NACo to kick off 2026 Legislative Conference, unveil ‘We Are Counties’ message

Key Takeaways

More than 2,000 county officials from across the nation are visiting Washington, D.C., for NACo 2026 Legislative Conference, at the Washington Hilton Feb. 21-24. The conference provides county officials with a forum to engage directly with federal policymakers, share local perspectives and shape discussions on national issues with significant local impact. 

Over several days, attendees will explore hot topics in workshops, steering committee meetings, general sessions and conference-wide receptions. Pre-conference events are also scheduled on Feb. 20 including a technology innovation forum and disaster response and recovery training.

The multi-day conference will focus on a broad range of federal policy issues affecting counties, including disaster reform, energy, land use, artificial intelligence and emerging technologies. 

Additional key topics include Surface Transportation Reauthorization, local preemption efforts related to permitting and property taxes, and implementation of H.R. 1 as it pertains to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Attendees will gather for two General Sessions, where they will hear from a number of high-profile speakers including NACo President J.D. Clark of Wise County, Texas as well as Cabinet secretaries and members of Congress.

Monday, Feb. 23 speakers include:

• House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), who represents Minnesota’s 6th Congressional District
• U.S. Rep. Andrea Salinas (D-Ore.), a member of the House Agriculture and House Science, Space and Technology committees and co-chair of the bipartisan Mental Health Caucus

Tuesday, Feb. 24 speakers include:

• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
• Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin
• Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.), chair of the House Committee on Natural Resources 

Members of NACo’s policy steering committees are set to explore an array of domestic policy issues. These committees meet at least twice each year to review and make recommendations on public policy issues and legislation. The policy development process initiated by the steering committees is the foundation for the American County Platform, which drives NACo’s advocacy work. 

Several NACo caucuses will host specialized discussions with federal leaders. 

• The Large Urban County Caucus will hear from Ronnie Kurtz, assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Matt Squeri, senior advisor in the State Department’s Office of China Coordination.
• The Midsize County Caucus will receive an update from Connor Torossian, associate administrator at the Federal Transit Administration.
• The Rural Action Caucus will meet with Robert Hyman, director of Infrastructure Implementation at the U.S. Department of Transportation.

A unique opportunity at the conference will be the NACo Federal Agency Expo on Monday, Feb. 23, when county officials meet one-on-one with federal representatives. 

The expo is the only event of its kind to bring together more than 100 federal officials from dozens of agencies in a single setting dedicated specifically to engaging with county leaders.

On the final day of the conference, Tuesday, Feb. 24, members will visit with their congressional representatives on Capitol Hill, while public information officers will gather for a meeting on storytelling, to hear from speakers about creative ways to get the word out about county initiatives. Attendees will end the conference with a county fair-themed reception.

We Are Counties

During the conference, NACo will unveil a national three-year, multimillion-dollar education campaign. 

Titled “We Are Counties,” the $3.5 million initiative is designed to educate policymakers and the public about the full scope of county responsibilities — from disaster mitigation and affordable housing to broadband access and healthcare.

The campaign will target three key audiences: State and federal policymakers, the general public and NACo members, serving both educational and information-sharing purposes. 

The campaign will roll out with a mix of videos, posters, postcards, social media content and an online toolkit for NACo members, building on a storytelling initiative launched last year by NACo President J.D. Clark of Wise County, Texas.

“Every day, counties deliver essential services that touch nearly every aspect of our residents’ lives, from public health and infrastructure to public safety, economic development and human services,” Clark tells county officials in a welcome letter going out to NACo members, inviting them to join in the effort. 

“Yet too often, the breadth, complexity and impact of county government is not fully understood by the general public or by federal policymakers whose decisions directly affect our ability to serve,” Clark noted. “We Are Counties exists to change that by clearly and consistently showing what counties do and why it matters.” 

An online toolkit will also be made available to NACo members, designed to make participation easy and flexible. Members will make use of communications resources, including sample messaging, graphics, data points and storytelling guidance, along with ideas for how to tailor the campaign to reflect their county’s unique priorities and experiences. 

Whether counties choose to use NACo-developed materials or highlight their own programs and successes, the toolkit is meant to support counties in sharing their story with confidence.