The impact of preemption laws on the workforce is enormous. Preemption laws have resulted in nearly $1 billion in lost wages for preempted workers each year. In all but two cities, the majority of affected workers are women. In three cities, workers of color make up a majority of the workforce, while they make up a substantial portion in the remaining six locations. Most affected workers in preemption cities are adults, with 41 percent to 66 percent having some college education. In six additional cities, 20 percent to 71 percent of affected workers live below the federal poverty line.
State preemption laws are also restrictive in some cases. Some examples are tobacco policies in Oklahoma. These state laws are much narrower than the policies of non-preempted cities. However, in other areas, preemption applies to zoning procedures, and tobacco policies. Therefore, it is important to understand the impact of preemption before deciding whether to adopt a tobacco policy in your city. This article will explain the implications of preemption for local health and safety programs.