Public health authority refers to a government body’s (usually a health or public health department or agency) legal ability to further public health by using tools such as community engagement, data collection, scientific research, laws and regulations, enforcement, and the many methods of sharing information and guidance with those who need it most. 

This Collection includes datasets that capture laws and policies related to the authority to act for the public’s health. The datasets in this collection provide an overview of laws that limit, expand or reallocate the authority of a governor, state health agency, or state health official to act during emergencies and otherwise. Many of the datasets in this collection were created through the Act for Public Health initiative, a group of organizations and experts applying their decades of experience in public health law and policy work to help push back against legislative attempts to block public health officials’ ability to do their job.