BRECC National Network Learning Series: The Nuts and Bolts of Community Benefits Plans

Rural communities face unique health care challenges, from provider shortages to funding disparities. To address these concerns, the U.S. Senate recently introduced two bipartisan bills aimed at improving rural health care access and funding: the Rural Health Focus Act and the Fair Funding for Rural Hospitals Act.

On January 30, a bipartisan group of senators reintroduced the Disaster Mitigation and Tax Parity Act of 2025, a bill aimed at eliminating federal taxation of state-provided residential mitigation grants. NACo previously supported this legislation and continues to advocate for its passage to support county resilience efforts. 

On February 12, Converse County, Wyo. Commissioner Jim Willox will be testifying on behalf of NACo before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Highways and Transit at a hearing titled “America Builds: A Review of Programs to Address Roadway Safety.”

Every other week, NACo's County Countdown reviews top federal policy advocacy items with an eye towards counties and the intergovernmental partnership. This week features a first 100 days update, testimony on rural road safety and more.

The first 100 days, Intergovernmental Disaster Reform Task Force fly-in, SALT deduction profiles released, reauthorization of Secure Rural Schools, and Medicaid and counties.

Over a week after a series of deadly fires sparked across Los Angeles County, at least 25 people are dead, thousands of structures, including businesses and homes, have been destroyed and roughly 100,000 people across the county have been displaced.