Read more about the article Scholarship Opportunity Supports the Next Generation of County Leaders
Education / Higher Education / NACo and Federal Issues / News You Can Use
Scholarship Opportunity Supports the Next Generation of County Leaders

The National Association of Counties (NACo), in partnership with Nationwide, is investing in the futures of county families through its annual Deferred Compensation Program scholarship opportunity. Now in its 26th consecutive year, the NACo Deferred Compensation Program will award four $2,500 college scholarships to high school seniors who are the children or grandchildren of county employees participating in the program. The initiative reflects NACo and Nationwide’s ongoing commitment to supporting county employees not only in…

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February 10, 2026
Read more about the article Registration Open: 2026 NACo Legislative Conference
County News / NACo and Federal Issues / News You Can Use
Registration Open: 2026 NACo Legislative Conference

The 2026 National Association of Counties (NACo) Legislative Conference on February 21-24, 2026, will bring together nearly 2,000 elected and appointed county officials from across the country for a focused discussion on federal policy issues that directly affect local governments. Held annually in Washington, D.C., the NACo Legislative Conference provides counties with a critical opportunity to engage with federal decision-makers at a pivotal moment in the congressional calendar. Over the course of the conference, attendees…

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February 5, 2026
Read more about the article NACo Public Promise Insurance Supports County Workforce Benefits
County Budgets / County News / Health and Human Services / NACo and Federal Issues / News You Can Use
NACo Public Promise Insurance Supports County Workforce Benefits

NACo Public Promise Insurance provides a platform of voluntary employee benefits solutions, along with a Pharmacy Benefits Management (PBM) Coalition, built exclusively for public sector employees and their families. These benefits help counties recruit and retain top talent, while managing skyrocketing costs of prescription drug benefits. More than 30% of county employee health plan expenses are related to pharmacy benefits. NACo’s PBM Coalition, partnered with CVS Caremark—One of the largest PBMs in the nation—is the only plan specifically built for counties & county…

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January 29, 2026
Read more about the article Winter-Ready: Procurement Tools to Support County Operations
NACo and Federal Issues / News You Can Use
Winter-Ready: Procurement Tools to Support County Operations

As winter weather approaches, local governments must be ready to respond quickly to protect public safety, maintain operations, and keep essential services running. NACo’s Public Promise Procurement helps counties prepare by offering immediate access to competitively awarded contracts for critical equipment, supplies, and services—without the delays of a traditional procurement process. Through Public Promise Procurement, counties can leverage nationally vetted contracts designed to support emergency response, infrastructure maintenance, and workforce safety during severe weather events.…

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January 22, 2026
Read more about the article Counties Gain Access to New P-Card Procurement Contract
Corporate Partners / County News / Feature / NACo and Federal Issues
Counties Gain Access to New P-Card Procurement Contract

Counties now have a new opportunity to streamline purchasing operations through a cooperative procurement vehicle backed by county leadership and national partners. Fairfax County, Virginia has launched a new solicitation for P-Card and Payables Solutions, which, once awarded, will be made available to counties nationwide through Public Promise Procurement (PPP). As an endorsing partner of PPP, the Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) is helping ensure Maryland counties are aware of this opportunity and can take…

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January 21, 2026
Read more about the article US House Committee Advances Sweeping Broadband Bill, Gutting Local Land-Use Authority
Broadband / Business Affairs / Information Technology / NACo and Federal Issues / Planning and Zoning
US House Committee Advances Sweeping Broadband Bill, Gutting Local Land-Use Authority

Last month, the US House Energy and Commerce Committee approved and reported H.R. 2289, the American Broadband Deployment Act of 2025. This sweeping federal permitting bill would significantly reshape how state and local governments regulate broadband and telecommunications infrastructure. What began as a narrow, one-page proposal to exempt specified broadband projects from federal environmental and historic review requirements has expanded dramatically. Through committee amendments, H.R. 2289 expanded into a roughly 100-page omnibus bill, incorporating more than…

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January 8, 2026
Read more about the article #MACoCon Recap: The State of Maryland’s Economy
Business Affairs / County News / Labor / NACo and Federal Issues / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Winter Conference
#MACoCon Recap: The State of Maryland’s Economy

Maryland’s economy is growing slightly, but mounting uncertainty around affordability, labor, and federal policy is reshaping what that growth really means for counties and communities. At MACo’s Winter Conference, economist Dr. Daraius Irani delivered a sobering but practical economic outlook during “Troubling Trends: The State of Maryland’s Economy,” offering county leaders a clear-eyed assessment of the forces shaping budgets and long-term planning decisions across the state. Amid growing uncertainty, Dr. Irani opened with a national…

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December 17, 2025
Read more about the article Disaster Readiness Shifts as Counties Question Federal Reliability at #MACoCon
Preeti Emrick
Emergency Management / NACo and Federal Issues / Winter Conference
Disaster Readiness Shifts as Counties Question Federal Reliability at #MACoCon

At the MACo Winter Conference, emergency management leaders across all levels of government examined how growing federal uncertainty is reshaping preparedness planning and forcing counties to rethink long-standing assumptions about disaster readiness and recovery. The session, “Preparedness in Peril — Rethinking Readiness as Federal Stability Falters,” focused on mounting concerns about delayed federal engagement, slower reimbursements, shifting FEMA guidance, and uncertainty about when and how federal support materializes during emergencies. Delegate Dana Jones moderated the…

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December 17, 2025
Read more about the article #MACoCon Recap: Counties Protecting Public Health Together
County News / Health and Human Services / NACo and Federal Issues / Winter Conference
#MACoCon Recap: Counties Protecting Public Health Together

As funding uncertainty and rising health needs converge, county leaders are leaning on trust, coordination, and cross-sector partnerships to protect public health across Maryland. At MACo’s Winter Conference, county leaders and public health partners came together for a timely and candid conversation about what it will take to protect community health in an era of uncertainty. The panel, "Navigating Trust and Collaboration: Counties Protecting Public Health Together", explored how counties can sustain essential public health…

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December 17, 2025
Read more about the article Bipartisan Bill Aims to Reinstate Lapsed Cyber Grant Program
County News / Cyber / Information Technology / NACo and Federal Issues
Bipartisan Bill Aims to Reinstate Lapsed Cyber Grant Program

Congress is moving to revive a key federal cybersecurity grant program that counties rely on to protect critical systems and infrastructure. With cyber threats rising and local resources stretched thin, long-term reauthorization is essential for keeping communities safe. As covered in an article from Cybersecurity Dive, a bipartisan effort is underway in Congress to restore a key federal cybersecurity grant program that many state and local governments rely on to protect essential systems and infrastructure.…

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December 4, 2025
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