Legislative Committee

NSDC Regular Members are eligible for Legislative Committee membership with the ability to cast one vote on Committee activities. All NSDC Members are welcome to attend Legislative Committee meetings, request items for consideration, and participate in Committee discourse. Members should RSVP to the Federal Advocacy Director to confirm attendance.

Each regular NSDC Legislative Committee meeting consists of the latest news out of Washington and developments on policies of special districts’ interest and interface with the NSDC Legislative Team. During Legislative Committee meetings, members may consider positions on federal legisation and authorize adovacy action on topics of concern for special districts. 

NSDC's Legislative Committee regularly meets the fourth Thursday of each month except for November and December. 

Click here to RSVP for the upcoming meeting.



NSDC's Legislative Committee visited Washington, D.C., in September 2022 for the Coalition's first fly-in to elevate awareness of special districts' policy priorities. Issues covered included the need to better define "special district" in federal law to break down special districts' barriers of access to federal funding opportunities.

Highlighted Legislation
Community Disaster Resilience Zones (CDRZ) Act
NSDC supports, with elevated priority: S. 3875 (Peters) and H.R. 7242 (Davids).
The House passed S. 3875 by a vote of 333-92 on December 6. The bill is awaiting signature.

FEMA Improvement, Reform, and Efficiency (FIRE) ACT
NSDC supports S. 3092 (Padilla) and H.R. 5782 (Lofgren).
The House and Senate have resolved their differences with final actions pending, as of December 12, 2022.

Click here to read NSDC's urgance for Senate Action on the Wildfire Response and Drought Resiliency Act. 

NSDC Members receive regular updates and alerts on tracked legislation and invitations to monthly Legislative Committee meetings for full reports.

The NSDC Advocacy Team is comprised of The Ferguson Group, Paragon Government Relations, and Karr Advocacy Strategies.



Primary Legislative Committee Members
Primary Legislative Committee Members are expected to participate in legislative discussion and represent the seated association with one vote.
  • California – [Chair] Neil McCormick, CEO, California Special Districts Association
  • Colorado – [Vice-Chair] Ann Terry, Executive Director, Special Districts Association of Colorado
  • Florida – David Ramba, Executive Director, Florida Association of Special Districts
  • Oregon- Frank Stratton, Executive Director, Special Districts Association of Oregon
  • South Carolina – Amber Barnes, Vice President of Government Affairs, South Carolina Association of Special Purpose Districts
  • Utah – LeGrand Bitter, Executive Director, Utah Association of Special Districts
  • Wyoming – Craig Haslam, President, Wyoming Association of Special Districts

Secondary Members
Secondary Legislative Committee Members are encouraged to participate in legislative discussion and represent the seated association in the event the Primary Committee Member is absent. 

  • California – Kyle Packham, Advocacy and Public Affairs Director, California Special Districts Association
  • Colorado – Michael Valdez, Director of Policy, Special Districts Association of Colorado
  • Florida – Chief Jim Millican, President, Florida Association of Special Districts
  • Oregon – Jennifer Quisenberry, Director of Member Services, Special Districts Association of Oregon
  • South Carolina – Chief Charles P. Jolley, South Carolina Association of Special Purpose Districts
  • Utah – Heather Anderson, Director of Government Relations, Utah Association of Special Districts
  • Wyoming – Lindsey Woodward, Secretary, Wyoming Association of Special Districts