Policy Trends Shaping Public Health in 2026: A Note from ASTHO’s CEO

December 08, 2025 | Joseph Kanter

Dear Colleague,

Policymakers across all levels of government shape public health capacity, with state and island legislatures playing an essential role in community well-being. Their policy decisions are critical to the strength of their jurisdiction’s public health system and health outcomes. And in recent years, their work has helped make significant advancements in public health policy, such as investment in public health infrastructure, reduction in opioid overdoses, and expanded access to critical health services.

In preparation for the 2026 legislative session, I encourage you to review ASTHO’s annual Legislative Prospectus Series: a collection of concise, evidence-based briefs on our top public health policy issues to watch in the upcoming year and the emerging policy trends within them:

• Public health funding and administration.
• Behavioral health.
• Infectious disease prevention.
• Access to care.
• Healthy food and chronic disease.

Public health leaders continue to respond to and mitigate public health threats, delivering the resources necessary to ensure the health of their communities. ASTHO remains dedicated to supporting them by identifying policy solutions, through the insights within this series, our State Health Policy team’s ongoing legislative tracking and analysis, our Legislative Liaison Peer Network, and additional technical support and resources.

Thank you for the work you do every day for your communities and your commitment to making 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