Advocacy Hub
NACo Advocacy Hub
Through NACo, advocate for county priorities in federal policy making
County Grassroots Advocacy Hub
Whether you're preparing for a visit to Capitol Hill, engaging with federal officials in your community or advocating for county priorities for the first time, this resource hub provides the tools, guidance and resources you need to make your voice heard in federal policymaking.
2027 Appropriations Tracker
As the FY 2027 appropriations process moves through the House and Senate, NACo's tracker gives counties a comprehensive, up-to-date look at the progress of all 12 annual spending bills and their potential impacts on county funding and services.
AI Policy Advocacy Resource Hub
The state of play and county policy priorities in policymaking surrounding artificial intelligence at the federal level.
Medicaid Inmate Exclusion Policy (MIEP) Advocacy Toolkit
Find resources designed to help county officials educate Congress, the administration and the public on the importance providing access to federal health benefits for those awaiting trial and verdict decisions.
Waters of the U.S. Resource Hub
The definition of WOTUS directly impacts county governments as owners and operators of local infrastructure.
Supreme Court Advocacy Hub
Through this hub NACo works to raise awareness of the importance of Supreme Court cases to county governments and help shape the outcome of cases of significance at the Supreme Court through persuasive and effective advocacy.
From Counties to Congress: Your Guide to Effective Federal Policy Advocacy in Washington, D.C.
This toolkit helps county leaders effectively engage with members of Congress and their staff in Washington, D.C., featuring tailored talking points for county leaders and specific legislative actions NACo is advocating for on Capitol Hill.
Congress in Your Community: A County Official's Guide to In-District Engagement
This toolkit helps county officials make the most of those windows — from requesting meetings and hosting site visits to staying engaged long after the conversation ends.
American County Platform & Policy Briefs
All NACo's federal policy priorities are detailed in the American County Platform, NACo’s permanent policy document. NACo's policy briefs provide additional details by issue.
Policy Steering Committees & Caucuses
Tracker Tables
| Title | Eyebrow | Summary | Full Content | County Action | Primary Button | Additional Links | Image | Keyword | Featured (Y/N) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pass the BUILD America 250 Act |
H.R. 8870 · Authorization extension expires Dec. 11 |
A five-year, $580B surface transportation reauthorization carrying county priorities from the NACo-endorsed BASICS Act. Awaiting a House floor vote. |
On May 22, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee advanced the Building Unrivaled Infrastructure and Long-term Development for America's 250th (BUILD America 250) Act (H.R. 8870) by a bipartisan 62-2 vote — a five-year, $580 billion surface transportation reauthorization. NACo engaged congressional leaders throughout the bill's development and endorsed the bipartisan BASICS Act (H.R. 7437), which provided a blueprint for strengthening local transportation systems. Several provisions from the BASICS Act and other NACo-endorsed bills advancing county transportation priorities were included in the proposed highway bill. || The bill now awaits a full House floor vote. Authorization and funding for transportation programs was extended to December 11, 2026, by the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act of 2027 (P.L. 119-103). NACo is continuing to work with congressional leaders to address remaining county concerns in the legislation. |
Use NACo’s template letter to contact your U.S. Representative and urge passage of the bipartisan BUILD America 250 Act (H.R. 8870), which incorporates key county transportation priorities and should move through the House before the extension expires on December 11. |
https://www.naco.org/sites/default/files/styles/667x579/public/2025-05/GettyImages-1300756671%20%281%29.jpg |
surface transportation |
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Successfully Implement the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act |
P.L. 119-101 |
Substantially reauthorizes federal programs that shape county housing and community development tools and creates new sources of funding for county-led housing development projects. |
On July 11, the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act became law after more than a year of stakeholder engagement and bicameral negotiation. The final package reflects several county priorities, including timelier access to critical disaster recovery funds, increased versatility in locally administered housing programs, new local funding streams and a series of rural housing reforms. With the law now signed, NACo's focus shifts to implementation — working with HUD to ensure rulemaking reflects county input and that appropriators fully fund HOME and CDBG. |
As HUD releases guidance, county officials can support by sharing local impact stories, flagging implementation questions and staying engaged as the process unfolds. |
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21st Century ROAD to Housing Act |
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Delay the OMB Uniform Guidance Rewrite |
2 CFR Part 200 · Delay in H.R. 6500 ends Dec. 11 |
The rule looks to overhaul how the federal government administers every grant, cooperative agreement and pass-through award that counties receive. |
On Sept 1, Congress passed a Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Continuing Resolution (CR) (H.R. 6500), which includes language postponing the implementation of OMB's proposed rewrite of the Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200) until Dec. 11. This delay gives counties more time to prepare for the potentially debilitating changes to federal grant administration and closes a loophole that would have otherwise let OMB rush to implement the rule starting Oct. 1, 2026, even after receiving nearly 500,000 public comments raising concerns.
