Several state legislatures are considering prohibiting fluoride from being added to their water supplies, with Utah and Florida most recently becoming the first states to enact statewide bans.
Here are 10 states with legislation to ban fluoride or make it optional, and where these bills stand:
Lawmakers filed legislation in November to repeal a state law requiring fluoride in drinking water. The repeal would allow local voters to decide whether their community should have fluoride in its water.
Senate Bill 2 would have removed a section of state statute that currently states: “The company, corporation, municipality, county, government agency, or other entity that owns or controls a water system shall control the quantity of fluoride in the water so as to maintain a fluoride content established by the Department of Health.” The bill ultimately failed in committee.
Senate Bill 4 would have allowed a city governing body or county quorum court to call an election. If an election did occur, a subsequent election would not be allowed for at least four more years. The bill also died in committee.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis authorized a bill May 15 that makes Florida the second state to ban fluoride from being added to public water supplies.
Senate Bill 700, dubbed the “Florida Farm Bill,” aims to support the state’s agriculture and agricultural workers with a number of measures while also prohibiting the addition of any non-water quality additives into the public water supply beginning July 1.
A bill in the Kentucky House of Representatives was introduced In January to amend state laws to make water fluoridation programs optional.
HB 16 does not stop local governments from using fluoride in its water, but protects the state from liability over exposure to fluoride.
The bill was referred to the Health Services committee March 4.
The Louisiana Senate recently passed a bill to repeal the Louisiana Department of Health’s water fluoridation program and prohibit public water systems from adding it.
Public water systems with at least 5,000 connections in the state are required by law to add fluoride, but Senate Bill 2 would remove that requirement. Public water systems would only be able to resume fluoridation if residents vote for it.
Senate Bill 2 currently sits with the state’s House Committee on Health and Welfare.
A bill to prohibit fluoride from being added to public water supplies died in committee earlier this month.
Public water systems in the state are legally able to fluoridate drinking water as long as they have voter approval. Rep. Jennifer Poirier introduced LD 1570 to end that practice while instituting civil penalties for communities that intentionally violate the ban.
Nebraska Sen. Ben Hansen introduced Legislative Bill 147 in January to remove a mandate requiring certain communities in the state to add fluoride to their water supply.
Communities with more than 1,000 residents have been required to fluoridate their water since 2008. The bill would make water fluoridation optional instead.
The bill currently sits with the state’s Health and Human Services Committee.
Rep. Levi Dean introduced House Bill 182 in March to ban fluoride from being added to public water supplies in the state. The bill is currently with the state’s Natural Resources Committee for consideration.
Senate Bill 162 was introduced Jan. 16 to prohibit water fluoridation in the state. The bill was referred to the Energy, Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee Jan. 27.
Senate Bill 2653 was introduced March 13 to prohibit fluoride from being added to public water supplies in the state. If enacted, the ban would go into effect Sept. 1, and would result in $500 fines for people who violate the ban. A $1,000 fine would be added for each subsequent violation.
The bill currently sits with the state’s Health and Human Services Committee.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox signed a bill banning fluoride March 27, making Utah the first state to enact a statewide ban on water fluoridation.
HB81 prohibits the addition of fluoride to public water supplies, but allows people to visit a pharmacist for fluoride supplements to support dental health.
