converse County, Wyo. Commissioner Jim Willox is testifying before Congress on behalf of NACo regarding improving road safety in rural areas.
- The county role: Counties connect communities, maintaining over 45 percent of U.S. roads and nearly 40 percent of bridges.
- Why testifying on Capitol Hill matters: Strong intergovernmental partnerships are critical for improving rural transportation infrastructure.
Disaster Reform Task Force priorities
NACo’s Intergovernmental Disaster Reform Task Force recently visited Washington, D.C., meeting with members of Congress and other federal leaders. The task force continues to push for solutions that enhance disaster recovery and preparedness for counties across the nation.
- Fly-in by the numbers: 25 members of the task force met with 20 House and Senate offices.
- Key priorities: Priorities for the task force include streamlining FEMA’s Public Assistance Program, creating a universal application for those seeking disaster assistance, and promoting financial stability through new legislation.
- Frequent disasters: Nearly one-third of U.S. counties face at least one presidentially declared disaster annually.
Laken Riley Act signed into law
Congress passed and the president signed the bipartisan Laken Riley Act, which mandates the detention of unauthorized immigrants accused of property-related crimes.
- New policy: Federal officials must detain individuals charged with theft, burglary and similar property crimes.
- Broader scope: This policy expands detention criteria beyond serious violent crimes.
- Next steps: NACo will monitor implementation and update local leaders on its impact.
2025 NACo Legislative Conference
The 2025 NACo Legislative Conference is just a few weeks away, from March 1–4 in Washington, D.C.
- Policy discussions: Topics include disaster response, environmental regulations, permitting reform and public lands.
- Networking: Connect with nearly 2,000 county leaders and hear directly from Congress and the administration about federal priorities that impact counties.
- Register now: Don’t miss this opportunity to engage and influence national policy.
NACo Membership Series: First 100 Days
Join NACo's membership series focusing on timely updates and analysis on key developments during the first 100 days of the Trump administration. These calls will focus on policies and actions that directly impact counties, including federal funding, regulations and intergovernmental partnerships.
NACo testifies in front of Congress on rural road safety
On February 12, Converse County, Wyo. Commissioner Jim Willox will be testifying on behalf of NACo before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Highways and Transit at a hearing titled “America Builds: A Review of Programs to Address Roadway Safety.”
Intergovernmental Disaster Reform Task Force
As disasters intensify across the country, county governments play a crucial role on the frontlines of emergency management and recovery. With a commitment to advancing federal policies that foster collaboration between counties, federal agencies and other intergovernmental partners, the Task Force builds on years of county-led efforts to enhance disaster policies and practices, driving improved outcomes nationwide.
President Trump signs Laken Riley Act into law
On January 29, President Trump signed the bipartisan Laken Riley Act into law, requiring the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to detain any undocumented immigrant who has been arrested for violent or property-related crimes and giving states new authority to sue the federal government over certain immigration-related decisions.
2025 NACo Legislative Conference
The NACo Legislative Conference brings together nearly 2,000 elected and appointed county officials to focus on federal policy issues that impact counties and our residents.
Related News
Midterms advance county officials, Florida property tax cut
Voters advanced several current and former county officials to higher office, but also approved a policy that will threaten county budgets in Florida.
NACo submits comments on Census Bureau's proposed rule on the 2030 decennial census
On September 10, the U.S Census Bureau published a proposed rule to the 2030 Decennial Census that would create two new parts of the 15 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) that among other changes would a) define “usual residence” that excludes foreign persons previously counted that are not U.S. citizens or lawful residents, and b) would eliminate any questions about race, ethnicity and sexual orientation from the census questionnaire used to enumerate the population. The proposed ruling outlines only 30 days for public comments, which are due on November 2.
Upcoming Events
Supreme Court Preview for Local Governments: 2026 - 2027 Term
Hosted by the Local Government Legal Center (LGLC), join legal experts in a discussion of the new Supreme Court term and what decisions local governments should watch.
Grassroots Advocacy Series: Key Advocacy Efforts in the Lame-Duck Session
Join NACo for an insightful briefing on the county priorities most likely to move before the 119th Congress ends, and learn how your voice can influence the outcome.
Transforming Public Defense Operations for the Digital Evidence Era
Learn how the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office tackles surging digital evidence and case workloads using Box to achieve functional parity, automate document lifecycles, and securely query unstructured discovery.