Table 2.
Summary of legislation implemented active and passive action steps related to racism as public health crisis.
| State |
Examples of active action steps
Include name of municipality |
Examples of passive action steps
Include name of municipality |
Overall, are actions in the state more active or passive? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | None | None | None |
| Alaska | None | None | None |
| Arizona | None | None | None |
| Arkansas | Foster small business development, affordable housing and community infrastructure serving minority residents and those of lower income (Fayetteville) | None | Active |
| Develop and implement a Racial Equity Strategic Action Plan (Fayetteville) | |||
| California | Commit to formalizing a ban on the use of excessive force and reiterating police departments policies about excessive force (Ventura) | Commitment to action that recognizes and addresses racism by ensuring meaningful progress (Yolo County) | Active |
| Creation of an ad hoc Special Committee on Equity and Social Justice (Coachella) | |||
| Colorado | The expansion of documented equity decision-making frameworks that are transparent to the public (Denver) | [We support]. agency organizational workplans to address and correct embedded policies that discriminate and perpetuate racism (Denver) | Passive |
| Connecticut | Improve the quality of the data collected and analyze using qualitative and quantitative data (New Britain) | Identify activities to enhance diversity and ensure antiracism principles (Easton) | Active |
| Appoint a Commission on Racial Justice and Equity, composed of nine members (Glastonbury) | |||
| Delaware | None | None | None |
| Florida | Periodic reports to assess progress and capitalize on opportunities to further advance racial equity (Hillsborough County) | Promote equity through all policies (Hillsborough County) | Passive |
| Georgia | Periodic reports to assess progress and capitalize on opportunities to further advance racial equity (DeKalb County) | Promote equity through all policies (DeKalb County) | Passive |
| Hawaii | None | None | None |
| Idaho | None | None | None |
| Illinois | Create the Office of Health and Social Equity (Cook County) | Encourage others [local, state and national entities to recognize racism as a public health crisis (Cook County)] | Active |
| Indiana | Investigating in disadvantaged neighborhoods that suffer most from racial disparities (Evansville) | Honest and open debate, discussion and analysis (Evansville and Indianapolis Marion County) | Active |
| Iowa | None | None | None |
| Kansas | None | None | None |
| Kentucky | None | None | None |
| Louisiana | None | None | None |
| Maine | Establish a Racial Equity Steering Committee (Portland) | None | Active |
| Maryland | Work with the county police department to implement police reform such as banning chokeholds and strangleholds (Anne Arundel and Prince George Counties) | Continue to advocate locally and nationally for relevant policies that improve health in communities of color (Montgomery County) | Active |
| Massachusetts | Development of a “Boston Health Equity Now” plan with details objective and measurable goals (Boston) | Promote racially equitable policies and community support (Springfield) | Active |
| Compile specific race and ethnic data documenting health inequities (Beverly) | |||
| Establish Citizen Police Advisory Committee to the Mayor (Holyoke) | |||
| Michigan | Increase the budget for the Public Health Department and Racial Equity Office (Washtenaw County) | Develop an anti-discrimination policy (Jackson County) | Active |
| Minnesota | Develop annual report with racially disaggregated data on the health of BIPOC and recommendations for actions to eliminate disparities and improve overall health (Minneapolis) | Study and investigate this issue with special emphasis on the services the county provides (Olmsted County) | Active |
| Mississippi | None | None | None |
| Missouri | Assess internal policies to ensure racial equity is a core element of the city (Kansas City) | Encourage other local, state, and national government to recognize racism as a public health crisis (Kansas City) | Passive |
| Montana | None | None | None |
| Nebraska | None | None | None |
| Nevada | None | Declare Racism a Public Health Crisis (State at Large) | Passive |
| New Hampshire | None | None | None |
| New Jersey | Encourage racial equity training among community partners, vendors contractors (Leonian) | Promote equity through policies (Leonian) | Passive |
| New Mexico | None | None | None |
| New York | None | None | None |
| North Carolina | Establish a Community Reparations Commission (Ashville) | Support policies that promote racial equity (Charlotte) | Passive |
| Create periodic reviews to assess racial equity progress (Durham) | Encourage others (states, cities, counties) to promote racial equity policies (New Hanover County) | ||
| North Dakota | None | None | None |
| Ohio | Systemic review of Canton City Public Health department programs (Canton) | Commits to open discussion on race and its impact (Lima) | Active |
| Remove discriminatory laws (i.e. Stop and Identify Statute) (South Euclid) | Strengthen government/community partnerships (Lorain County) | ||
| Oklahoma | None | Consider tools to eliminate racism (Ardmore) | Passive |
| Oregon | None | None | None |
| Pennsylvania | Create internal policies, procedures, and assessments for racial equity (Allegheny County, Pittsburgh) | Advocate for relevant policies to improve health of communities of color (Allegheny County, Pittsburgh) | Active |
| Create status report to recommend and review policies to reduce racial disparities (Erie) | Commits to addressing racism (Erie) | ||
| Rhode Island | None | None | None |
| South Carolina | None | None | None |
| South Dakota | None | None | None |
| Tennessee | Address minority health inequities, including a systematic, data-driven focus on poverty, economic mobility, inequities, and other factors that may impact the social determinants of health (Chattanooga) | Commitment to enacting policies that defend minorities and eradicate the effects of Systemic Racism (Shelby County) | Passive |
| Texas | Promoting racially equitable city services, programs and policies from neighborhood investment to infrastructure and transportation to economic and workforce development (San Antonio) | Develop policies, programs, and services that work to dismantle systemic racism (Harris County) | Active |
| Utah | None | None | None |
| Vermont | Develop a plan to ensure school district curriculum and teaching is culturally relevant and anti-racist (Burlington) | Actively fighting racist practices and participating in creating just and equitable systems (Burlington) | Active |
| Virginia | None | None | None |
| Washington | Board will assess, revise, and write guiding documents and policies with a racial justice and equity lens (King County) | Advance a public health approach in addressing institutional and systemic racism (King County) | Active |
| West Virginia | None | None | None |
| Wisconsin | Incorporate inclusion and equity in county practices, offer educational trainings/activities to employees and provide tools for members to engage actively with communities of color (Milwaukee County) | Advocate for relevant policies to improve health in communities of color (Kenosha County) | Active |
| Wyoming | None | None | None |