Inside the Beltway: Year-End Priorities and the Road Ahead

The Federal Advocacy Committee met on October 22 to discuss the November midterm elections, to prepare for a critical period of federal advocacy focused on advancing special districts’ priorities, build relationships with incoming congressional leaders, and shape legislation that affects local services and communities nationwide.

Advancing the Special District Fairness and Accessibility Act (SDFAA)

With the House floor vote still pending, NSDA and its federal advocacy team at Manatt, Phelps & Phillips are preparing a year-end strategy to sustain momentum for the Special District Fairness and Accessibility Act (H.R. 2766 / S. 2014). The legislation has 27 bipartisan House cosponsors and four bipartisan Senate cosponsors.

Given limited congressional floor time during the post-election lame-duck session, NSDA is preparing for advocacy to continue into the 120th Congress. Early November outreach will focus on bill champions, incoming House and Senate leaders, and members of the anticipated House Oversight and Government Reform Committee majority. NSDA will also prioritize educating newly elected members and their staff about special districts and the importance of equitable access to federal programs.

Reviewing Emerging Federal Legislation

NSDA continues to monitor and evaluate legislation with potential implications for special districts. Current priorities include:

• Revitalize Rural America Act (H.R. 10508): Provisions addressing rural grant-writing assistance, essential public-service employees, and rural workforce incentives.
• Community Disaster Protection Act (H.R. 10686): Proposed FEMA grants to help eligible entities, including special districts, develop community-based catastrophe insurance programs.
• Fire Apparatus Advocacy: Bipartisan congressional resolutions calling for a Federal Trade Commission investigation into consolidation and potential anticompetitive practices in the fire apparatus manufacturing industry.
• Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) and water infrastructure reauthorization: NSDA is monitoring negotiations affecting the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds, important funding sources for special district infrastructure.

Through your Federal Advocacy Committee, NSDA reviews relevant legislation, gathers input from member associations, and determines when formal positions and advocacy actions are warranted.

Your Voice Matters: 2030 Census Comments Due November 2

NSDA is preparing comments on the Census Bureau’s proposed 2030 Census rule. Census data influence special districts’ infrastructure planning, service delivery, and eligibility for federal grants. Proposed changes to the seasonal counting window could shift population counts away from rural, resort, and agricultural communities.

NSDA is urging the Census Bureau to ensure data accurately reflect where residents live, coordinate with federal agencies on funding eligibility thresholds, and engage special districts as the rule is finalized.