County Countdown – June 3, 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.
Farm Bill
Congress is advancing on the Farm Bill reauthorization, with consensus on key elements beneficial to rural development and federal nutrition programs.
- County priorities: Both the U.S. House and Senate agree on crucial funding for rural and nutrition programs, with the House proposing a three-year extension for the Secure Rural Schools program.
- Take action: As this bill moves through the legislative process, read about county priorities for the Farm Bill and make sure your member of Congress knows where your county stands.
Michelle Alyssa Go Act
NACo endorses the Michelle Alyssa Go Act to expand Medicaid-eligible psychiatric care, addressing gaps in mental health and substance use disorder treatment.
- Legislative focus: The bill aims to modernize the outdated Institutions for Mental Disease exclusion, facilitating better access to long-term psychiatric care.
- Bipartisan progress: This legislation represents a significant bipartisan effort to enhance mental health services and lower barriers to comprehensive treatment.
- NACo's advocacy: By supporting this bill, NACo highlights the urgent need to remove federal restrictions that hinder effective mental health services.
AI and Election Administration
As counties prepare for the 2024 General Election, NACo is working with our federal partners to ensure election officials have the resources necessary to address risks and leverage opportunities related to artificial intelligence (AI).
- Senate action: The U.S. Senate is focusing on legislation regarding the intersection of election administration and AI.
- NACo AI Exploratory Committee: For the latest on the potential impacts of artificial intelligence, access resources from NACo's AI Exploratory Committee.
- Stay tuned: NACo is set to release a county toolkit and report on AI at the 2024 NACo Annual Conference in Hillsborough County, Fla.
HOME Program Updates
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) new rule aims to modernize the HOME Investment Partnership Program, enhancing counties' ability to address the housing affordability crisis.
- About HOME: The program provides formula grants to counties and states and is used to build, buy, or rehabilitate affordable housing for rent or homeownership, as well as fund direct rental assistance to low-income individuals.
- Proposed changes: The rule introduces significant modifications to streamline funding application and implementation.
- Public feedback: Stakeholders are encouraged to submit comments on the proposed changes by July 29, 2024.
House, Senate Agriculture Committees release frameworks for 2024 Farm Bill Reauthorization
After months of negotiations and gridlock, lawmakers on the House and Senate Agriculture Committees have released competing frameworks for the 2024 Farm Bill. Explore NACo's full analysis.
Senate Rules Committee considers elections and AI legislation ahead of 2024 General Elections
Senate Rules Committee held business meeting on May 15 to markup and consider legislation on the role of artificial intelligence in elections.
HUD issues proposed rule to modernize the HOME program
On May 29, HUD issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to modernize the HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME) and enable counties to implement funding more efficiently.
Related News
House advances SAVE America Act — counties urged to contact Senators now
NACo urges counties to reach out to Senators opposing immediate and unfunded changes to election administration in the SAVE America Act (H.R. 7296/S. 1383), which the House passed as part the National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 8800).
Upcoming Events
Economic Considerations for Data Centers: Understanding Revenue, Risk and Long-Term Value
As the first webinar in NACo's Fall Data Center Webinar Series, this session will provide county officials with a foundation for understanding data center development before exploring the fiscal and economic considerations counties face.
Ready for November: Make Every Week Count
Want to make the most of the weeks leading up to the midterm elections and wondering what additional steps could strengthen your county's readiness? Whether you're refining existing plans or identifying where to focus next, this webinar will help you prioritize practical, high-impact actions you can take before November.
Join the Center for Tech and Civic Life (CTCL) for a conversation perfect for county IT professionals, emergency managers, and election administrators. You'll hear from election security experts who will share practical approaches to scenario planning, cross-functional coordination, and operational preparedness that can be implemented in the months and weeks leading up to Election Day.
The session will focus on what counties can realistically accomplish with the time, staff, and infrastructure you already have while highlighting additional tools, perspectives, and publicly available resources from trusted partners. You'll leave with actionable next steps to strengthen your county's election security and readiness before November 3rd.
Doing More With Less: How Counties Can Successfully Address Behavioral Health Crisis Response Needs
Join Bamboo Health for a practical discussion on strategies county health departments can use to maximize resources and improve care outcomes.