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Use NACo’s template letter to contact your U.S. House Representative and both U.S. Senators and communicate the impact that the rule will have on your county. |
https://www.naco.org/sites/default/files/styles/207x214/public/GettyImages-933003688_0.webp |
Uniform Guidance |
Yes |
||
Fix the SAVE America Act Provisions |
H.R. 7296 / S. 1383 · Attached to the House NDAA |
Election provisions now riding the NDAA raise county concerns about unfunded costs, tight timelines and criminal liability for election officials. |
Provisions from the SAVE America Act have been attached to the House-passed NDAA (H.R. 8800) as a direct mandate, and a parallel reconciliation package directs the House Administration Committee to draft related election language — raising serious county concerns about unfunded costs, tight implementation timelines and criminal liability for election officials. || The reconciliation framework (H. Con. Res. 113) would direct up to $10 billion in election-related mandates through a vehicle that passed the House 216-214 and needs only a simple Senate majority — meaning county-impacting election provisions could reach final passage without the usual 60-vote check. |
Use NACo's template letter to contact your U.S. Senators and urge them to fix the county-impacting provisions of the SAVE America Act (H.R. 7296/S. 1383) before either legislative vehicle reaches final passage. |
https://www.naco.org/sites/default/files/styles/807x448/public/Elections.webp |
SAVE America Act |
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Reauthorize the Farm Bill |
H.R. 7567 · |
Counties back a bipartisan, long-term bill — while opposing provisions preempting county authority over pesticide and livestock regulation. |
The House passed its version of the 2026 Farm Bill — the Farm, Food, and National Security Act (H.R. 7567) — on April 30, and the Senate Agriculture Committee advanced its companion, the Agricultural Act of 2026, out of committee on September 16. Senate Agriculture Chairman John Boozman (R-Ark.) expects the Senate to hold a floor vote on the bill after the midterm elections. Both bills would reauthorize farm bill programs through FY2031, but the current law is only extended through December 2026. NACo appreciates Congress's work on the Farm Bill and the inclusion of key county wins. Counties continue to advocate for a bipartisan Farm Bill, including a clean delay for H.R. 1 SNAP implementation. |
Contact your Members of Congress and urge a bipartisan, long-term Farm Bill reauthorization that preserves county investments in rural infrastructure, conservation and nutrition programs, while opposing provisions in H.R. 7567 that would preempt county authority over pesticide and livestock regulation. |
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Farm Bill |
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Submit Comments on the Census Proposed Rule |
15 CFR Parts 60 & 70 · Comments Due Nov. 2 |
The proposed rule's methods for counting residents risks undercounting counties, leading to reduced federal funding from programs that rely on census population counts for allocation. |
On Sept. 10, the U.S. Census Bureau issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that would add two new parts to the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) to restrict census data collection to only U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents and remove demographic questions about race, ethnicity and sexual orientation from appearing on the decennial census questionnaire. It also proposes new regulatory standards for determining an individual’s residence, a process typically determined through Federal Register notices rather than binding regulation. Codifying residence criteria in the CFR through the NPRM means these criteria will be more durable and difficult to change for future censuses. While census data constitutionally required to apportion seats to the U.S. House of Representatives, it is also a crucial tool used to determine the distribution of $2.8 trillion in annual federal funding across 353 federal programs, which counties rely upon to deliver essential services to their communities.
