County Countdown – January 14, 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.


Congress passes continuing resolution to fund the federal government

The U.S. Congress recently approved a continuing resolution to fund the federal government through March 14, 2025. 

  • County impact: This move ensures stability for counties that rely on federal funding for vital services like infrastructure, human services and public safety. 
  • NACo advocacy: We continue to advocate for a long-term funding solution to provide counties with the certainty needed for effective planning and program delivery.
  • For more information on the status specific of FY 2025 spending bills and county funding priorities, access NACo’s FY 2025 Appropriations Tracker.

Critical disaster relief funding secured

Counties are applauding the passage of legislation providing billions of dollars in disaster relief funding. This funding is essential to help communities recover from recent natural disasters while preparing for future challenges. 

  • Critical county role: Counties are at the forefront of disaster mitigation and response, and these resources bolster our ability to protect residents and infrastructure. 
  • More from NACo: NACo recently announced the formation of the Intergovernmental Disaster Reform Task Force to modernize federal disaster policies, strengthen intergovernmental partnerships and enhance local disaster mitigation, response and recovery capacities.

Other key wins for counties

Counties are celebrating a series of other legislative victories that directly impact our communities. 

Social Security Fairness Act becomes law

President Biden signed the Social Security Fairness Act into law, repealing the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset. 

  • Fair treatment for public employees: This ensures that public employees, including many county workers, receive fair treatment in retirement benefits. 
  • County win: This is a major victory for the public workforce, supporting those who have dedicated their careers to serving our communities.

Register for NACo’s 2025 Legislative Conference and submit your interim policy resolutions

Registration is now open for NACo’s 2025 Legislative Conference, which will take place March 1-4 in Washington, D.C. 

  • Join nearly 2,000 county leaders for policy discussions, federal advocacy, and opportunities to meet with members of Congress and federal officials. 
  • Policy resolutions: NACo’s Interim Policy Resolutions Portal is now open, giving counties the chance to shape NACo’s federal policy priorities by submitting resolutions for consideration.

Featured This Week

Capitol
Advocacy

U.S. Congress passes continuing resolution to fund the government until March 14, 2025

The U.S. Congress passed a second Continuing Resolution (CR) to extend federal spending and avert a government shutdown through March 14, 2025. 

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Press Release

Counties Applaud Passage of Critical Disaster Relief Funding

NACo today applauded Congress on county-specific provisions of the American Relief Act, 2025. In addition to ensuring the federal government remains open through March of 2025, the package includes $110 billion in disaster assistance for relief efforts across the U.S.

Social Security reform
Advocacy

Social Security Fairness Act signed into law

President Biden signed the bipartisan Social Security Fairness Act into law, repealing the Windfall Elimination Provision.

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Advocacy

Now accepting interim policy resolutions for the 2025 NACo Legislative Conference

Submit policy resolutions by February 5, 2025.

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Upcoming Events

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Transforming County Payouts with Real-Time Innovation

Thursday, September 4, 2025 |  2:00 - 3:00 PM Eastern Time 

Discover the technological evolution of county disbursements and how digital finance transformation can mitigate risks and enhance operational efficiency. As counties strive to modernize their legacy systems and reduce costs, staying ahead of technology trends is crucial. This session will explore how counties can leverage the latest advancements in real-time disbursements to revolutionize their payout processes. Attendees will gain insights into emerging trends and practical use cases that showcase the journey from outdated payout processes to advanced technology disbursements. 

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Inside Washington: County Impacts from the White House & Congress, September 4

Join NACo’s Government Affairs team for week seven of a biweekly series on key developments from the White House and Congress. Discussions will focus on policies and actions that directly impact counties — from federal funding and regulatory changes to intergovernmental partnerships. Tune in for an inside look at how these evolving federal dynamics may shape county priorities, responsibilities and operations.

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Legal Considerations for Federal Funding Challenges

This webinar will provide an overview of the most pressing federal funding challenges faced by local governments. Discussion will include agency level actions impacting local government grants, including grant terminations and conditions on grants.