County Countdown – May 19, 2025

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.