County Countdown – May 6, 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.
Budget reconciliation begins in the House
Congress has entered a new phase in the reconciliation process, with House committees releasing legislative proposals that will shape major fiscal policy decisions affecting counties.
- County priorities: NACo is advocating for protecting tax-exempt municipal bonds, restoring the full state and local tax (SALT) deduction, strengthening the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit and educating lawmakers about the federal-state-local partnership for Medicaid and human services.
- Local impact: Counties manage 44% of U.S. roads, run 1,900 public health departments and invest $743 billion annually. Given this robust and far-reaching role, federal budget decisions directly affect service delivery.
- Balanced approach: Counties seek fair federal funding decisions to avoid shifting burdens onto local governments with limited taxing authority.
Reauthorize Secure Rural Schools in reconciliation
NACo is also urging Congress to include reauthorization of the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program in the reconciliation bill to prevent major funding shortfalls for rural counties.
- Funding lapse: SRS expired in 2024, leading to an 80% drop in U.S. Forest Service payments this year. This reduction in revenue threatens education, roads and emergency services.
- Urgent fix needed: Reauthorization is critical to avoiding deeper strain on already under-resourced rural communities.
2025 Rural Innovation Summit
More than 60 rural development leaders gathered at NACo HQ for the 2025 Rural Innovation Summit to collaborate on federal advocacy and strengthen rural policy.
- Key voices: Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Rep. Angie Craig highlighted rural-local-federal collaboration in their keynote remarks.
- Top issues: Summit participants discussed broadband, housing, health care, economic growth and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development programs.
- Coalition building: NACo and 59 partners delivered a letter urging robust rural development funding in the 2026 budget.
Bipartisan push for rural housing reform
U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds and Tina Smith have reintroduced the Rural Housing Service Reform Act to modernize and strengthen USDA rural housing programs.
- Key reforms: The bill includes permanent authorization of preservation programs, expanded eligibility, tech investments and improved transparency.
- County role: Local governments are essential in housing support and welcome federal reforms to tackle rural housing challenges.
- Broad support: Counties back this bipartisan bill as a critical tool to preserve affordable rural housing.
First 100 Days series continues as policy webinar series
Thanks to all who joined NACo’s First 100 Days series. Due to high interest and fast-moving federal activity, we have decided to continue offering deep dives into the mechanics of what’s happening in Washington.
- What’s next: A new biweekly policy webinar series will offer in-depth updates on federal executive orders, legislation and regulatory changes.
- County focus: Each session will center on how federal actions impact county operations and priorities.
- Stay informed: Registration information for this new series is coming soon. Meanwhile, recordings of previous 100 days episodes and additional resources are available at NACo.org.
Full schedule now available for 2025 NACo Annual Conference
Join us July 11–14 in the City and County of Philadelphia, Pa. for NACo’s 90th Annual Conference, featuring policy steering committee meetings, innovation sessions and invaluable networking opportunities.
- What to expect: Workshops, steering committee sessions and the latest NACo tools and resources.
- Who’s coming: Thousands of county leaders from across the U.S. will attend the nation's largest gathering of county government officials.
- Register now: Explore the full schedule and secure your spot today.
U.S. Congress begins work on budget reconciliation process: What this means for counties
The House and Senate Budget Committees have marked up Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 budget resolutions to initiate the budget reconciliation process to enact policy priorities without garnering bipartisan support, although the two chambers differ in their approach to drafting the legislation.
USFS begins disbursement of revenue sharing payments amid lapse in SRS funding
On April 11, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service began distributing funds to support public schools and roads in counties containing national forest lands.
2025 Rural Innovation Summit brings together rural development leaders at NACo headquarters
On April 10, NACo hosted the 2025 Rural Innovation Summit at its Washington, D.C. headquarters, convening more than 60 rural development leaders, practitioners, policymakers and advocates for a day of in-depth policy dialogue, partnership building and federal advocacy.
Congressional leaders reintroduce bipartisan bill to protect rural housing
On April 7, Senators Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) reintroduced the Rural Housing Service Reform Act, bipartisan legislation that would help preserve affordable housing and stabilize rental assistance for rural county residents across the country.
NACo Membership Series: First 100 Days
Join NACo's membership series focusing on timely updates and analysis on key developments during the first 100 days of the Trump administration. These calls will focus on policies and actions that directly impact counties, including federal funding, regulations and intergovernmental partnerships.
2025 NACo Annual Conference & Exposition
The 2025 NACo Annual Conference brought together elected and appointed officials from the nation’s 3,069 counties, parishes and boroughs.
Related News
USDA streamlines foreign-owned agricultural lands transaction reporting with online portal
On January 22, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) launched a new online portal to streamline reporting transactions involving U.S. agricultural land by foreign entities.
Counties Must Act Now: Submit Comments on OMB’s Proposed Overhaul of Federal Grant Rules
On June 17, NACo joined NLC, USCM, ICMA, NCSL, CSG, GFOA, NADO, AMPO, and NARC in requesting OMB Director Russell Vought for a 45 day extension for public comments to OMB’s proposed revisions to Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations (2 CFR), Part 200, Subtitle A, commonly referred to as Uniform Guidance for federal grants.
U.S. Department of Agriculture announces reorganization
On July 24, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced a major reorganization of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that will relocate thousands of federal employees, restructure regional offices and consolidate administrative services and operations. The changes are expected to reduce USDA’s footprint in Washington, D.C. and shift more personnel to regional hubs across the country.
Upcoming Events
Grassroots Advocacy Series: In-District Advocacy During Congressional Recess
This session will walk through NACo’s new recess advocacy guide and provide step-by-step guidance on engaging members of Congress while they are in their districts.
Island-Strong Finances: How Kauai County Built Resilience from the Inside Out
Tuesday, May 26, 2026 | 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. ET
Hawaii's counties carry a unique weight: the responsibility of serving tight-knit communities while managing the financial pressures that come with island life. For Kauai County, the Garden Island, that responsibility has meant building a financial foundation strong enough to weather uncertainty from the inside out. With a $550 million budget and a community navigating rising housing costs, shifting economic drivers, and the ongoing demands of core public services, every dollar counts.
In this session, Kauai County Treasurer Nancee Robles shares how her office partnered with three+one to generate over $20 million for county programs. Join NACo and three+one's Vice President of Client Servicing, Mike Ablowich, alongside Treasurer Robles for a conversation about what it means to protect taxpayer dollars, serve your community with integrity, and what counties across the country can learn from Kauai's approach.
This webinar is brought to you by NACo EDGE, establishing people, purchasing, and performance cost-saving solutions that can be applied to counties nationwide. EDGE is owned by NACo, advised by county leaders and 100% focused on solutions for U.S. Counties. Learn more about NACo EDGE here.
For more information, visit the event page!
Supreme Court Review for Local Governments: 2025-2026
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.