Local governments are on the front lines for adopting policies aimed at improving health outcomes and reducing health, racial, and gender inequities. But the misuse of state preemption threatens the ability of cities, counties and towns to adopt health- and equity-promoting laws and policies. This resource from the Local Solutions Support Center (LSSC) and ChangeLab Solutions provides advocates with the research and data they need to document the harmful consequences of preemption and advocate for repealing inequitable preemption laws.
State preemption of paid-sick leave requirements may contribute to external causes of death. One study found statistically significant associations between paid-sick leave requirements and reductions in homicides (in men and women), suicides (in men), and alcohol poisoning (in women). 9 If state laws preempting paid-sick leave protections were repealed, mortality by these causes may decline by more than 5% in some places.