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Use NACo's census proposed rule analysis page to help craft and submit comments on regulations.gov using Docket No. USBC-2026-0628. Comments are due November 2, 2026. |
https://www.naco.org/sites/default/files/styles/385x285/public/2026-09/GettyImages-1249231744.webp |
Census |
y |
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Reauthorize Cybersecurity Grants (SLCGP) |
H.R. 5078 / S. 3251 · PILLAR Act passed the House |
The program delivering direct cyber funding to counties has already lapsed once — a long-term fix is on the table in both chambers. |
The State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program (SLCGP), which delivers direct cybersecurity funding and assistance to counties, has already lapsed once and is currently authorized only on a temporary basis while Congress negotiates a permanent fix. The House has shown the path forward: the PILLAR Act — introduced and passed out of the Homeland Security Committee on a bipartisan basis before clearing the full House by voice vote — would reauthorize the program through 2033, while the Senate’s companion works through committee. |
Contact your U.S. Senators and urge passage of a long-term SLCGP reauthorization — either the House-passed PILLAR Act (H.R. 5078), which would extend the program through 2033, or the Senate’s SLCGP Reauthorization Act (S. 3251) — so counties don’t lose access to this critical funding. |
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SLCGP |
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Pass the FEMA Act |
H.R. 4669 · Passed committee 57–3 |
The most significant FEMA reform in decades — modernized assistance programs and an independent, cabinet-level FEMA. |
Congress is advancing the bipartisan Fixing Emergency Management for Americans (FEMA) Act, which would overhaul disaster recovery, modernize FEMA’s Public and Individual Assistance programs, and make FEMA an independent, cabinet-level agency. || The stakes for counties are rising: newly confirmed FEMA Administrator Cameron Hamilton will oversee implementation of the president’s FEMA Review Council recommendations, which propose significantly shifting the cost and responsibility for disaster response and recovery toward state and local governments. |
Contact your U.S. Representative and urge support for the bipartisan Fixing Emergency Management for Americans (FEMA) Act (H.R. 4669), which passed the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee 57-3 and represents the most significant FEMA reform in decades. |
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FEMA Act |
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Reauthorize Secure Rural Schools |
S. 5608 · Program expired Sep. 30 |
Expired on Sep. 30, 2026, after a short-term extension — forested counties need long-term certainty. |
The Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program has lapsed after Congress passed a short-term extension last December (P.L. 119-58). Without congressional action, counties will face a fiscal cliff in FY 2027. County officials are making the case directly: testifying before the U.S. House Natural Resources Subcommittee, Modoc County, Calif. Supervisor Coe drew on his county’s experience to illustrate how undermanaged federal forests and lapsing SRS payments compound into a fiscal squeeze for forested counties. |
Contact your Member of Congress and urge immediate long-term reauthorization of SRS, so forested counties can count on this revenue stream beyond FY 2026. |
https://www.naco.org/sites/default/files/styles/385x285/public/2026-02/GettyImages-1812264077.jpg?h=eb400e3e&itok=UDAS7gjv |
Secure Rural Schools |
Yes |
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Ensure Full, Mandatory Funding for PILT |
FY27 Interior bill · Still discretionary |
Fully funded in the House bill — but counties with federal land need mandatory, predictable funding, not an annual scramble. |
The FY 2027 Interior-Environment appropriations bill approved by the House Appropriations Committee fully funds the Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program at an estimated $650 million, but PILT remains discretionary and subject to the annual appropriations cycle rather than guaranteed, predictable funding. |
Contact your Members of Congress and urge them to support full, mandatory funding for PILT in the FY 2027 appropriations process, giving counties with federal land long-term budget certainty for FY 2027 and beyond. |
https://www.naco.org/sites/default/files/styles/385x285/public/2024-05/Zion_angels_landing_view.jpg?h=bdcdd183&itok=NcZH0TvX |
PILT |
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Pass Comprehensive Permitting Reform |
S. 5653 |
Counties support the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026 to codify counties as cooperating agencies and expedite project delivery. |
