Next week at the Legislature will be fast-paced as it represents the final week for bills to be heard in committees within their chamber of origin.  Exceptions to this are the Rules Committee and bills assigned to Senate and House Appropriations Committees.  As such, agendas are expected to be especially long.

Additionally, this marks the start of "striker season," when the strike-everything amendment is used to keep issues moving which were not heard initially. 

Check the progress of the 2012 County Government Platform, and follow the bills affecting each of AACo's affiliate groups in our Advocacy Center.

The White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) yesterday announced a new National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Pilot project desinged to increase the quality and efficiency of Federal environmental reviews.  Two recent restoration projects were selected as models for small and landscape-scale projects to be used to develop best practices fo future land restoration projects.

Oregon's 5-Mile Bell Landscape Management Project was named as the small-scale model, and Arizona's Four Forest Restoration Initiative was selected as the landscape-scale model. 

For more information on CEQ's NEPA Pilot Program, click here.

April is just around the corner, and each year that's when communities all across the country celebrate Naitonal County Government Month.  In conjunction with NACo President Lenny Eliason's signature initiative, the theme this year is "Healthy Counties, Healthy Families."

With county governments directly providing so many of the essential services that contribute to health and safety of citizens, National County Government Month offers a great opportunity to generate positive publicity by highlighting the great work counties do every day.

There are any number of ways you as county leaders can raise awareness of this issue:  be it drafting a proclamation, visiting students, giving tours of county facilities, holding essay and art contests, or an active media outreach campaign.  The idea here is to get word out to the public about all the vital services the county provides and how the community can come together to share ideas on how to improve individual health.

Counties aren't being asked to hold month-long events; just a few events throughout the month to hgihlight what your county does and to promote this important issue.

So what is your county planning?  LET US KNOW and we'll share your ideas in an upcoming newsletter so everyone in Arizona county government can see how you are helping to promote "Healthy Counties, Healthy Families."

In addition to the already stellar line-up planned for the 2012 Legislative Conference, NACo has just announced the inclusion of four more speakers for next month's event.  The opening session on March 5 will feature U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius; a key member of the Obama Administration who has led efforts to improve and implement the new healthcare law.

The general session on March 6 will feature Senators Michael Enzi and Richard Durbin, who will speak on bipartisan legislation they have co-sponsored -- The Marketplace Fairness Act.  And lastly, this session will also include former Speaker of the House and current Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi.

The Legislative Conference will be held March 5 - 7 in Washington, D.C.  If you have not already, REGISTER online today!  For a list of educational offerings, click here.