Equitable Governance: 2022 NACo DEI County Convening, Strategies for Governing with Equity
The National Association of Counties hosted a full-day diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) county convening before NACo’s 2022 Annual Conference to discuss the importance of equity in governance and how to strategically align efforts at the county level. The convening brought together over 50 participants from over 20 counties who sent a team comprised of a DEI practitioner, county administrator and elected official. Throughout the convening, attendees discussed the unique challenges and opportunities they see in their distinct roles and explored how to advance the principles of DEI by considering community data differently. Equitable Governance: 2022 NACo DEI County Convening, Key County Roles, Opportunities and Strategies for Governing with Equity lays out key takeaways from the convening.
County News
County News Spotlight: DEI Strategies
CMS issues new guidance on Medicaid Community Engagement Requirements
On December 8, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a Medicaid and CHIP Services Informational Bulletin (CIB) directing states on how to implement the Medicaid community engagement requirements enacted under Section 71119 of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act legislation (Public Law 119-21), or H.R. 1.
U.S. House of Representatives passes SPEED Act and other permitting reform bills
On December 18, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the SPEED Act (H.R. 4776). The SPEED Act would strengthen county involvement in decision-making and make needed commonsense reforms to the federal environmental review process.
California county sales tax measure backfills federal healthcare cuts
Santa Clara County, Calif. will raise an estimated $330 million each year from a sales tax to backfill lose Medicaid funding.
Emotion and perspective help frame stories
A songwriter and a nonfiction author shared their techniques for telling memorable stories at the County Storyteller Symposium in early December.
Wise County courthouse renovation turns back clock 130 years
A multi-year project restored the historic courthouse to its original design after mid-century compromises, making the county's centerpiece more inviting and evocative of the community's aspirations.
