At the 2025 TCSA Fall Conference, counties heard from NACo’s Legislative Director on landmark federal reforms that could redefine disaster recovery and emergency management across the nation.
During his session at the TCSA 2025 Fall Conference in Knoxville, Brett Mattson outlined sweeping reforms contained in the Fixing Emergency Management for Americans (FEMA) Act (H.R. 4669), which recently passed the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee by a 57–3 vote.
The legislation proposes a historic modernization of FEMA programs to make disaster recovery faster, more transparent, and more county-driven.
Key FEMA Act Reforms Highlighted
Mattson emphasized several provisions that directly impact counties:
- Public Assistance Reform: Transitions FEMA’s Public Assistance Program from a reimbursement model to a direct grant system, allowing counties faster access to disaster funds.
- Cabinet-Level Status: Establishes FEMA as an independent, Cabinet-level agency, ensuring greater accountability and visibility in national emergency management.
- Universal Disaster Application: Creates a single, streamlined application for survivors to access FEMA, HUD, SBA, and USDA aid.
- Mitigation Funding Overhaul: Moves FEMA’s pre-disaster mitigation program to a formula-based grant model, ensuring at least one pre-approved project per county in every state.
- Transparency Improvements: Introduces public dashboards displaying funding data, project status, and approvals for both Public and Individual Assistance programs.
NACo Advocacy Wins and Next Steps
Mattson also highlighted NACo’s advocacy success in including several county-supported measures in the bill — such as task forces to expedite open disaster claims, provisions for reimbursing emergency personnel sheltering, and streamlined procurement rules treating counties as states under federal regulations.
If enacted, these reforms would position counties as stronger partners in federal disaster response and recovery, reducing red tape and accelerating the flow of aid to local communities.
Learn More
Counties can find more information and advocacy resources through NACo’s Disaster Reform Task Force and the FEMA Act analysis page at www.NACo.org.
For specific inquiries about the FEMA Act’s impact on Tennessee county government, officials can reach out to Brett Mattson, Legislative Director for Justice & Public Safety, at bmattson@naco.org.
