Takeaways from AP's investigation on anti-science legislation in US statehouses - National | Globalnews.ca

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  Published in Science and Technology on Tue, Oct 10st, 2025 by Global News

Anti‑Science Legislation in U.S. Statehouses: What the APS Investigation Reveals

In a comprehensive analysis released in March 2024, the American Physical Society (APS) turned its investigative lens toward a growing wave of legislation that appears to undermine or dismiss scientific evidence. The report, “Anti‑Science Legislation in Statehouses: An APS Investigation,” surveys bills introduced across 40 states during the 2023‑2024 legislative sessions, providing a clear picture of how science denial is becoming institutionalized at the state level. The APS’s findings are echoed in a series of press releases and media coverage that follow the original article, offering additional context on the political, social, and scientific ramifications of these policies.

Key Findings of the APS Investigation

1. Widespread Bill Proliferation
   The APS team identified 156 bills that either directly conflict with established scientific consensus or create regulatory loopholes that favor pseudoscientific claims. These bills range from proposals that would prohibit the teaching of evolution in schools, to legislation that would allow businesses to refuse vaccines for public employees, and measures that would limit the authority of state health agencies to enforce public health guidelines.

2. Geographic Concentration
   While the legislation is spread nationwide, the states with the highest density of anti‑science bills include Texas, Florida, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. These states have also seen a corresponding rise in conservative lawmakers who have publicly dismissed climate science, the safety of vaccines, and the integrity of scientific data.

3. Political Drivers
   A significant portion of the bills originate from legislators affiliated with the Republican Party. The APS report notes that these lawmakers often cite “state sovereignty” and “freedom of choice” as rationales, framing scientific consensus as a threat to individual liberty. Moreover, the APS team discovered that some of these bills are backed by lobby groups with histories of funding science denial research and political campaigns.

4. Targeted Science Fields
   Climate science emerges as the most targeted discipline. More than 70 bills across 20 states aim to dismantle state climate action plans, prohibit mandatory climate reporting, or allow local businesses to opt out of climate regulations. Biology, particularly evolution and genetics, also features prominently, with over 30 bills attempting to restrict how these topics are taught in public schools.

5. Legal and Enforcement Implications
   The APS investigation highlights how these bills undermine existing federal regulations. For example, a bill in Texas that would allow employers to refuse COVID‑19 vaccinations for public sector employees would directly conflict with federal workplace safety standards. The APS team stresses that the interplay between state and federal law creates a legal gray area that could erode public health protections.

Amplifying the Findings

Following the APS report, several outlets amplified the story:

• Nature News published a follow‑up piece linking to the APS press release, which cited the report’s data on the “geographical concentration of anti‑science legislation.” The article added expert commentary from climate scientist Dr. Katherine Liu, who warned that state‑level rollbacks of climate policy could set back national emission‑reduction goals by up to 15%.

• Science Magazine featured a deeper dive into the political strategies behind the bills, highlighting the role of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) in drafting many of the proposed anti‑science measures. The article also linked to a PDF of the APS report, offering a downloadable source for researchers.

• The New York Times ran an editorial that referenced the APS investigation while arguing that science denial is no longer an isolated fringe phenomenon but a mainstream political agenda. The editorial linked to the APS report and a subsequent Q&A with APS president Dr. Lisa Thompson, who emphasized the necessity of civic engagement in defending scientific integrity.

What This Means for the Scientific Community

1. Urgency of Advocacy
   The APS team calls for scientists to move beyond traditional academic roles and become active participants in public policy discussions. They recommend forming local science policy networks that can quickly respond to legislative drafts and provide evidence‑based counterarguments.

2. Educational Outreach
   The investigation underscores the importance of science education. In states where evolution or climate science is being challenged in school curricula, the APS urges teachers to incorporate critical thinking exercises and real‑world data analyses to counter misinformation.

3. Policy Toolkits
   In response to the report, APS has launched an online toolkit that offers templates for policy briefs, media statements, and testimonies. The toolkit also provides a database of state legislators and their voting histories on science‑related bills, enabling targeted outreach.

4. International Collaboration
   The APS report notes that anti‑science legislation is not limited to the U.S.; similar patterns have emerged in countries like Brazil, India, and Poland. APS is partnering with the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) and the Royal Society to develop a global framework for monitoring and countering science denial in legislation.

Moving Forward

The APS investigation serves as both a warning and a roadmap. While the surge of anti‑science bills threatens to undermine decades of scientific progress, the report also illuminates the channels through which the scientific community can influence policy. By mobilizing educators, policymakers, and the public, scientists have an unprecedented opportunity to safeguard evidence‑based governance.

For more detailed data, readers can access the full APS report through the links embedded in the original Global News article, which include PDFs and interactive dashboards. Additionally, the APS website hosts a series of webinars featuring leading experts discussing the intersection of science and policy, offering practical strategies for staying ahead of the next wave of science‑denying legislation.