County Countdown – May 19, 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.
House advances budget reconciliation bill
Three key House committees — Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce, and Agriculture — have marked up their sections of the reconciliation bill, including major provisions that directly impact counties.
- Positive provisions: The bill preserves tax-exempt municipal bonds, delays hospital payment cuts and reauthorizes Secure Rural Schools through fiscal year 2027.
- Ongoing concerns: The budget would increase Medicaid work requirements, cut the federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) and shift Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) administrative costs, straining local budgets and services.
- SALT reform: Changes to the state and local tax deduction aim to address double taxation and maintain county revenue.
- Next step: The House Budget Committee voted to advance the bill and negotiations will continue before it’s voted on by the full House.
House committee releases FEMA reform proposal
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee unveiled a draft FEMA reform bill with several positive inclusions for counties, reflecting NACo’s top disaster policy recommendations.
- Core reforms: The bill transitions FEMA to a grant-based model, streamlines environmental reviews and accelerates funding timelines.
- Local flexibility: It includes a universal disaster application and makes reforms to mitigation and assistance programs.
- Equity in planning: The proposal requires at least one pre-approved mitigation project per county to ensure fair access.
Infrastructure Week spotlights county leadership
Infrastructure Week highlighted the critical role counties play in maintaining and improving the nation’s infrastructure. Counties own 44% of roads and 38% of bridges.
- Policy push: NACo submitted letters urging congressional support for county priorities in surface transportation reauthorization.
- Financing focus: NACo hosted a roundtable defending the tax-exempt status of municipal bonds as vital to local infrastructure.
- Congressional testimony: Oswego County, N.Y. Clerk Terry Wilbur testified before Congress on the importance of brownfields reauthorization for economic revitalization.
New webinar series: Inside Washington
Due to popular demand, NACo has rebranded its First 100 Days webinar series as Inside Washington, which will provide timely updates on federal actions affecting counties.
- Fresh insights: Sessions will cover legislative and regulatory developments from Capitol Hill and the White House.
- Regular schedule: The series will air every other Thursday, with the next session on May 29 at 3:30 p.m. ET. You only have to register for the series once. After that, you use the same link every other week to tune in.
- County focus: Hear directly from NACo’s Government Affairs team on how national policy translates into local impact.
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.
House draft bill text proposes FEMA reform package with major wins for counties
This week, the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management Subcommittee released draft bill text for a sweeping Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reform package aimed at improving disaster response, streamlining aid and increasing local flexibility—reflecting many long-standing county priorities.
NACo sends letters to House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee urging support for county priorities in surface transportation reauthorization
On April 30, NACo submitted three letters to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee outlining county priorities as Congress begins work on the next surface transportation reauthorization. The current authorization is set to expire on September 30, 2026, and renewing it is a key priority for the Committee in the 119th Congress.
Inside Washington: County Impacts from the White House & Congress, May 29
Join NACo’s Government Affairs team for week two 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.
Related News
U.S. Congress pass minibus funding package
U.S. House and Senate appropriators passed a “minibus” appropriations package containing Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Interior-Environment, Commerce-Justice-Science and Energy-Water spending bills.
Federal district court issues ruling preventing the federal government from imposing immigration compliance mandates on grant recipients
On November 4, a federal judge in Rhode Island ruled that the U.S. Department of Transportation cannot condition federal grant funding on a recipient’s cooperation with federal immigration enforcement efforts.
State of America’s Counties Address Highlights Intergovernmental Partnership, Cost and Administrative Shifts
NACo President J.D. Clark, national experts share insights at policy summit in Washington, D.C.
Upcoming Events
Advocacy 101 for Counties: Maximizing Your Impact During the NACo Legislative Conference
Learn how to prepare for Hill meetings, effectively advocate for NACo priorities, and translate county experiences into clear federal policy asks.
The Current State of Student Debt and Forgiveness
This webinar is designed for county HR and leadership teams seeking practical ways to support employees struggling with student debt.
Over 9 million public service workers, including full-time county employees, are eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness. Yet fewer than 3 percent have successfully received relief.
The issue is not eligibility. It is awareness, complexity, and follow-through.
Please join us as we speak with student debt forgiveness expert Tony Raffa, who will clarify today’s student debt landscape, including:
- What recent policy and executive actions mean for public sector employees
- How Department of Education changes affect forgiveness eligibility, timelines, and compliance
- Which student debt relief programs do employees actually qualify for today
- The current status of the SAVE program
- Common application errors that delay or derail forgiveness
- Rising delinquency and repayment restart risks
- What HR teams need to know about collections, wage garnishment notices, and employer responsibilities
Attendees will also see how a new student debt navigation tool helps employees estimate their potential forgiveness, avoid costly mistakes, and reduce annual payments by an average of $2,244.
For HR teams, this means a scalable way to offer meaningful financial support without adding administrative burden.
What to Know Before You Go to NACo’s Legislative Conference
Join NACo’s Membership Chair and staff to learn ways to maximize your experience at the NACo Legislative Conference.