Protection of the rights and interests of infected persons has focused on employment, housing, insurance, consent for testing, confidentiality, and treatment. State expenditures for AIDS research, education, detection, prevention, and treatment have increased rapidly since 1981. The degree and content of each State's responses appear to be linked most significantly to the incidence of AIDS. However, States with strong social conservative power and a competitive party system have lower per case expenditures for AIDS than do other States. The influence of political variables on expenditures suggest also that such variables probably shape the nature and extent of State policies in such areas of AIDS education and information dissemination, 'safe sex' programs, surveillance, testing and counseling, rights protection, patient care, and support services. Some local governments have also responded to AIDS in significant and varied ways. Tables and footnotes. (Author abstract modified)