ARPA Impact Report: An Analysis of How Counties are Addressing National Issues With Local Investments
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Teryn Zmuda
Jonathan Harris
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America's nearly 40,000 county elected officials and 3.6 million county employees are on the frontlines of the nation's response to the coronavirus pandemic. As the country emerges from the pandemic and grapples with the toll it has taken on our citizens, counties are responding and rebuilding. At the same time, many counties are still confronting significant workforce shortage pressures at a time with growing, critical resident needs.
With American Rescue Plan funds, counties are strengthening America's workforce, addressing the nation's behavioral health crisis, expanding broadband access, improving housing affordability and building prosperous communities for the next generation.
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NACo Analysis of the American Rescue Plan Act
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County Investments of American Rescue Plan Recovery Funds
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.
House Natural Resources Committee advances the Endangered Species Act Amendments Act of 2025
On December 17, the House Natural Resources Committee advanced the Endangered Species Act (ESA) Amendments Act of 2025 (H.R. 1897). The version passed by the committee adopted several changes from the initial bill and would address key county concerns by improving the implementation of the ESA. The legislation now awaits a floor vote before the whole U.S. House of Representatives.
Counties and Railroads: Shared Priorities for the Next Surface Transportation Bill
County leaders from across the country have a vital opportunity to ensure their infrastructure priorities are front and center.