County Countdown – June 3, 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.
DHS releases list identifying 'sanctuary jurisdictions'
On May 30, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a list of "sanctuary jurisdictions," including nearly 400 counties. The list is part of the implementation of the Protecting American Communities from Criminal Aliens Executive Order.
- What it means: DHS will send formal notification to designated sanctuary jurisdictions and urge them to review and revise their policies to align with the administration’s immigration enforcement priorities.
- Evolving situation: The list published on Friday has since been taken down. NACo is monitoring the situation and will update this blog post as we learn more.
- How to take action: Counties can reach out to sanctuaryjurisdictions@hq.dhs.gov with any questions about the sanctuary jurisdiction designation. NACo also recommends that counties consult with legal counsel to ensure immigration-related policies are consistent with state and federal laws.
TAKE IT DOWN Act signed into law
NACo attended a bill signing ceremony on May 20 for the TAKE IT DOWN Act. The bipartisan legislation supports counties working to combat digital abuse and deepfake crimes.
- New protections: The new legislation criminalizes nonconsensual sharing of intimate images, including explicit deepfakes.
- Support for counties: The law includes provisions supporting local law enforcement’s role in protecting victims and pursuing offenders.
- AI safeguards: It also addresses emerging threats made worse by generative AI tools misused by bad actors.
Counties gear up to support the Surface Transportation Reauthorization bill
With the $1.2 trillion Surface Transportation Reauthorization set to expire in 2026, counties are preparing for advocacy efforts around the bill, which supports roads, bridges, transit and more.
- County investment: Counties contribute over $146 billion annually to infrastructure projects.
- Federal partnership: NACo emphasizes the need for direct investment and flexibility in transportation funding.
- New toolkit: NACo launched a resource hub to help counties advocate for priorities during congressional negotiations.
Budget reconciliation bill moves to the Senate
The House-passed budget reconciliation bill — called the One Big Beautiful Bill Act — heads to the Senate, offering counties an opportunity to advocate for critical changes.
- Positive provisions: The bill preserves municipal bond tax exemption, reauthorizes the Secure Rural Schools program and delays Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) cuts.
- Funding support: The bill also includes $1.6 billion for major event preparedness.
- Ongoing concerns: The budget would raise administrative cost-sharing under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, impose new Medicaid burdens and limit local control over AI regulation.
- Call to action: The Senate phase is a pivotal moment for counties to shape the final legislation and protect essential services. Counties are encouraged to reach out to Senators to discuss county priorities.
Remembering Congressman Gerry Connolly
Counties across the nation mourn the passing of Rep. Gerry Connolly, a lifelong advocate for local government with deep roots in public service.
- Local legacy: Rep. Connolly served 15 years on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, including two as chair.
- Congressional leadership: He co-chaired the bipartisan Former Local Elected Officials Caucus, amplifying local perspectives on Capitol Hill.
- Enduring impact: Rep. Connolly championed civil discourse, intergovernmental cooperation and county-level priorities in Congress.
DOJ releases updated list of designated sanctuary jurisdictions
On August 5, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) published an updated list of designated “sanctuary jurisdictions” following the Administration’s Protecting American Communities from Criminal Aliens Executive Order.
TAKE IT DOWN Act signed into law
The TAKE IT DOWN Act establishes federal authorities at the Federal Trade Commission to remove non-consensual intimate images from digital platforms
Surface Transportation Reauthorization Resource Hub
The Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill is a crucial legislative framework that empowers counties to enhance and sustain the nation’s infrastructure and transportation networks.
U.S. House passes reconciliation bill: What it means for counties
Counties should continue to advocate for county priorities to be included in the final budget reconciliation bill.
Local Leaders Mourn the Passing of Representative Gerry Connolly
On behalf of the nation’s counties, cities, towns and villages, the National Association of Counties (NACo) and the National League of Cities (NLC) today issued the following statement on the passing of Congressman Gerald E. “Gerry” Connolly.
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Congress passes short-term funding bill, keeping the federal government funded through Dec. 11 and delaying OMB rule
The U.S. Congress passed a Continuing Resolution (CR) to extend government funding through December 11 and delay the OMB proposed rule on Unform Guidance that governs how every federal grant can be administered.
Senate funding proposal would create transportation funding cliff for counties
On August 8, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed a proposal to extend government funding and many expiring program authorities until December 11, 2026. Notably, this bill would provide a short-term extension of many federal surface transportation programs authorized in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) (P.L. 117-58). However, the bill would not extend the advance appropriations for many transportation programs made in Division J of the IIJA. This means that many programs would lose portions of their funding, while many other programs would have their funding lapse altogether.
Upcoming Events
More Choices, Stronger Counties: Introducing NACo Public Promise Insurance Supplemental Benefits
- Dental
- Vision
- Life
- Short-Term Disability
- Long-Term Care
- Worksite (Critical Illness/Accident/Hospital/Cancer)
- Pet
- An overview of the Supplemental Benefits Trust structure and how it works
- Details on each available line of coverage
- How MetLife and Trustmark will support implementation and ongoing administration
- Next steps for counties interested in participating
- Chris Blanchette, National Director, Public Promise Insurance, National Association of Counties
Cyber Forecast 2027: AI, Risk, and What County Leaders Need to Know
AI is here, and cybersecurity needs to be part of the plan. It's a budget, workforce, and public trust conversation, and 2027 is set to raise the stakes further.
Join CAI and other county leaders for a forward-looking briefing on the threats and technologies set to define the year ahead: AI-powered social engineering and deepfakes that are getting cheaper and more convincing, and the emergence of "agentic AI" as both a new attack surface and a defensive tool. The early warning signs of quantum-era encryption risk, and the ease of entry for threat actors due to AI is pushing more counties toward automation, cloud adoption, and managed services.
This session translates high-level industry forecasts into a plain-language outlook built specifically for county leaders, so your organization can budget, staff, and plan with confidence heading into 2027.
2026 Fall Board of Directors Meeting and Building Better Futures: A County Leaders' Symposium on Youth Outcomes
Hosted by NACo President George Dunlap as part of his presidential spotlight, in partnership with NACo’s Board of Directors and Large Urban County Caucus, the event will focus on practical strategies and collaborative approaches that counties can advance at the local level—from proven prevention and early intervention models to cross-sector partnerships that align resources and expand opportunity.