New Communication Toolkit for Organizers Tackles Preemption of Public Health Authority

State legislatures are working to undermine the authority and independence of public health agencies and local governments with preemption bills – and they’re doing so despite the COVID-19 pandemic. This preemption of public health authority has lasting consequences, including:

  • Making it difficult for local elected officials and public health officials to take steps necessary to protect the health and well-being of their communities during the pandemic;

  • Worsening existing community health inequities – disparities further amplified by a pandemic that has disproportionately impacted BIPOC communities; and

  • Making it more challenging for communities to respond effectively to future disease outbreaks and public health emergencies.

The Local Solutions Support Center has designed a toolkit to help organizers understand what public health authority preemption looks like and how to talk about it in a way that’s both accessible to broader audiences, and effective. Take a look at our new resource.

Adam Polaski