The North Carolina Association of County Commissioners (NCACC) is a non-partisan organization that serves as the official voice of all 100 counties on issues considered by the General Assembly, Congress, and federal and state agencies. The Association provides advocacy expertise to counties and employs a team of registered lobbyists, who advocate on behalf of counties’ interests before dozens of administrative, legislative and rule-making committees both during and in between legislative sessions.
State and Federal News
- News as of June 19, 2026
NACo Launches Youth Justice Resource Hub to Support Counties
The National Association of Counties (NACo) has developed a Youth Justice Resource Hub, serving as a centralized platform to provide a variety of resources, including case studies, peer-reviewed research, reports, toolkits, and other publications, to support county officials and juvenile justice practitioners in strengthening local youth justice systems and improving outcomes for youth. Learn more here.
FEMA Issues Advisory Urging Hurricane Season Preparedness
On Monday, June 1, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) released an advisory encouraging individuals and communities to begin preparing for the upcoming hurricane season. The advisory can be found here.
FEMA FY2025 Fire Grants: Application Resources Available
With the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) FY2025 Fire Grants closing Monday, June 22 at 5:00 p.m., FEMA has posted new video presentations on the FEMA YouTube Channel. The presentations are aimed at FY25 AFG, SAFER, and FP&S grant program applicants. The presentations are designed to help applicants understand program requirements, avoid common mistakes, and strengthen overall grant applications.
NADO Webinar to Highlight Cooperative Models for Local Economic Development
The National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) is hosting a webinar, Stronger Together: Cooperative Models, on Wednesday, June 24 at 2:30 p.m. The webinar will highlight how cooperatives can drive local economic development by building community wealth, preserving jobs, and strengthening regional resilience. It will feature insights from the National Cooperative Business Association and a real-world case study of how partners in Central Virginia launched a farmer-owned poultry cooperative after a major plant closure. Attendees will gain practical strategies for using cooperative models to turn economic disruption into long-term growth opportunities. Register here.
NARC Webinar to Explore Sustainable Public EV Charging Rates
On Thursday, June 25 at 2:00 p.m., the National Association of Regional Councils (NARC) will host a webinar, “Which Price Is Right? A Municipal Guide to Sustainable Public Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Rates,” discussing how municipal fleets can make the most of their EV charging. Information and registration can be found here.
EPA Releases Updated PFAS Destruction and Disposal Guidance
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released an updated per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) Destruction and Disposal Guidance to Protect American Communities. The EPA will accept comments on the interim guidance for 60 days following publication in the Federal Register. Comments will be used to help inform a future update of this guidance and can be submitted to the public docket at Regulations.gov, Docket ID: EPA-HQ-OLEM-2020-0527. Comments are due by June 29, 2026.
IREC Seeks Proposals for Charging Smart Regional Engagement Partners
The Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) is officially requesting proposals for Charging Smart Regional Engagement Partners. The application deadline is Thursday, July 2, 2026. Under a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)-funded agreement, IREC anticipates making up to eight awards ranging from $40,000 to $60,000 to partners who will take the lead on recruiting and providing no-cost technical assistance to local governments to achieve designation under Charging Smart, an Energy Ready program. Information can be found here.
EPA Opens Two Drinking Water Comment Periods and Schedules Virtual Hearing for July 7
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has two comment periods related to drinking water regulations open now through July 20:
The EPA will hold a virtual hearing on Tuesday, July 7, where the public is invited to provide verbal comments on the proposed rule. During the hearing, the agency will present information on the proposed rule and exemption schedule and then receive comments from the public. Registration to attend or provide verbal comment during the hearing is required, and the last day to pre-register is Wednesday, July 1, 2026. Information and registration for the public hearing is available here. The EPA will post an agenda and list of pre-registered public commenters to this website no later than Monday, July 6, 2026.
OMB Proposes Major Change to Federal Grant Administration
Counties have until Monday, July 13 offer comment on a wide-reaching regulation affecting federal grants to counties. A NACo webinar goes into detail about the changes counties need to note as they budget for federal awards. Click here to learn more.
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County Advocacy Hub
Legislative Goals
Every two years, in the months preceding the long session of the North Carolina General Assembly, NCACC begins a grassroots process to develop our Association’s legislative goals, which guide NCACC’s work as a statewide organization. The process is designed to maximize participation by counties, build consensus among counties, and achieve a unified message on county priorities. Click here to view the current NCACC Legislative Goals. Click here to view the 2025 Legislative Goals Status Updates booklet, created by the NCACC Advocacy and Policy Team.
NCACC’s advocacy efforts at the state and federal levels of government are guided by legislative goals as decided by our members. NCACC legislative goals are developed through a multi-phase process, which offers county commissioners, county officials and stakeholders several opportunities to provide input and shape priorities. These goals define the most pressing and important issues our members face and reflect the collective will of all 100 counties.
The importance of participating in the legislative goals process cannot be overstated. When policymakers hear the same message from all 100 counties throughout our diverse state, the voice of each individual county becomes amplified. Counties are stronger together and our common purpose is enshrined in NCACC history and our vision statement, which states: “Empowering 100 counties to work together for the betterment of one state.”
Legislative Goals & Reporting
Steering Committees
NCACC’s Steering Committees assist the Board of Directors in setting policy for the Association in the areas of Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources, General Government, Health and Human Services, Justice and Public Safety, Public Education, and Tax and Finance. Steering Committee membership is open to all county commissioners, as well as county staff who specialize in committee-related fields.