Track, Analyze & Act
Everything in one place: follow active legislation, compare state policies, and stay current on allergy, asthma, and anaphylaxis news. Start with the area you need below.
Bill Action Dashboard
Bills grouped by stage — governor signatures and floor votes first, so you know where to act now.
Bill Tracker
Every active allergy & asthma bill, its progress, and a Write Your Legislators tool for each.
State Analysis
Compare two states side-by-side, see nationwide legislative gaps, and find model policies.
News
Latest allergy & asthma news, advocacy & policy updates, and the daily law news digest.
Research & Clinical Insights
Evidence-based summaries from Dr. Ruchi Gupta and Dr. Michael Pistiner, with direct citations for every finding.
Agency Compliance: Childcare & Public Schools
Official compliance resources from the state and national agencies that regulate allergy, asthma, and anaphylaxis preparedness in childcare and public schools — the Department of Health, the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS), and their state equivalents. Every entry links to an official government or accredited-organization source.
Childcare: National Health & Safety Standards
The national standards state Departments of Health and childcare licensing agencies adopt as the floor for licensed childcare — covering medication administration, food allergy care, and emergency response.
Caring for Our Children (CFOC): National Health and Safety Performance Standards
The national baseline of evidence-based health and safety standards for early care and education programs. The standards state childcare licensing agencies (Departments of Health, DCFS, OCFS, and equivalents) adopt cover medication administration, food allergy care, and emergency response. Maintained jointly by the AAP, APHA, and the National Resource Center.
childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/cfocHead Start — Caring for Our Children: Standards and Resources
Federal Head Start hub summarizing the CFOC standards and how programs apply them for daily health and safety management, including medication administration and allergic-reaction emergency procedures.
headstart.govCCDF Health and Safety Requirements — Medication Administration Training
Federal regulation requiring every CCDF-funded child care provider to complete training in medication administration, including emergency medications such as epinephrine auto-injectors. The compliance floor that every state licensing agency enforces.
childcareta.acf.hhs.govChildcare: State Licensing Agencies (DCFS / OCFS)
Childcare licensing is administered by a state agency whose name varies by state — the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) in Illinois, the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) in New York, and a Division of Early Childhood in others. These are the official licensing rules and medication administration requirements each enforces.
Illinois DCFS — Day Care Center Licensing Standards (Rule 407)
The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) prescribes minimum licensing standards for day care centers, including how medication must be administered and stored to protect children. The authoritative DCFS compliance rule for allergy and emergency medication in licensed Illinois childcare.
dcfs.illinois.gov — Rule 407Illinois DCFS — Summary of Licensing Standards for Day Care Centers
DCFS published summary of the day care center licensing requirements, including medical reports, health requirements, and medication handling that providers must meet to remain licensed.
dcfs.illinois.gov — CFS 1050-52Illinois Admin Code — Section 407.310 Health Requirements for Children
Codified Illinois day care center health requirements, including medical reports on file and standards for administering medication to children in licensed care.
ilga.gov — 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310New York OCFS — Health Care Plan for Day Care Centers (OCFS-LDSS-7020)
The New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) requires licensed day care centers to maintain a Health Care Plan, including a log of medication administration completed after administering an epinephrine auto-injector to any child.
ocfs.ny.gov — OCFS-LDSS-7020New York OCFS — Emergency Medication Administration Overview (ECETP)
OCFS-approved training curriculum covering the regulations and procedures child day care staff must follow to administer emergency medications, including epinephrine, under the NY OCFS Child Day Care Regulations.
ECETP (OCFS training partner)Colorado Dept. of Education — Medication Guidelines for Schools and Child Care
State guidelines detailing the conditions requiring emergency medication and the training, expertise, and licensure required to direct administration of medications in both schools and child care settings.
ed.cde.state.co.usMaryland Division of Early Childhood — Child Care Licensing (Medication Administration Training)
Maryland licensing portal explaining the Medication Administration Training (MAT), provided by state-approved registered nurses, required for child care staff who administer medications including emergency allergy medication.
earlychildhood.marylandpublicschools.orgPublic Schools: DOH / DOE Compliance
The federal guidance and state Department of Health / Department of Education policies that govern food allergy, asthma, and stock-epinephrine preparedness in public schools.
CDC — Food Allergies in Schools (Managing Health Conditions)
CDC hub for food allergy management in schools, including the CDC toolkit that helps schools and early care programs implement the Voluntary Guidelines to prevent and manage severe allergic reactions.
cdc.gov/school-health-conditionsCDC — Voluntary Guidelines for Managing Food Allergies in Schools and Early Care and Education Programs
The federal guidance document state Departments of Health and Education reference for school food-allergy policy: planning, training, emergency preparedness (including stock epinephrine), and responding to severe allergic reactions.
cdc.gov (PDF)AAP — Management of Food Allergy in Schools (Clinical Report, Pediatrics 2025)
American Academy of Pediatrics clinical report guiding schools and clinicians on food allergy management, building directly on the CDC Voluntary Guidelines; the current pediatric standard of care referenced by state DOH/DOE policy.
publications.aap.orgTexas DSHS — Guidelines for the Care of Students with Food Allergies (2026)
Texas Department of State Health Services guidance requiring that any allergen exposure be treated per the child’s Food Allergy Action Plan, Emergency Action Plan, and Individualized Health Care Plan. A current state DOH model for public school compliance.
dshs.texas.gov (2026)New York — SchoolHealthNY Epinephrine & Anaphylaxis Guidance
Joint NYSDOH/NYSED guidance helping school districts establish an anaphylaxis policy, including procedures for stock epinephrine, staff training, and emergency response in public schools.
schoolhealthny.comAAAAI — Stock Epinephrine Toolkit for Schools
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology toolkit for building a state-law-compliant school stock-epinephrine program, including example documents and training references.
aaaai.orgNational Review of State Laws for Stock Epinephrine in Schools (Volerman et al., 2021)
Peer-reviewed national review documenting how every state permits or requires stock epinephrine in schools, the authoritative summary of the compliance landscape state DOH/DOE agencies operate within.
