July 27, 2023

Last weekend representatives from CSAC and California’s counties descended on Travis County, Texas for the National Association of Counites (NACo) Annual Meeting and Expo. Our Golden State representatives joined participants from other counties across the nation to shape NACo’s federal policy agenda, share proven practices and strengthen knowledge networks to help improve residents’ lives and the efficiency of county government.

California county supervisors played a leadership role in sponsoring and presenting a number of platform changes and policy resolutions that will guide NACo’s federal advocacy efforts for the coming year. A total of 19 platform changes and policy resolutions that were sponsored or co-sponsored by California counties made it all the way through the policy process and were adopted by the NACo general membership on Monday. This includes a CSAC co-sponsored resolution in partnership with Santa Cruz County Supervisor Zach Friend related to use of Federal Highway Administration emergency relief funds, as well as resolutions on water management, behavioral health, wildfire insurance, broadband projects, and many other key policy issues.

Throughout the conference, county supervisors also showcased their leadership through presentations or facilitated panels on a variety of policy issues such as child care, mental health, broadband, affordable housing, and several others. Notably, CSAC President and Riverside County Supervisor Chuck Washington and CSAC CEO Graham Knaus presented on AT HOME, the county comprehensive plan to address homelessness.

Participating in NACo is a great opportunity to have a seat at the table to help drive federal policy, solve challenges, share and learn about new ideas, and help our counties build safer, healthier, more vibrant communities. CSAC is grateful to all of the California members who served on a NACo steering committee this past year. Your engagement helped ensure California had a strong voice on federal policy issues.

The NACo President made several presidential appointments to the leadership positions of steering committees, which were announced during the annual business meeting. A total of 16 California members were appointed as vice chairs, subcommittee chairs, or subcommittee vice chairs of policy steering committees with numerous other appointments to various task forces, caucuses, and advisory committees. The full list of California NACo presidential appointments can be found here.

In the coming weeks, CSAC will send out information about the process for reappointment to steering committees or for newly joining the membership of steering committees for 2023-24. We anticipate having openings for most of the steering committees. Please reach out directly to Justin Garrett (jgarrett@counties.org) or Korina Jones (kjones@counties.org) if you are interest in joining a steering committee.