The Health & Fitness Association (HFA) today released the inaugural State of the States 2026: US Fitness Policy Update & Compliance Guide, a new state-by-state resource developed to help fitness businesses navigate the legislative and regulatory environment shaping operations nationwide.
The guide examines legislative and regulatory activity across all 50 states and the District of Columbia, documenting more than 160 bills introduced in 2025 that directly affect fitness businesses. The focus of these measures range from membership contract rules and pricing transparency to data privacy, taxation, staffing, and sanitation requirements.
Twenty-one bills were enacted into law, with many others eligible for further consideration in 2026. Only nine states did not consider new legislation in any of the policy areas tracked, underscoring how actively state policymakers are engaging with issues that affect fitness businesses.
“As the health and fitness industry continues to grow and diversify, the policy environment governing it is becoming increasingly complex and fragmented,” said HFA President and CEO Liz Clark. “This guide provides businesses a clear, practical tool to understand how policy varies from state to state and what those differences mean for day-to-day operations and long-term planning.”
Consumer protection and transparency accounted for the largest share of legislative activity in 2025, including proposals addressing automatic renewals, click-to-cancel requirements, and full-pricing disclosures. Lawmakers also increased scrutiny of biometric, location, and other consumer data, an area where states are moving quickly in the absence of a comprehensive federal framework.
In addition to tracking legislation and regulation, the guide highlights HFA’s advocacy engagement throughout 2025. By working directly with lawmakers and regulators, HFA secured amendments, clarifications, and exemptions that reduced unnecessary compliance burdens while supporting balanced, consumer-focused policy outcomes.
Designed as both a year-in-review and an ongoing compliance reference, State of the States features comparative tables summarizing key regulatory requirements alongside detailed profiles for each state and the District of Columbia, including legislative outlooks for 2026.
“This guide is about helping businesses understand risk, anticipate change, and engage earlier in the policymaking process,” said HFA Chief of Staff Mike Goscinski. “It gives businesses a clear picture of what policymakers are focused on in every state and where attention is likely to turn next.”
The State of the States guide follows last week’s release of the 2025 Advocacy ROI Report, which outlines HFA’s advocacy and government affairs activity in 2025 and its implications for the health and fitness industry.
State of the States 2026: US Fitness Policy Update & Compliance Guide is now available from the Health & Fitness Association at healthandfitness.org/research