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Public Health Legislative Trends in 2025: A Message from ASTHO's CEO

December 03, 2024 | Joseph Kanter

Dear Colleague,

Public health leaders across the country continue responding to new and emerging public health threats, from an outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza earlier this year to the health implications of natural disasters like Hurricanes Helene and Milton this fall. Policymakers across all levels of government can shape the capacity of the public health system, with state and island legislatures well positioned to help their communities thrive by bolstering public health and improving health outcomes in their jurisdictions.

In preparation for the upcoming legislative session, I invite you to review ASTHO’s annual Legislative Prospectus Series, a collection of concise, evidence-based reports on the emerging policy trends within our top five public health policy issues to watch in 2025:

  • Public health and healthcare workforce
  • Preventing overdose and substance misuse
  • Containing the spread of infectious disease
  • Data modernization and privacy
  • Maternal and child health

These briefs provide public health professionals and policymakers insights into legislative trends throughout the country to help our members advance evidence-based public health policies through the legislative processes.

There have been significant advancements in state and island public health policy in recent years—such as increasing state investments in the public health workforce and reducing opioid overdoses. Still, public health leaders continue to face efforts to limit their ability to meet the needs of their communities. ASTHO continues to support and equip public health leaders identify policy opportunities and overcome these challenges through our Legislative Liaison Peer Network and other resources. Through our State Health Policy team’s legislative tracking and analysis, ASTHO will continue to monitor and report on these critical issues.

Thank you for your continued dedication to the health of your community and for the steps you take every day to make optimal health a reality for U.S. states, Washington D.C., territories, and freely associated states.

Most sincerely,

Joseph M. Kanter, MD, MPH
Chief Executive Officer