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. Department of Transportation provides updates for Essential Air Service (EAS) program amid ongoing federal government shutdown
On October 7, Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy announced that, due to the ongoing government shutdown, funding for the Essential Air Service (EAS) program would lapse on October 12.
FEMA bill staffers offer insights into reform effort
NACo Intergovernmental Disaster Reform Task Force heard from staffers who helped shape a bill that would make dramatic changes to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
County Leaders Advocate for FEMA Act in Visit to Washington, D.C.
Nearly two dozen county leaders from 15 states are in attendance this week at a National Association of Counties (NACo) fly-in focused on disaster reform.
Upcoming Events
Modern Networks, Smarter Budgets: A County Leader’s Perspective
Join us for a fireside chat with Orleans County, NY, as they share how their team successfully transitioned from a traditional capital expense (CapEx) model to an operational expense (OpEx) model for network services.
When faced with rising maintenance costs and an expiring carrier contract, the county seized the opportunity to modernize its network and lock in predictable monthly costs. By bundling connectivity services with unified communications, they achieved immediate savings of over $124,000, eliminated recurring charges such as long-distance fees and third-party integration costs, and gained access to operational upgrades like call analytics and auto-attendants.
This shift not only strengthened financial planning through fixed monthly expenses but also freed up IT staff to focus on strategic initiatives.
Key takeaway: Rethinking your budget model can be just as impactful as upgrading your technology — delivering fiscal stability and enhanced services for your community.
Inside Washington: County Impacts from the White House & Congress, November 13
Join NACo’s Government Affairs team for week twelve 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.
What to Expect from the Current Supreme Court Term: Cases Impacting Local Government
Hosted by the Local Government Legal Center (LGLC), join legal experts in a discussion of the new Supreme Court term and what decisions local governments should watch.