Publications

  • Person holding a resume during a job interview, with another person in a gray suit across the table.

    Local Nonpayment of Wages Laws

    Dataset

    Jan. 16, 2026

    This dataset provides a comprehensive overview of local nonpayment of wages laws in the 40 largest […]

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  • Street between two blocks of houses
    Analysis

    Law as Data: Using Policy Surveillance to Advance Housing Studies

    Apr. 4, 2019

    This article uses policy surveillance to create legal datasets on housing laws, covering fair housing protections and nuisance property ordinances, facilitating studies on housing policy impacts.

  • A red brick house with green roof accents and a white door, flanked by similar buildings.
    Analysis

    Health, Housing and the Law

    Mar. 28, 2019

    This article explores 23 legal levers across five domains promoting health equity in housing, including zoning laws, rent control, and fair housing protections, with limited evidence of their impact.

  • A dentist and assistant perform a dental procedure on a patient in a dental clinic.
    Dataset

    Dental Hygienist Scope of Practice Laws

    Jan. 1, 2019

    This dataset examines state laws defining dental hygienists' licensing, supervision, and authority, outlining the scope of practice, practice settings, and oral health care service requirements.

  • Facade of a traditional house with cream siding, brown shutters, a central entrance, and a red bicycle.
    Dataset

    Local Just Cause Eviction & Retaliation Laws

    Jan. 1, 2019

    This dataset explores local just cause and retaliatory eviction laws in 10 U.S. cities, detailing protections for tenants and guidelines for landlords, supported by a 2018 policy surveillance project.

  • Healthcare professional handing a blister pack of pills to a patient.
    Dataset

    Morphine Equivalent Daily Dose (MEDD) Policies

    Nov. 8, 2018

    This dataset examines state MEDD policies, which set thresholds for morphine-equivalent opioid doses, aiming to reduce high-dose prescribing and prevent opioid-related mortality.

  • healthcare workers walking
    Dataset

    State Laws and Other Regulatory Policies Related to Pain Care

    Nov. 8, 2018

    This dataset details state pain care laws as of Nov. 8, 2018, covering Schedule II opioid prescribing, healthcare practice standards, pain treatment guidelines, practitioner requirements, and prescription monitoring program (PDMP) features.

  • Children playing on a colorful playground with trees in the background.
    Dataset

    State Supplemental Payments for Children with Disabilities

    Nov. 1, 2018

    This dataset maps state-level SSP laws for children with disabilities (1996–2018), showing how SSP benefits complement federal SSI to address unique costs, reduce insecurity, and support families.

  • Two people at a table, one pointing at a document with a pen.
    Analysis

    Taking Opportunity Costs Seriously in Public Health Law

    Oct. 9, 2018

    Scott Burris examines opportunity costs in public health law and the role evaluation and legal epidemiology should play in monitoring and evaluating the laws that impact Americans' health.

  • Assorted packs of colorful capsules and tablets.
    Dataset

    Laws Authorizing Involuntary Commitment for Substance Use

    Oct. 1, 2018

    This dataset outlines state laws related to the involuntary commitment of individuals for substance use and addiction, a response to the opioid crisis. It provides a detailed legal map created by LawAtlas.org.

  • Street between two blocks of houses
    Analysis

    Public Health Implications of Housing Laws: Nuisance Evictions

    Aug. 10, 2018

    This article explores the public health impact of nuisance eviction laws, highlighting the need for legal epidemiology to evaluate their effects. It emphasizes the risks of laws that fail to protect vulnerable groups.

  • Baker cutting out dough
    Dataset

    Cottage Food Laws Map

    Jul. 25, 2018

    This dataset outlines U.S. cottage food and food freedom laws as of Sept. 1, 2017, detailing who can sell home-made foods, sales venues, inspection, disclosure, and limits on cottage food operations.

  • Doctor showing a patient information on a tablet in a medical office.
    Dataset

    Pain Management Clinic Laws

    Jun. 1, 2018

    This dataset focuses on state laws regulating pain management clinics, their owners, and physicians, capturing laws in effect from January 1, 2006 through June 1, 2018, in response to the opioid crisis.

  • Farmhouse on land with sunset
    Dataset

    Soil Vapor Intrusion Laws

    Apr. 1, 2018

    This dataset maps U.S. state laws on soil vapor intrusion, where underground chemicals contaminate indoor air. It includes a 2017 dataset showing state-by-state public health and safety regulations to address this pathway of chemical exposure.

  • Rows of houses from an ariel perspective
    Dataset

    Disclosure of Environmental Conditions Laws

    Apr. 1, 2018

    This dataset examines U.S. state laws requiring residential property sellers to disclose environmental hazards, like asbestos, radon, and lead paint. It includes a 2017 dataset tracking disclosure rules to protect buyer health and property values.

  • Sign on a table with a cigarette in a slashed red circle
    Dataset

    Electronic Cigarette Laws

    Apr. 1, 2018

    This dataset maps U.S. laws on e-cigarettes, covering age limits, product definitions, ingredient rules, and packaging standards in 2016–2017, highlighting efforts to regulate sales, use, and public health impacts.