Are you attending the Public Health Law Conference? We’re excited to join this year’s event in Seattle and connect with peers from across the country as we work to collectively protect and advance public health at this critical moment.
From September 16–18, our staff will be presenting on issues that range from public health in the current political climate to data sharing and privacy. View our full schedule below — we hope to see you there!
Beyond Legislation: Litigation, Rulemaking, and Policy Implementation to Promote Health Equity
Wednesday, September 17, 10:45am–12:00pm
Speakers: Sarah de Guia, chief executive officer; Sabrina Adler, vice president of law; Alexis Etow, managing director
Policy change efforts often focus on legislation as a tool, but there are non-legislative strategies that can be equally if not more effective, particularly in challenging political climates. This session will provide an overview, using case studies and specific examples, of three non-legislative avenues to advance health equity: litigation, rulemaking, and equitable implementation of laws and policies. Participants will learn about how to utilize these strategies and will have the opportunity to discuss them.
Navigating Legal Barriers to Cross Jurisdictional Public Health Data Sharing
Wednesday, September 17, 10:45am–12:00pm
Speaker: Jami Crespo, senior attorney
Hundreds of siloed public health data systems hinder the timely and effective exchange of critical public health data to help keep our communities healthy. CDC’s Data Modernization Initiative aims to establish a new public health information system governed by a cohesive framework. Achieving this goal requires public health partners across all levels of government to navigate complex legal and policy landscapes. This panel examines the challenges and opportunities for public health data sharing.
Challenges and Opportunities in Public Health Under the Trump Administration
Wednesday, September 17, 3:15pm–4:30pm
Speaker: Sabrina Adler, vice president of law
The 2023–2024 Supreme Court term and the 2024 elections ushered in a new and unfamiliar landscape for public health law. In the session, the Act for Public Health partnership will identify the resulting challenges and opportunities in the public health landscape, including: (1) federal legislative and executive actions impacting public health; (2) the impact of recent Supreme Court decisions; and (3) opportunities for state and local governments to strengthen public health authority to address social determinants of health.
9/9/2025