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County hears federal priorities, readies March D.C. trip and flags state bills that could affect county programs
Summary
Holland & Knight briefed Arapahoe County on national appropriations, the likely DHS continuing resolution and FY27 priorities; county staff confirmed a March delegation trip to Washington and discussed several state bills (workforce, redistricting, HOME Act, human services plan) for follow-up.
Arapahoe County received a federal affairs briefing from Holland & Knight lobbyists and discussed the county's priorities for the coming appropriations and legislative season, plus planning for a March trip to Washington, D.C.
Holland & Knight presenters summarized the national landscape: slim congressional majorities, ongoing appropriations activity and a high likelihood of a short-term continuing resolution for the Department of Homeland Security. They urged the county to ready appropriations requests and highlighted FY27 priorities that could affect the county, including housing and workforce development programs.
The county noted success in securing congressionally directed spending during the last cycle and outlined a March 3–6 trip to meet federal agencies, delegation offices and White House intergovernmental staff. Holland & Knight and county staff will prepare pre-trip briefings, meeting-specific talking points and leave-behinds.
On state bills, county legislative staff raised several items for the board's attention: SB26045 (nuclear workforce development) where staff recommended an amendment to add a local workforce director seat; HB261038 (county commissioner redistricting) where favorable amendments prompted a recommended shift to support; and HB261001 (HOME Act) where the county recommended remaining in a monitor position while seeking clarifications on local permitting and height preemption for school and higher-education properties converting to housing.
Other items discussed included a proposed human-services "80% plan" to standardize eligibility work and QA across counties without forced regionalization, cottage food legislation that carries a state fiscal note (county impacts flagged), and a prison population management bill that staff said could affect community corrections processing.
Next steps: county staff will continue to coordinate appropriations requests with Holland & Knight, finalize the March D.C. schedule and prepare meeting materials; legislative staff will pursue clarifications and targeted amendments on state bills where the county seeks protection of local control or additional representation.
