Clean indoor air is essential to protecting public health. The average American—including children, healthcare workers, and elderly Americans—spends the majority of their time indoors, where they may be exposed to pollutants such as wildfire smoke, mold, and airborne viruses. Poor indoor air quality (IAQ) is linked to asthma, respiratory illness, absenteeism, and long-term health disparities. State legislation is a powerful tool for change: it can direct state agencies to set and enforce standards, allocate funding for improvements, and make IAQ a clear policy priority at the state level. Learn more about why IAQ matters.
Across the country, momentum for IAQ policy is building. In recent years, states have begun adopting more comprehensive approaches that address IAQ holistically, rather than targeting only individual pollutants such as mold or radon. Thirteen states have enacted IAQ legislation in the past five years, and a summary of these laws is available in this overview of enacted IAQ legislation. These states represent a geographically and politically diverse cross-section of the country, reflecting broad recognition of the importance of advancing IAQ protections, particularly for schools.
In 2025, Massachusetts passed S.1516 / H.2427, which focuses explicitly on forming a comprehensive IAQ task force and issuing regulatory guidance. Virginia’s HB 2618 / SB 1413 (2025) requires uniform indoor air quality inspections in public schools and the use of real-time air monitoring sensors. In Rhode Island, the 2025 bill H.5597 / S.0977 called for the uniform inspection and evaluation of IAQ within every school building, including HVAC systems when present. These bills reflect a growing recognition that clean indoor air is a state health priority and that regular monitoring is essential.
The Clean Indoor Air Initiative at the Pandemic Center developed a database of 50+ IAQ-related bills from the past five years to help policymakers, advocates, and researchers track progress, identify proven approaches, and coordinate efforts. The Environmental Law Institute (ELI) has also added this database to their website as a separate resource.
Experience shows coalition building is key. Legislative successes—particularly in schools—often result from partnerships that combine ventilation engineering technical expertise (from ASHRAE) and advocacy strength of community-based organizations. This alignment is a proven strategy for advancing clean indoor air. By tracking legislative activity and capturing lessons from across states, this resource supports the long-term vision of making clean indoor air a national public health priority.
The database is non-exhaustive and reflects bills identified through internal research and by partner organizations; inclusion does not imply endorsement of specific legislation.
Huyen Nguyen is a sophomore at Brown and a summer SPRINT student at the Pandemic Center. Huyen is part of the Clean Indoor Air Initiative at the Pandemic Center and advanced this project in partnership with Dr. Georgia Lagoudas and Sabrina Chwalek.