County Countdown – February 11, 2025

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.