The National Association of Counties (NACo) hosted a series of state and federal policy and advocacy discussions during the National Council of County Association Executives (NCCAE) President's and Executives meeting held January 14–16 in Washington, D.C. The sessions brought together county leaders, state association executives and federal officials to examine pressing legislative, regulatory and fiscal challenges facing counties nationwide.
The event was attended by ISACo President Matt Prochaska and Executive Director Joe McCoy, who participated in conversations focused on strengthening county advocacy, improving intergovernmental partnerships and advancing county priorities at both the federal and state levels.
Overview of the Discussions
The meetings served as briefings and strategic exchanges rather than formal decision-making sessions. Participants engaged in candid discussions on federal policy priorities, congressional legislative efforts and the growing fiscal pressures confronting counties. A consistent theme throughout the sessions was the need to streamline federal processes, reduce regulatory burdens and ensure that power and resources are appropriately aligned with state and local governments.
Federal priorities discussed included regulatory reduction, border security, onshoring manufacturing and emerging technologies such as data centers and artificial intelligence. Legislative conversations centered on permitting reform, housing supply challenges and preparations for the upcoming surface transportation reauthorization. At the same time, county leaders highlighted the compounding effects of unfunded mandates, cost shifting and political pressure surrounding property taxes, all of which are straining local budgets and eroding public trust in government.
White House Intergovernmental Affairs Briefing
A briefing from the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs outlined the administration’s role in serving as a liaison between federal agencies and state and local governments. Administration priorities discussed included border security, regulatory reform and energy development, with an emphasis on cutting or streamlining federal regulations.
County officials raised a range of practical concerns, including regulatory barriers to energy projects, federal mandates affecting agricultural and public works equipment, challenges with federal emergency management programs, freezes in social services funding, constraints on timber harvesting on federal lands and burdensome commercial driver’s license requirements for county employees. The administration committed to continued engagement with county officials and follow-up on several of these issues through appropriate federal agencies.
Federal Legislative Priorities: Permitting, Transportation and Housing
Participants received updates on several major federal legislative initiatives of interest to counties:
- Permitting Reform: Discussion focused on the SPEED Act, which passed the U.S. House and seeks to modernize the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The legislation clarifies when NEPA applies, reforms judicial review and strengthens the role of counties as cooperating agencies early in the process. Attention now turns to the U.S. Senate.
- Surface Transportation Reauthorization: With the next reauthorization approaching, participants discussed the importance of addressing implementation challenges from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and advancing county priorities through bipartisan “marker bills” that can be incorporated into the broader package.
- Housing Supply: The bipartisan 21st Century Housing Act was highlighted as a NACO-endorsed effort to expand affordable housing by reducing regulatory barriers in federal housing programs, particularly for smaller and infill projects.
Concerns were also raised about the impact of tariffs and other federal policies on the cost of county public works projects.
Intergovernmental Fiscal Pressures and Cost Shifting
Attendees described a “perfect storm” of fiscal challenges driven by cost shifting from federal and state governments, increasing mandates and political efforts to reduce or repeal property taxes without sustainable replacement revenues. Examples included significant projected cost shifts associated with federal program changes and state-level penalties tied to administrative performance metrics.
These pressures force counties to make difficult choices, often placing essential services such as public safety, transportation and community programs at risk. While no formal decisions were made, there was broad agreement that counties must rethink how they communicate these challenges to policymakers and the public.
Evolving County Advocacy and Storytelling
A major strategic takeaway from the discussions was the need for counties and county associations to modernize their advocacy approaches. Participants emphasized moving away from technical jargon and toward clear, relatable storytelling that explains the real-world impacts of policy decisions on residents and communities.
There was also discussion about the importance of providing context—particularly around budget scale and administrative complexity—and using new tactics to build bipartisan coalitions, mobilize grassroots engagement and maintain visibility with lawmakers. NACo highlighted its new three-year public affairs initiative, We Are Counties, which is designed to reinforce this context-based, narrative-driven approach.
Looking Ahead: Emerging Challenges and Opportunities
The sessions also addressed future issues that will significantly affect counties, including the rapid expansion of data center development, which is projected to involve trillions of dollars in investment over the coming years. NACo emphasized its role as a neutral, fact-based resource to help counties evaluate and govern these developments.
In addition, NACo introduced the Rural Energy Academy, a new initiative aimed at equipping county officials with information and tools to navigate complex energy-related issues through education, resources and state-based programming.
Conclusion
The NACo-hosted discussions during the NCCAE meeting underscored the increasingly complex policy environment facing counties and the importance of strong, coordinated advocacy at all levels of government. For ISACo, the conversations reinforced the need to continue elevating county perspectives, engaging federal and state partners and adopting more effective communication strategies that clearly convey the value and impact of county government.