State Health Policy

Prevention Measures Law Project

Governmental health agencies often have the legal authority to employ various prevention measures (e.g., isolation and quarantine, temporary venue restrictions, contact tracing) that mitigate the severity of communicable disease outbreaks. The Prevention Measures Law Project (PMLP) helps state, tribal, local, and territorial health agencies assess and test the sufficiency of the laws and policies that form the basis of the prevention measures. The PMLP is informed by public health practitioners and attorneys, based on their experiences with COVID 19, mpox, Ebola, measles and other diseases.

Policy Academy

State and territorial health department leaders are critical in developing evidence-based public health policy but may not be familiar with the policy-making process. The State Health Policy team hosts ASTHO’s Policy Academy, which assists public health leaders in identifying and implementing policies that support public health and familiarizes participants with the policy development process so they can better leverage it to improve public health outcomes.

Legal Research and Analysis

The State Health Policy team also provides legal research and analysis, identifies existing statutes and regulations, and monitors litigation in state and federal courts. Part of that work includes ASTHO's Legal Mapping Center, which currently highlights laws that may prevent overdose and help fight the opioid epidemic. 

In collaboration with other ASTHO teams, State Health Policy’s legal work ranges from assessing the legal framework for public health data sharing to considering Constitutional questions arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Peer Networks

ASTHO’s State Health Policy team facilitates two peer networks:

• Public Health Lawyers Peer Network, which includes attorneys that represent state/territorial health departments on a wide range of matters. Through the peer network, attorneys share information and best practices with other jurisdictions.
• The State/Territorial Legislative Liaison Peer Network includes state/territorial employees who serve as liaison between the public health agency and state/territorial legislature. The legislative liaisons meet periodically to share information and best practices for promoting public health policies among state/territorial legislatures.