The National Association of Counties Legislative Conference draws nearly 2,000 county leaders along with cabinet-level speakers, members of Congress
WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 10, 2025) – Pima County Assessor Suzanne Droubie, serving as the county’s representative to the Arizona Association of Counties (AACo) and the National Association of Counties (NACo), joined AACo President and Pima County Superintendent Dustin Williams, along with more than 2,000 county leaders from across the nation, at the National Association of Counties Legislative Conference, held February 28 – March 4.
Conference attendees shaped NACo’s legislative agenda, received updates on key federal policies, and advocated for county priorities on Capitol Hill. Over two general sessions, featured
speakers included two cabinet secretaries and Congress members from the U.S. House and Senate.
This advocacy opportunity strengthens partnerships between Pima County and federal agency officials, enabling local leaders to focus on issues that impact counties and our residents.
Discussions at the conference covered a range of issues, including tax and budget reconciliation, State and Local Tax (SALT), tax-exempt municipal bonds, disaster preparedness and
management, artificial intelligence (AI), behavioral health, and policies implemented during the first 100 days of the Trump Administration and the 119th Congress.
Assessor Droubie was present to support a resolution put forward by Maricopa County Assessor Eddie Cook advocating for the use of the federal government’s Uniform Appraisal Dataset in
property assessments. This dataset provides high-quality property characteristics that can be shared with all local jurisdictions, ensuring the accuracy of property valuations and promoting
equity in property taxes at no cost to the federal government or local counties. The resolution passed and has been implemented to the 2025 NACo Federal Policy Priorities.
The conference concluded with a Capitol Hill Day of Action, positioning attendees to advocate for county federal policy priorities. Assessor Droubie focused on several key issues, including
affordable and workforce housing, as well as the expansion of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) Program.
Over the course of the four-day conference, attendees heard from speakers including:
- Hon. Brooke Rollins, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture
- Hon. Doug Collins, U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs
- Hon. Sam Graves, U.S. Representative (R-Mo.)
- Hon. David Kustoff, U.S. Representative (R-Tenn.)
- Hon. Johnny Olszewski, Jr., U.S. Representative (D-Md.)
- Hon. Alex Padilla, U.S. Senator (D-Calif.)
- Hon. Ron Wyden, U.S. Senator (D-Ore.)
“Federal policies have direct and long-lasting impacts on county governments and our residents,” said NACo President James Gore. “With a new administration and Congress fewer than 100 days in, NACo’s Legislative Conference is an essential opportunity to connect with our intergovernmental partners and advocate for county priorities that help our communities thrive.”
Over the next term, Assessor Suzanne Droubie is committed to working collaboratively with federal and state legislators to align national and state initiatives with the priorities Pima County
and Arizona.