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
Congress introduces Bipartisan HOME Reform Act
On October 21, 2025, Reps. Mike Flood (R-NE.) and Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO.) introduced the HOME Reform Act, which would make substantial changes to the eligible uses and exemptions applying to the Home Investment Partnerships (HOME) Program.
County Leaders Present Transportation Priorities in Washington, D.C. Advocacy Push
County leaders from 15 states convened this week in Washington for a transportation-focused fly-in hosted by NACo. In 27 meetings on Capitol Hill, visiting leaders emphasized key priorities for counties in the next surface transportation reauthorization bill.
Senate passes Second Chance Act reauthorization
On May 22, the Second Chance Reauthorization Act of 2025 (H.R. 3552/S.1843) was introduced in the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives with robust bipartisan support. NACo supports this legislation, which would reauthorize funding for Second Chance Act (P.L. 110-199) programs through 2030.
FEMA delays $11 billion in state disaster reimbursements
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently withheld roughly $11 billion in planned disaster reimbursements to 45 states, shifting the payments to fiscal year 2026 and marking a major change in how the federal government is managing disaster relief funding.
House and Senate committees advance reauthorization legislation for NOAA’s Digital Coast program
On September 17, the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee unanimously passed the bipartisan Digital Coast Reauthorization Act, which would reauthorize the Digital Coast program through 2030.
County Countdown – October 20, 2025
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