WASHINGTON, D.C. — The North Carolina Association of County Commissioners (NCACC) joined more than 2,000 county leaders from across North Carolina and thousands of county officials nationwide February 21-24 in Washington, D.C., for the 2026 National Association of Counties (NACo) Legislative Conference.
NCACC led a strong delegation of commissioners, county managers and staff who gathered to learn more about federal policies affecting local governments and advocate for North Carolina’s priorities. Throughout the conference, county officials focused on strengthening local communities through partnerships in public health, public safety, infrastructure, disaster recovery, economic development and technology.
North Carolina officials also shared their expertise in several featured sessions:
- Technology Innovation Forum. NCACC Second Vice President and Wake County Commissioner Shinica Thomas and Wake County Chief Information Officer Jonathan Feldman highlighted how counties use technology to improve services, build public trust and modernize operations.
- Workshop: Property Taxes Under Pressure. NCACC Executive Director Kevin Leonard addressed challenges facing property tax revenues and the potential impact on county budgets and essential services.
- Arts as Economic Infrastructure. Mecklenburg County Commissioner Susan Rodriguez-McDowell discussed how counties invest in the arts to support economic growth and strengthen communities.
- Policy Summit: Counties on the Front Lines — Shaping Federal Disaster Policy. A shortened version of NCACC’s “Rising Above Helene” documentary was shown during a session on federal disaster reform, highlighting the role counties play in emergency response and long-term recovery.
- Policy Summit: Energy, Data Centers and County Land Use. NCACC Second Vice President and Wake County Commissioner Shinica Thomas also spoke on the rapid growth of AI-driven data centers and its implications for local communities and land use decisions.
During the conference, North Carolina’s delegation met with members of the state’s congressional delegation, including U.S. Senators Ted Budd and Thom Tillis, to discuss federal priorities impacting counties and opportunities for partnership.
The conference provided North Carolina leaders with updated federal policy information, opportunities to share local perspectives and strengthened partnerships to better serve residents across the state. For more information about NCACC’s federal advocacy efforts, visit ncacc.org.
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