Why State Advocacy Matters and What the Parkinson's Foundation Is Doing About It

If you’re living with Parkinson’s disease (PD), the decisions being made every day at federal, state and local levels can directly shape your life. States can often move faster than Congress and the federal government to protect and improve the lives of people living with PD. They can experiment, share ideas and build on what neighboring states are doing.

State lawmakers are also a lot more accessible. They live in your communities. And because they represent fewer people, you're more likely to actually get a chance to sit down, share your Parkinson's story and make the case for legislation that can make a difference.

Here's how the Parkinson's Foundation is putting that to work on the state level this year to advance our policy priorities.

Helping to Prevent Parkinson's Disease by Banning Paraquat

Research has linked the widely used herbicide paraquat to an increased risk of developing Parkinson's. Paraquat has been banned in more than 70 countries, but it is still sold and used in the U.S. Even as we push for a nationwide ban, we are also pushing for state-level bans and restrictions in states that are willing to act on the evidence faster than the federal government.

At the start of 2026 state legislative sessions, the Parkinson’s Foundation was tracking bills to ban or restrict paraquat in 13 states. Vermont led the nation with passage of their legislation this year, while several other states are still considering their bills. The Foundation has testified at hearings, organized advocates to reach out to their representatives and showed up at press events.

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  In Pennsylvania, Parkinson’s Foundation Ambassador Leslie Zimmerman and Research Advocate Chris Kustanbauter met with state lawmakers to share their stories of living with PD and how they were likely exposed to paraquat years before their diagnoses. 

• In Minnesota, Parkinson’s Foundation Minnesota & Dakotas Chapter Board Member Lisa Erickson testified in support of the paraquat bill in the House and Senate, and spoke at a press conference alongside other advocates. 

• In New York, Foundation staff and volunteers participated in a paraquat rally on May 13. Research Advocate Mike Mooney spoke about his experience living with Parkinson's and working at a landscaping company in high school and college where he was exposed to chemicals.

Even in states where paraquat legislation has not yet passed, the Foundation made meaningful strides in educating lawmakers and the public about the links between paraquat and Parkinson's disease. That groundwork will drive continued advocacy in 2027 state legislative sessions. 

Funding Parkinson's Research at the State Level

One of the most direct ways states can make a difference is by investing in research. This year, the Parkinson's Foundation is working to secure state research funding in California, Florida, Pennsylvania and Minnesota, with Florida and Pennsylvania building on progress made last year.

In California, the Foundation is championing a bill that would authorize bonds to fund scientific research on Parkinson's disease and several other diseases. On April 13, Associate Vice President of Advocacy and State Policy Deborah Swerdlow joined around 50 Parkinson's advocates from across California, including volunteers and board members of the Parkinson's Foundation California Chapter, at the State Capitol for a Parkinson's Advocacy Day. 

Advocates met with lawmakers to push the bill forward, educate legislators on the dangers of the herbicide paraquat and discuss legislation to improve emergency preparedness and home- and community-based services. If the State Legislature passes this bill, it will appear on the November 2026 ballot for voters to approve the funding.

Improving Access to Care and Coverage

The Parkinson's Foundation is working on two fronts when it comes to care: 

1. Improving quality of life for people with Parkinson's and their care partners right now

2. Building toward a future where every person who receives a Parkinson's diagnosis can access timely, affordable, quality care

The Foundation has joined a nationwide coalition — including organizations focused on cancer, arthritis, ALS and Alzheimer's disease — to expand insurance coverage for biomarker testing at the state level. Biomarkers are biological signs that can be measured to help diagnose a disease, track how it's progressing and evaluate whether treatments are working. 

When insurance is required to cover biomarker testing, it becomes more affordable and more accessible. Thanks to this coalition's work, Mississippi and Tennessee enacted biomarker coverage in 2026 and the push continues in other states.

Looking ahead, the Parkinson's Foundation has developed a multiyear roadmap to transform PD care through policy reform and coordinated action. Parkinson's Care and Innovation: A Patient-Centered Agenda for Change outlines four priority solutions to guide policy action, as well as the federal National Parkinson's Project. It grew out of conversations with care leaders, experts, people living with Parkinson's and innovators because people with Parkinson's are at the center of everything we do. Learn more about the roadmap. 

Get Involved

What happens at the state level is connected to everything. The research funding secured this year could become a new treatment option in five years. A paraquat ban passed now could mean fewer diagnoses in your community. Insurance coverage expanded today helps a person with Parkinson's afford their care tomorrow.

Want to get involved? Visit our Advocacy Center to join our Advocacy Network and contact your representatives. You can also directly reach our policy team at Policy@Parkinson.org.