Legislative Services

Texas county officials joined about 2,000 county leaders from across the country Feb. 21-24 in Washington, D.C., for the National Association of Counties Legislative Conference. Participants helped shape NACo’s federal policy agenda, received updates on top legislative issues and advocated for county priorities on Capitol Hill.

Featured speakers included U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin, along with members of the U.S. House of Representatives and other administration and congressional officials and policymakers.

During the four-day conference, attendees discussed a wide range of issues affecting counties, including federal disaster reform, transportation funding, data center and land-use regulations, and property taxes.

“Federal policies have direct and long-lasting impacts on county governments and our residents,” NACo President and Wise County Judge J.D. Clark said. He described the conference as an important opportunity for county leaders to strengthen relationships with federal partners and press for policies that help communities thrive.

At the conference, NACo launched a new multimedia campaign, We Are Counties, designed to raise awareness among federal and state policymakers as well as the public about the broad responsibilities of county governments. The campaign builds on a county storytelling initiative Clark began last year.

“Every day, counties deliver essential services that touch nearly every aspect of our residents’ lives,” Clark said.

“Yet too often, the breadth, complexity and impact of county government is not fully understood by the general public or by federal policymakers whose decisions directly affect our ability to serve,” he said. “We Are Counties exists to change that by clearly and consistently showing what counties do and why it matters.”

Several Texas leaders played prominent roles in conference discussions. Chief W. Nim Kidd of the Texas Division of Emergency Management addressed disaster response during a session moderated by Comal County Criminal District Attorney Jennifer Tharp, who chairs NACo’s Justice and Public Safety Policy Steering Committee. Susan M. Redford, executive director of the Texas Association of Counties, spoke on property taxes during a standing-room-only panel discussion.

A full list of Texas county officials serving in NACo leadership positions is available on TAC’s NACo Texas Leadership webpage.

For additional coverage of NACo’s 2026 Legislative Conference, visit naco.org.