Dome:
Law, Legislation & Policy

Housed at Boston University School of Law, Dome is a valuable resource for news, analysis, and opinion on legislation and public policy. Dome is staffed by students of BU Law’s various legislation clinics. Dome features work contributed by staff members, scholars, practitioners, and law students interested in legislation and public policy.

Never Too Early to Save a Child’s Life: Eating Disorders Prevention in Schools Act of 2020

By Jessica Boubker
August 23rd, 2021 in Analysis, Federal Legislation, Health Law.

Eating disorders have the second highest mortality rate of any mental illness, second only to opioid overdose. 1 in 5 women (19.7%) and 1 in 7 men (14.3%) will suffer from an eating disorder. Not only are eating disorders potentially life-threatening, eating disorders can carry devastating long-term consequences on both... More

A Visit to the Arizona Legislature

By Sean J Kealy
July 6th, 2021 in Uncategorized.

This summer vacation brought me to Phoenix Arizona.  Not quite our usual family trip to the beach, but we are attending the Irish Step Dancing National Championships.  While my daughters practiced, I had a chance to visit the Arizona Legislature (kind of). Unfortunately, the old Capitol Building, which now houses the... More

Should Foster Parents Unionize?

By Brianna Isaacson
June 29th, 2021 in Administrative Law, Analysis, Health Law, State Legislation.

Foster care reform rarely makes it into dinner-table discussions of hot political happenings, but Massachusetts State Representative Tricia Farley-Bouvier of the Berkshires may change that with two bills she introduced this session: one creates a Foster Parent Bill of Rights, and the other allows foster parents to collectively bargain– raising... More

Wearables and the FDA: Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic

By Alexandra Maulden
June 28th, 2021 in Administrative Law, Analysis, Federal Legislation, Health Law.

When the COVID-19 pandemic upended the entire world in March 2020, many industries were thrown in chaos. With the limitations on capacity in gyms across many states, technologies such as the Apple Watch or Fitbit (collectively called “Wearables”) became increasingly popular. Wearables are devices that track activities and record information... More

We Need to Take Plastic Regulation More Seriously: Plastics as a Major Climate Change Contributor

By Meghan Mccarthy
June 28th, 2021 in Analysis, Environmental Law, Federal Legislation, State Legislation.

Plastics are commonplace in modern society, despite increasing awareness of their negative environmental impacts. It is evident that plastic pollution litters our oceans and greenery, with devastating effects on natural ecosystems. Yet, the poor disposal of plastics is only part of the story—the production and management of plastics are incredible... More