Jill Krueger

Knowledge of legal and policy tools that may be used to advance public health at the local level can increase the effectiveness of public health practitioners and community advocates in bringing about lasting systems change. This fact describes a number of legal and policy tools commonly used at the local level, together with one or more examples of how they might be used to advance public health and health equity.

Heat pumps are more versatile and effective than they were decades ago, and release far fewer harmful substances into the air than standard heating and cooling systems. Yet outdated information based upon previous limitations of heat pumps still influences their use. Even in an environment where federal funding is uncertain, states can take substantial steps forward to protect health by encouraging the use of heat pumps.

Trump administration Executive Orders and dramatic cuts to the public health workforce, programs, and infrastructure, as well as policy changes regarding public health priorities have serious and far-reaching implications.  This webinar previews two sessions from the upcoming 2025 Public Health Law Conference. Presenters will discuss the current legal landscape in three critical areas.

With mounting threats to indoor air quality, many public health practitioners and community leaders are looking for practical and legal strategies to improve indoor ventilation and filtration. In addition to the Model Clean Indoor Air Act, one practical strategy to make a quick and cost-effective improvement in indoor air quality – modifying box fans by adding air filters overcomes the barrier to access posed by the high cost of HEPA filters and commercial air purifiers.

Community adaptation is a process communities utilize to lessen the impacts of climate change locally. Community adaptation policies provide cooling and shade, reduce air and water pollution, mitigate the effects of flooding, and reduce health disparities. Implementing effective community adaptation policies that center health equity involves more than public health departments – it involves housing, energy, transportation, parks and recreation, and other agencies, with community engagement in each step of the process. Community adaptation will continue to be critical to ameliorating the health impacts of climate change and combatting environmental injustices.

Public health law plays a critical role in protecting communities from the current and future health threats posed by climate change. Based on their work with communities and public health professionals, the Network’s Climate and Health team has identified 10 public health law strategies to equitably prepare communities for the health impacts of climate change.

In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, Network attorneys and staff have identified six key policies with the potential to significantly improve mental health outcomes across the United States. This policy brief covers a wide range of areas focused on communities and those who work to support communities. It is designed as a practical resource for public health professionals, leaders, and partners, offering strategies to enhance mental health and well-being while reducing disparities in mental health care.

In April, the Environmental Protection Agency announced $20 billion in grant awards to fund the purchase of heat pumps, which provide multiple economic, environmental, and health benefits. This federal initiative holds promising opportunities for advancing public health efforts to address the negative and disparate impacts of climate change.

Public health practitioners, policymakers, and community advocates alike will have an opportunity to learn about the compelling evidence of the economic, environmental, and health benefits of heat pumps. Presenters will describe recent initiatives to rapidly expand adoption of heat pumps, including through innovative laws and policies, as well as opportunities for increased advocacy by public health practitioners and community health, and health equity advocates.

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.

Occupational health is one important pathway for public health practitioners and cross-sector partners to address the adverse and inequitable human health impacts of extreme heat and climate change. Opportunities in the law and policy arena exist for those seeking to take action to protect workers from extreme heat.

The Network for Public Health Law’s report, Innovative Law and Policy Strategies for a Post-Pandemic Public Health System, which highlights examples of laws and legal levers implemented across the country that strengthen public health, was inspired and shaped in large part by three questions raised by public health practitioners in the field in three different states.