Understanding Legislative Trends in Heat Resilience
As extreme heat intensifies across the United States, states are increasingly introducing policies to address its impacts. However, no centralized resource currently tracks how states legislate heat resilience, leaving policymakers, advocates, and the private sector without a clear picture of emerging trends, gaps, and best practices.
The Heat Policy Innovation Hub is leading the first State-Level Heat Legislation Inventory, systematically cataloging and analyzing state policies related to extreme heat. This project will provide decision-makers with a roadmap for advancing effective state-level heat governance by identifying trends, common policy approaches, and gaps.
Project Overview
Comprehensive Policy Inventory
The hub team is conducting a 50-state review of legislation related to extreme heat, spanning sectors such as public health, labor protections, energy policy, infrastructure adaptation, and emergency management.
Trend Analysis and Policy Gaps
Hub experts are assessing patterns in legislative action, identifying which states are leading on heat resilience and where gaps remain in regulatory frameworks. This will inform policy recommendations at the state and federal levels.
Public Database & Policy Reports
Findings will be compiled into an interactive, publicly accessible database, enabling users to explore state-specific policies, legislative trends, and model frameworks for heat governance. Additionally, hub experts will develop state-specific and comparative reports for policymakers and stakeholders.
Why This Matters
Bridging Policy Gaps
Without coordinated efforts, heat-related policies remain fragmented. This inventory will highlight where states are making progress and where opportunities exist to strengthen heat resilience.
Guiding Future Legislation
By identifying legislative trends and best practices, this project will serve as a critical resource for policymakers looking to develop effective heat governance strategies.
Empowering Decision-Makers
An interactive database will allow users to explore state-level policy approaches and compare legislative strategies across the country, facilitating informed decision-making for governments, businesses, and community leaders.
