Network News

Building on a Year of Challenge: Public Health in 2026 Dear Colleagues and Friends,  As we begin 2026, I want to wish you a happy New…

Connection, Collaboration, Community—and Courage: Lessons from the 2025 Public Health Law Conference  The recently held 2025 Public Health Law Conference convened at a time when…

TIME100 Honoree Skye Perryman to Keynote 2025 Public Health Law Conference in Seattle  The Network for Public Health Law is proud to announce that Skye…

Recent federal executive orders and actions have placed unconscionable strain on an already under-resourced and overstretched public health infrastructure. Over the past few weeks, we've gathered information on critical health, equity, and public health issues affected by these executive actions—from federal immigration enforcement powers to vaccine preventable diseases; the environment, energy, and natural resources; diversity, equity, and inclusion; LGBTQ+ rights; data collection; and research funding. 

Donna E. Levin Appointed as Chair of the Network for Public Health Law’s Advisory Board  The Network for Public Health Law (Network) announces the appointment…

The Network is excited to formally announce the promotion of Stephen Murphy, J.D., to the position of Director, Mid-States Region. Previously, Stephen held the roles of Interim Director and Deputy Director. Under his continued leadership, the Mid-States Region team will broaden the Network’s portfolio of work in public health data access, privacy, and sharing. This expansion includes providing legal support to the federal government’s data modernization initiative in collaboration with the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB); and offering legal technical assistance to the CDC’s Core Data Use Agreement Initiative to enhance national data exchange. Under Stephen’s leadership, the Mid-States Region will also bolster the Network’s efforts in promoting legal and policy solutions that advance health and health equity through direct legal technical assistance and capacity-building support to health agencies.

Warm wishes for the New Year, a time of new beginnings when our thoughts turn to how our collective efforts to advance health in communities across the country can be turned into reality. This year is likely to present challenges, especially considering the new presidential administration, but we have been here before. Just as we have done in the past when the political climate intensified around governmental authority, in particular public health authority, we are ready to act as a guide, partner, and resource to assistance in advancing the public’s health and health equity, despite barriers to this work.

As we find ourselves in the wake of another election and having seen the outpouring of supportive messages from so many of our public health and community partners, we're reminded once again of the strength of our collective commitment to efforts that improve the well-being of individuals, families, and communities across the country. How we navigate the post-election landscape will have a lasting impact on democracy, the social determinants of health, and public health authority. 

The Network for Public Health Law (Network) announced today it has filed an amicus brief in the Moyle v. United States case before the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. This case challenges whether Idaho can legally prevent pregnant individuals from accessing emergency medical care mandated under the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA). The Network joined the American Public Health Association, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the American Medical Women’s Association and over 100 public health and legal scholars in supporting the U.S. government as amici curiae in this important case.

The Network for Public Health Law is pleased to announce this call for applications from organizations seeking legal and policy support to promote racial health equity.

The Network for Public Health Law has announced the launch of the Racial Equity Dataset, an interactive online tool that provides extensive data on enacted laws in the 2021 and 2022 legislative cycles related to furthering or hindering racial equity, across the 50 U.S. states.  

The Network for Public Health Law (the Network) has released a guide on “Law and Policy Considerations for Workforce Protections from Extreme Heat,” detailing federal, state, and local legal and policy protections for both indoor and outdoor workers exposed to extreme heat on the job. The guide also addresses significant barriers to safeguarding this workforce, including the legal doctrine of preemption, which allows higher levels of government to limit the authority of lower levels; and provides information for policymakers, community leaders, public health practitioners, and others seeking to institute more effective heat protection for workers in their communities.