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.
Related News

Former FEMA chief is bearish on reform talks
Former FEMA Administrator Brock Long has yet to hear any proposals for federal disaster reform that would make a significant improvement to the way it operates.

Texas Hill Country floods kill more than 100 across six counties
Nineteen different local and state agencies are involved with the search and rescue efforts over six counties following flash flooding in Texas' Guadalupe River.

U.S. Congress passes reconciliation bill: What it means for counties
On July 3, the U.S. Congress passed sweeping budget reconciliation legislation.
Upcoming Events

Legislative Landscape: Prescription Drug Costs & County Impacts
Curious about Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBM) and how they impact your county’s pharmacy benefits? This webinar from NACo's Public Promise Insurance breaks down what PBMs do, why they matter to counties, and how new legislation may reshape the cost and delivery of prescription drugs.

Inside Washington: County Impacts from the White House & Congress, July 24
Join NACo’s Government Affairs team for week five 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.

Supreme Court Review for Local Governments: 2024-2025
Hosted by the Local Government Legal Center (LGLC), join legal experts in a discussion of the Supreme Court’s important decisions of the term impacting local governments.