Local Government ARPA Investment Tracker

On December 2, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published an interim final rule that repeals the federal nursing home staffing mandate, a regulation that would have required long-term care facilities to meet strict minimum staffing levels.

States and localities are set to receive $56 billion in opioid settlement dollars over an 18-year period, but not every county that receives settlement funding will get enough to build out infrastructure.

For some county officials, participating in search and rescue operations is another way to serve their communities, and make it safer for people to enjoy natural recreation resources.

On September 18, the U.S. Senate passed the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act of 2025 (SUPPORT Act Reauthorization) (H.R. 2483) by voice vote, following House passage earlier this year. With strong bipartisan backing in both chambers, the legislation now heads to the President’s desk for signature. 

On December 1, the bipartisan SUPPORT for Patients and Communities (SUPPORT) Reauthorization Act of 2025  (H.R. 2483) was signed into law. The reauthorization renews vital federal funding for programs that seek to prevent opioid overdoses and expand treatment and recovery options.

Every other week, NACo's County Countdown reviews top federal policy advocacy items with an eye towards counties and the intergovernmental partnership.

Wednesday, December 10, 2025 | 3:00 p.m. - 4:300 p.m. ET

Counties play a crucial role in our nation’s aviation system, owning and operating hundreds of airports across the country. And even in places where the county may not own the airport, county planning departments and development organizations work to maximize the value of this asset to the community’s economic and overall wellbeing. Join NACo and staff from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Office of Airports Planning and Programming to learn more about the FAA’s “Advisory Circular on Airport Land Use Compatibility Planning,” which will enable counties work smarter to integrate airports into broader planning efforts for land use, economic development and more. FAA staff will also be available to answer questions from county leaders about planning needs in their community and how the Advisory Circular can guide those efforts. 

Speakers: 
 

• Jacqueline Essick, Associate Director, Jacobsen|Daniels
• Amber McNair, Founder & Principal Investigator, AV McNair, LLC
• Michael (Mike) Hines, Manager of Airports Planning and Environmental Division, FAA
• Jean Wolfers-Lawrence, Manager of Environmental Planning Branch, FAA

This webinar will provide county leaders with an overview of early considerations for implementing proposed changes to Medicaid and SNAP under H.R. 1. 

Join NACo’s Government Affairs team for week thirteen 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.

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.