NACo News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — This year the National Association of Counties (NACo) will once again welcome cabinet secretaries, senior administration officials, members of Congress, and private sector partners to its Legislative Conference, taking place March 1-4 at the Washington Hilton Hotel.

Nearly 2,000 county leaders will attend from across the country with the goal of shaping NACo’s policy priorities, engaging on pressing policy issues facing county governments, and building relationships with federal partners.

Among the topics being discussed at this week’s conference are tax and budget reconciliation, SALT and tax-exempt municipal bonds, disaster preparedness and management, artificial intelligence (AI), behavioral health, and the county implications of policies being implemented during the first 100 days of the Trump Administration and the 119th Congress. Attendees will also once again participate in a federal agency expo, with over 60 federal program offices sending representatives to meet with conference participants and build intergovernmental partnerships.

The conference will feature two general sessions, with confirmed speakers including U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), U.S. Representative Sam Graves (R-Mo.), and U.S. Representative Johnny Olszewski (D-Md.), along with elected county officials from across the country.

To close out the conference, participants will head for Capitol Hill for NACo’s annual Advocacy Day of Action, where they will represent the county perspective on upcoming legislation including Medicaid reform, disaster reform, Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) and Secure Rural Schools (SRS). In addition to meetings set up with congressional offices, NACo’s Intergovernmental Disaster Reform Task Force will hold a briefing on Capitol Hill.

Media credentials are required for conference events. RSVP as a member of the media here. Media credentials will be distributed onsite at the Washington Hilton Hotel, Dupont Room (Terrace Level).

Washington Hilton Hotel
1919 Connecticut Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20009

Highlights and select speakers to include (all times Eastern Standard Time):

Monday General Session:
Monday, March 3
9 – 10:30 a.m.
Washington Hilton Hotel, International Ballroom (Concourse Level)

• Hon. Doug Collins, U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs
• Alex Meyer, Director, White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs
• Hon. James Gore, NACo President, Supervisor, Sonoma County, Calif.
• Hon. J.D. Clark, NACo First Vice President, Judge, Wise County, Texas

Tuesday General Session:
Tuesday, March 4
9 – 10:30 a.m.
Washington Hilton Hotel, International Ballroom (Concourse Level)

• Hon. Brooke Rollins, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture
• Hon. Ron Wyden, U.S. Senator (D-Ore.)
• Hon. Alex Padilla, U.S. Senator (D-Calif.)
• Hon. Sam Graves, U.S. Representative (R-Mo.)
• Hon. James Gore, NACo President, Supervisor, Sonoma County, Calif.
• Fred Humphries, Corporate Vice President, U.S. Government Affairs, Microsoft
• Hon. Andy Brown, Judge, Travis County, Texas
• Hon. Shinica Thomas, Commissioner, Wake County, North Carolina

Intergovernmental Disaster Reform Task Force Hill Briefing:
Tuesday, March 4
1 – 2 p.m.
2253 Rayburn House Office Building

• Hon. Dina Titus, U.S. Representative (D-Nev.)
• Hon. Adrian Garcia, Commissioner, Harris County, Texas
• Hon. Bill Truex, Commissioner, Charlotte County, Fla.
• Hon. Dakkia Bradshaw, Commissioner, Telfair County, Ga.
• Hon. Allen Dodson, Judge, Faulkner County, Ark.

The full NACo Legislative Conference schedule is available here.