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.govMeeting Preparation
Before you sit down with a legislator, do your homework. Use this checklist to gather facts, draft your story, and time your visit for maximum impact — and bring constituents from the same district so the visit lands.
Gather the facts
- Pull the bill number, official title, current status, and committee assignment from the Law Tracker or Bill Action Dashboard.
- Read the plain-language summary and the key provisions so you can explain what the bill actually does in 30 seconds.
- Find one statistic or local data point (e.g., your state's food-allergy prevalence, anaphylaxis incidents, or stock-epinephrine coverage gap) that makes the case concrete.
- Identify any opposition arguments and prepare a calm, factual rebuttal for each.
Draft your story
- Write a 2–3 minute personal story: who in your family is affected, what happened, and how the bill would have changed the outcome.
- Lead with your child's name and age (or your own condition), the specific incident, and the lesson — keep it specific, not general.
- End with a clear ask: "I am asking you to co-sponsor / vote yes on [bill number]."
- Practice it out loud until it lands under 3 minutes; legislators' time is short.
Prepare your one-pager
- Bring a single printed page: bill number, summary, the ask, 2–3 key facts, and your contact info.
- Leave behind a copy with the legislator or staffer — it is the document they will reference later.
- Attach a URL to the full law record so staff can verify the citation on their own time.
Time your advocacy day
- Schedule meetings while your state legislature is in session and before the bill's committee vote — see the State Legislative Session Dates and Advocacy Timing Guide.
- Aim for the first third of the session: bills moved early have time to clear committee deadlines and floor votes.
- Book meetings 2–4 weeks ahead; request 15-minute slots with the legislator or their health staffer.
- Group constituents by legislative district and go together — a delegation of 3–5 voters from the district carries more weight than solo visits.
Line up your team
- Recruit 2–4 other constituents from the same district: parents, school nurses, allergists, or camp directors carry extra credibility.
- Assign roles before you arrive: one gives the personal story, one gives the facts, one delivers the ask, one takes notes.
- Confirm who is attending and prep a shared one-pager so everyone delivers the same message.
Day-of checklist
- Bring printed one-pagers, business cards, and a photo of your child if your story is personal.
- Arrive 10 minutes early; dress professionally; be ready to wait — schedules slip.
- After the meeting, send a thank-you email within 24 hours restating the ask and attaching the one-pager.
- Log the meeting in your Advocacy Tracker so you can follow up at the next status change.
Know Your Rights in Emergencies & Public Life
Federal law protects access and accommodations for people with severe allergies, asthma, and related conditions — in schools, restaurants, travel, and public spaces.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
The ADA and Section 504 protect people with severe allergies and asthma in public accommodations, schools, and the workplace.
- Food allergy, celiac disease, and asthma can qualify as disabilities under the ADA and Section 504 when they substantially limit a major life activity such as breathing, eating, or digestion.
- Title III of the ADA requires public accommodations — restaurants, schools, childcare, and event venues — to make reasonable modifications to policies and procedures for guests with severe allergies.
- You may request reasonable accommodations such as allergen-aware meal preparation, early boarding to wipe down your seat, or permitting a personal epinephrine auto-injector in a venue.
- Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act applies the same standard to any program receiving federal financial assistance, including public schools and airports.
IEP & Section 504 Plans for Students
For students with food allergy, asthma, or related conditions, a written accommodation plan ensures emergency protocols are legally enforceable at school.
- A 504 Plan is the most common accommodation vehicle for students with food allergy or asthma — it outlines emergency action plans, self-carry of epinephrine/inhalers, and allergen-aware classroom protocols.
- An IEP (Individualized Education Program) applies under IDEA when a child’s condition also requires specialized instruction or related services (e.g., asthma that significantly limits school attendance, or EOE affecting learning).
- Schools must evaluate a 504/IEP request within a reasonable timeframe and cannot deny accommodations solely because a student appears to be managing well day-to-day.
- Work with your school nurse and healthcare provider to attach your emergency action plan to the 504/IEP so staff have clear instructions during a reaction or asthma episode.
Airline Preboarding & Allergy Accommodations (FAA / DOT)
Federal aviation rules guarantee preboarding and allergen accommodations for air travelers with severe allergies or respiratory conditions.
- Under DOT’s Air Carrier Access Act rules (14 CFR Part 382), U.S. airlines must allow passengers with disabilities to preboard so they can stow medication, wipe down their seat, and communicate with crew.
- Passengers carrying epinephrine auto-injectors or asthma inhalers may bring them through TSA checkpoints with no liquid-volume limit; declare them to the TSA officer.
- For severe peanut allergies, DOT requires U.S. airlines to create a peanut-free buffer zone or offer a peanut-restricted flight when notified in advance.
- Notify the airline at least 48 hours in advance of severe allergies so they can arrange preboarding, allergen-aware meal service, and a buffer zone.
While we strive for accuracy, information may change over time. Always double-check and verify against official sources before relying on it.