February 26, 2026
Lake County Board Advocates for Locally-Focused Federal Policies at National Conference
Members of the Lake County Board and staff traveled to Washington, D.C., to participate in the National Association of Counties (NACo) Legislative Conference, where county leaders from across the nation met with members of Congress and federal agency officials to advocate for federal policies that directly impact local communities.
The conference featured sessions on public safety, emergency management, environmental sustainability and other critical issues facing counties. Attendees exchanged best practices, reviewed emerging federal policy trends and identified potential funding opportunities that will be shared and evaluated with teams across Lake County government.
“Attending the legislative conference allows counties to come together, elevate the issues our residents care about most and advocate for policies that directly impact our communities on a state and local level,” said Lake County Board Chair Sandy Hart. “It also allows us to collaborate with peers nationwide, share ideas, learn from one another and bring innovative, practical solutions that will benefit our residents in Lake County.”
Throughout the conference, board members participated in policy steering committee meetings and educational sessions directly related to county business.
Lake County Board Member Jennifer Clark presenting at the 2026 NACo Legislative Conference
During the Telecommunications and Technology Policy Steering Committee meeting, Jennifer Clark, Lake County Board Member for District 15, presented a resolution focused on the importance of protecting local decision-making in determining how artificial intelligence (AI) is developed and regulated in local communities. The resolution was ultimately passed by the Committee.
Counties play a critical intergovernmental role in ensuring the safe and responsible deployment of AI, including safeguarding resident data in county-operated systems and maintaining local zoning authority for AI-related infrastructure such as data centers.
“As counties work to adopt and integrate artificial intelligence into their operations and communities, it is essential that local governments retain the authority to make decisions that reflect the unique needs of their residents,” said Clark, who is Chair of Lake County's Technology Committee. “We want to ensure that critical resources, including federal funds, are not limited to a one-size-fits-all federal approach. Counties need the flexibility to innovate responsibly without risking the loss of vital funding that supports our communities."
County staff also met with federal delegation members, including U.S. Senators and Representatives and their staff, to discuss the County’s capital and legislative priorities.
“Every year we visit with our Washington delegation to ask how our US Senators and Representatives can support our communities," said John Wasik, Lake County Board Member for District 6 and Chair of Lake County's Legislative Committee. “These productive meetings have resulted in millions of federal dollars flowing into Lake County community and infrastructure projects. It also gives us an opportunity to thank them for their partnership and support they provide us and all of our residents.”
 Pictured: Matt Meyers, Deputy Lake County Administrator; Marah Altenberg, Lake County Board Member for District 19; Congressman Bill Foster, 11th District of Illinois; and John Wasik, Lake County Legislative Committee Chair
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