County Countdown – February 25, 2025
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Every other week, NACo's County Countdown reviews top federal policy advocacy items with an eye towards counties and the intergovernmental partnership.
Budget reconciliation moves forward
The House and Senate are pursuing their contrasting reconciliation bills to pass President Trump's legislative agenda. The reconciliation process is a unique tool that allows legislation to pass with a simple majority—potentially accelerating county-related policy changes.
- House vs. Senate: The House is pursuing a single sweeping bill covering border security, defense, energy, tax policies and spending cuts, while the Senate is taking a two-step approach focused first on defense and immigration.
- County impact: Large cuts to Medicaid and other county-administered social service programs, as well as the elimination of the tax-exempt status of municipal bonds, are all at stake.
- Call to action: NACo urges county leaders to engage with Congress to safeguard local priorities.
FY 2025 funding deadline approaches
With less than four weeks until the March 14 funding deadline, Congress remains deadlocked over top-line spending levels.
- Conversations continue ahead of the funding deadline: Appropriators have been working to strike a spending deal for weeks, with hopes of crafting the 12 annual funding bills that could make it out of both chambers with bipartisan support.
- Broader debates: Beyond federal funding, lawmakers continue to discuss other key county priorities including disaster relief funding, reauthorization of the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program and more.
- Why it matters to counties: Local governments advocate for continuity of government and long-term certainty around funding to avoid disruptions to vital community services.
White House seeks input on artificial intelligence (AI) policy
The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy is developing a national AI Action Plan and invites public input to shape responsible AI governance.
- County priorities in AI: Counties advocate for strong guardrails to ensure AI fosters innovation while safeguarding public trust.
- Get up to speed: NACo’s 2025 AI Policy Priorities Primer highlights considerations for counties.
Counties push back on Medicaid cuts
NACo, alongside other state and local government organizations, is urging Congress to reconsider proposed Medicaid financing changes that could strain local budgets and reduce healthcare coverage.
- Vital partnership: Medicaid supports over 70 million Americans through a federal-state-local collaboration.
- Potential risks: Proposed cuts could reduce coverage, increase medical debt and burden county healthcare systems.
- County advocacy: Local governments are calling to preserve Medicaid’s flexibility to maintain community health services.
First 100 days membership series continues
NACo’s ongoing membership series offers weekly updates on the Trump administration’s first 100 days, focusing on policies directly impacting counties.
- Policy deep dives: Topics include the federal funding freeze, regulatory changes and intergovernmental partnerships.
- Stay engaged: Are you coming to Washington for NACo's Legislative Conference March 1-4? Attend the in-person session of our first 100 days series.
- Catch up: Catch up on previous first 100 days webinars and save the page to sign up for future events.
U.S. Congress begins work on budget reconciliation process: What this means for counties
The House and Senate Budget Committees have marked up Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 budget resolutions to initiate the budget reconciliation process to enact policy priorities without garnering bipartisan support, although the two chambers differ in their approach to drafting the legislation.
2025 Appropriations Tracker
The NACo 2025 Appropriations Tracker provides counties with a comprehensive overview of the federal appropriations process, tracking the progress of key spending bills and offering insights on how these will impact county funding and services.
White House seeks input on new Artificial Intelligence Action Plan
On February 6, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy announced its first steps towards creating an Artificial Intelligence Action Plan by seeking public comments on what priority policy action items should be implemented at the national level.
State and Local Government Organizations Express Concern Over Proposed Changes to Medicaid Financing and Requirements
NACo, NLC, NCSL, USCM, CSG and ICMA emphasize the impact of policy changes to eligibility requirements and financing of Medicaid.
NACo Membership Series: First 100 Days
Join NACo's membership series focusing on timely updates and analysis on key developments during the first 100 days of the Trump administration. These calls will focus on policies and actions that directly impact counties, including federal funding, regulations and intergovernmental partnerships.
Related News
State and Local Government Organizations Express Concern Over Proposed Changes to Medicaid Financing and Requirements
NACo, NLC, NCSL, USCM, CSG and ICMA emphasize the impact of policy changes to eligibility requirements and financing of Medicaid.
NACo sends letter to congressional leadership urging SALT deduction reform
The letter urges Congress to raise the cap on the SALT Deduction, to provide relief to American families facing double taxation and reverse an unfair double standard
NACo endorsed advanced refunding bill introduced in the U.S. House
NACo endorsed this bill and supports counties’ ability to issue tax-exempt advance refunding bonds, which can save taxpayers millions of dollars.
Upcoming Events
NACo Membership Series: First 100 Days, Week 6
Join NACo for week six of a membership series providing timely updates and analysis on key developments during the first 100 days of the Trump administration. These calls will focus on policies and actions that directly impact counties, including federal funding, regulations and intergovernmental partnerships. Join us at the 2025 NACo Legislative Conference for this in-person session to stay informed on how these changes may shape county priorities and operations.
Connected and Protected: The Importance of Regional Cyber Tabletop Exercises
Join us for an interactive webinar on the importance of regional tabletop exercises in enhancing cybersecurity defenses for county governments. Learn how these exercises can help bridge connections between different local government agencies and departments, improve cybersecurity measures, and foster effective collaboration. Discover practical steps to initiate and conduct regional tabletop exercises, ensuring a coordinated and resilient response to potential cyber threats.
Saving Millions: How Counties Are Cutting Employee Health Plan Rx Costs with the NACo Public Promise PBM Coalition, a NACo Public Promise Insurance Webinar
Join us for an educational webinar on how NACo’s Public Promise Pharmacy Benefit Management (PBM) Coalition is helping counties save millions on employee health plan prescription drug costs. Learn more about how Mecklenburg County, N.C. is projected to save $7-8 million by joining the NACo PBM coalition. This offering, through NACo’s Public Promise Insurance, in partnership with CVS Caremark, provides counties with powerful cost-savings and multi-year pricing guarantees to combat rising Rx costs.