D.C. Watch

Strengthening County-Federal Partnerships

The Texas Association of Counties recently led a delegation of county officials and staff to Washington, D.C., for a focused two-day fly-in aimed at strengthening county-federal partnerships. The visit included a federal roundtable at the headquarters of the National Association of Counties (NACo), a strategy session with NACo leadership and county officials, and a White House briefing with the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs.

The trip helped establish clearer lines of communication between Texas counties and federal partners, ensuring that county needs in areas such as infrastructure, statewide EMS support and border operations are considered early in upcoming federal appropriations discussions for fiscal year 2026. Federal officials expressed openness to continued collaboration with TAC members and recognized the value of direct engagement with county leaders, particularly as major funding programs and implementation timelines continue to evolve.

TAC's engagement also strengthened alignment with NACo's federal strategy, connecting Texas counties to national advocacy efforts across the American County Platform. This coordination will support counties in navigating future funding opportunities and in advocating for direct federal support when appropriate.

Federal Appropriations Update

Congress ended the 43-day government shutdown on Nov. 12 by passing a bipartisan continuing resolution and three fiscal 2026 appropriations bills. All other federal agencies are funded only through Jan. 30. Negotiations are underway on the remaining nine bills.

Redistricting Update

An order from the U.S. Supreme Court allows the Texas Legislature's new map adopted under House Bill 4 (Plan C2333) to be used for the 2026 election cycle. The court lifted a lower court's injunction, permitting counties to begin preparing for the 2026 elections under the new map, even as litigation challenging the plan's constitutionality continues.

Although the ruling is not a final decision on the merits, it reduces near-term uncertainty in the election calendar. TAC is closely monitoring ongoing court proceedings and will notify counties if additional judicial action alters implementation.

NACo Legislative Conference

Online registration for NACo's 2026 Legislative Conference is open through Jan. 14. More information about the conference can be found here.