On Sep. 30, the leaders of the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee introduced the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026 (S. 5653), a comprehensive, bipartisan permitting reform package that would make major changes to several federal environmental protection statutes. After continued engagement from NACo, the package contains a major win for counties by codifying counties as a cooperating agency during National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) reviews. The legislation also proposes process reforms to expedite project delivery, permit certainty provisions for major projects, an electricity ratepayer protection framework and adjustments to the Endangered Species Act. |
NACo urges county leaders to act now; contact your senators and urge them to support the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026. |
https://www.naco.org/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/2026-03/GettyImages-1212994715.jpg?itok=_o4PKf5_ |
Permitting reform |
Yes |
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Pass the Child Care Modernization Act |
S. 2828 / H.R. 9224 · Introduced · Bipartisan |
The first CCDBG reauthorization since 2014 — modernized reimbursement, supply grants, and a formal county seat at the table. |
Bipartisan, bicameral legislation would deliver the first comprehensive reauthorization of the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) since 2014, modernizing provider reimbursement rates from a market-rate survey to a cost-estimation model, creating new child care supply and facilities grants, and requiring states to consult counties when developing their child care plans. Counties administer CCDF programs in eight states and are key partners in connecting families to care nationwide. |
Contact your Member of Congress and urge support for the Child Care Modernization Act (S. 2828 / H.R. 9224), which would reauthorize CCDBG, stabilize provider networks and formally recognize counties’ role in administering child care assistance programs. |
Child Care Modernization Act |
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Pass the Michelle Alyssa Go Act |
H.R. 5462 · Reintroduced in House · Bipartisan |
Raises the inpatient psychiatric bed cap, expanding county behavioral health treatment capacity. |
On September 18,2025 the Michelle Alyssa Go Act was reintroduced in the House with bipartisan support. The bill raises the decades-old 16-bed cap on Medicaid reimbursement for inpatient psychiatric facilities — a change counties, which operate 750 behavioral health authorities, have long sought to expand treatment capacity. |
Contact your members of Congress, urging your U.S. House Representative and to pass H.R. 5462 and your U.S. Senators to introduce a companion bill in the Senate. |
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Michelle Alyssa Go Act |
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Track Implementation of H.R. 1 |
Signed into law July 4, 2025 |
H.R. 1 changes how federal, state and local governments share responsibility for administering programs, including work requirements in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid. |
H.R. 1 changes how federal, state and local governments share responsibility for administering programs. Counties work with federal and state partners to deliver essential services. Several provisions reduce federal spending and shift some financial and administrative responsibility to states and counties. Changes to funding and cost sharing in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid alter the intergovernmental partnership and may require counties to weigh adjustments to services or local revenue. |
Use NACo's resources to track rulemaking and ensure your county's voice is heard as federal agencies implement H.R. 1. |
The Big Shift: An Analysis of the Local Cost of Federal Cuts |
H.R. 1 and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
|
H.R. 1 |
y |
| Title | Summary | Link |
|---|---|---|
Federal Grant Administration |
Congress passed a CR delaying OMB's Uniform Guidance rewrite until Dec. 11. Urge your U.S. House Representative and U.S. Senators to enact legislation blocks ways in which the rule threatens how counties administer federal grants. |
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Census Administration |
The U.S. Census Bureau issued a proposed rule to restrict census data collection. This rule could lead to a major undercount of county populations, cutting federal funding that relies on census population counts. Submit comments on the rule at regulations.gov using Docket No. USBC-2026-0628. |
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Secure Rural Schools |
The Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program has lapsed after Congress passed a short-term extension last December (P.L. 119-58), and, without congressional action, counties will face a fiscal cliff in FY 2027. Contact your member of Congress and urge immediate long-term reauthorization of SRS by passing S.5308, so forested counties can count on this revenue stream beyond FY 2026. |
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Federal Permitting Reform |
On Sep. 30, Senate leaders introduced the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026 (S. 5653), a comprehensive, bipartisan permitting reform package that would make major changes to several federal environmental protection statutes. NACo urges county leaders to act now; contact your senators and urge them to support S. 5653. |