News & Insights

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about one in five private wells contain unhealthy levels of contaminants. Concerns over contaminated well water have only intensified given the impact on water quality from the increasing number of natural disasters due to climate change. The current state of private well water quality calls for law and policy interventions, particularly the implementation of laws governing water quality testing for private wells.

Motor vehicle crashes are preventable and yet remain the leading cause of death in the first four decades of Americans’ lives. The burden of traffic-related death and injury is worsening and is not borne equitably across all populations, with people of color experiencing significantly higher fatality rates. Research is needed to clearly determine the causal relationships between transportation laws, including policies steeped in systemic and structural racism, with transportation-related morbidity and mortality.

Network for Public Health Law Executive Director, Dr. Vineeta Gupta, explores the challenges and opportunities related to the new over-the-counter oral contraceptive Opill, including the potential for states to impose age-related restrictions on its purchase. Her perspective as a human rights lawyer and maternal health physician offers a comprehensive look at key areas to protect access to Opill.

As part of the Network’s leadership team, Dang will oversee the work of the Network project and regional teams in advancing law and policy solutions and providing direct legal technical assistance to those working to create healthier, more equitable communities. He will also work closely with external partners in public health, as well as community, philanthropic and advocacy organizations working to advance health in their communities.

Anti-LGBTQ legislation across the country is at an all-time high. These laws and the prejudice they reflect have negative impacts on the health and wellbeing of gender diverse people. Recently, plaintiffs have successfully challenged some anti-transgender laws under the Americans with Disabilities Act. A recent case serves as an example of this novel approach and its potential to have a wide-sweeping impact on rights for people who are transgender, people who are disabled, and those who share both identities.

The increasing need for access to naloxone to reverse opioid-related overdoses has drawn the interest of pharmaceutical companies who see an opportunity to market new, non-generic, more potent opioid antagonist products. State lawmakers have made changes in policy based on these marketing efforts. However, early research suggests that these high dose drugs are unnecessary and pose significant risks and side-effects, raising concerns over the commercialization of harm reduction efforts in the U.S.

When a judge hears a case involving an agency’s interpretation of a statute, they defer to a qualified party—typically a state or federal agency—for their technical subject matter expertise in interpreting that statute. However, there has been a movement to pass legislation disallowing this practice. While these efforts do not target public health by name, they do make it harder for all agencies to implement needed rules and policies in the future–including state and local health agencies.

In response to ongoing extreme weather events and climate-related threats, there is an increasing urgency to enact laws and policies that address the negative health impacts of climate change and that equip communities with the resources and protections they need to adapt. In 2024, the Network will be monitoring state legislative activity for bills and enacted laws that will either advance or hinder climate mitigation and adaptation.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic there has been an onslaught of legal challenges to public health authority, some of which cite a rule known as the nondelegation doctrine. The nondelegation doctrine purports to promote accountability by shifting power from unelected officials to legislatures. But in practice, limiting health officers’ authority can impede a health department’s ability to protect communities from harm.

Financial capability (financial literacy coupled with access to economic opportunity) has a positive, long-term effect on health. However, many people living in the margins financially are not adequately equipped with financial education and training to make the most of their employment or other financial resources. Over the past decade, states have increasingly adopted legislation requiring students in public schools to pass personal finance courses in order to graduate high school.

As a result of the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, states now have more legislative power to restrict or expand access to abortion services. One strategy that states are using to pass laws regarding abortion access is to place the issue of abortion on a ballot for voters to decide. These reproductive care access ballot measures are an important litmus test for the inclination of American voters.

“The year ahead is pivotal. The focus on public health has increasingly shifted to state legislatures, where ideological—rather than medical or scientific—considerations are shaping policies.” …