Map Shows Fluoride Bans on Drinking Water in US States

Florida has become the latest state to restrict fluoride additives in public drinking water, after Governor Ron DeSantis signed the bill into law this week, and a Newsweek map shows how similar legislation is progressing in the rest of the U.S.

The legislation, part of the broader Florida Farm Bill, prohibits local governments from adding fluoride or other medical additives to municipal water systems.

Florida residents will therefore no longer consume fluoridated tap water unless they voluntarily choose to do so through private options.

Florida and Utah are currently the only states with bans, but a number of others are also looking into approving similar legislation.

Newsweek has contacted the press office of Governor Ron DeSantis out of regular working hours via email for comment.

Why It Matters

There has been national debate over water fluoridation, a practice endorsed by many public health agencies to reduce tooth decay but more recently has been increasingly scrutinized by critics who call it involuntary medication.

DeSantis cited revised guidance from State Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, who raised concerns about potential effects on pregnant women and young children.

However, critics argue that fluoride in public water supplies has played a crucial role in preventing dental disease, particularly in children.

What To Know

In Kentucky, legislation that was introduced in January, is progressing through the state House and currently awaiting further progression from the Appropriations and Revenue department.

The bill would make water fluoridation programs optional, allowing the “governing bodies of water systems” to make the decision on whether they add the mineral to drinking water.

In Louisiana, a bill seeking to “prohibit the fluoridation of public water systems,” was advanced through the state Senate last month and is still in process.

New Hampshire is another state eyeing up similar legislation, with a bill working to prohibit “the addition of fluoridation chemicals to public water systems,” moving through the state House after being introduced in January.

Another state hoping to pass a bill that would prohibit “the artificial addition of fluoride to municipal water supplies” is Massachusetts. It was introduced in late February, and is still being reviewed by the House.

Legislation aiming to make water fluoridation optional is also in progress in Nebraska, after being introduced in March.

“Any public or private entity that provides a water supply for human consumption may add fluoride in the amount and manner prescribed by the rules and regulations of the Department of Health and Human Services,” the Nebraska bill reads.

There are also a number of states that tried to pass legislation to reverse the adding of fluoride of public water systems this year, but all have since failed.

In Montana, lawmakers behind a fluoride banning bill missed the deadline for “general bill transmittal,” grinding the legislation’s progression to a halt.

In Tennessee, a bill that would have required “public water systems to cease adding fluoride to drinking water supplies by May 1, 2025,” failed in the state Senate. Bills also failed in Arkansas, and South Dakota, as well as in North Dakota.

What People Are Saying

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, said during a press conference in Tallahassee, according to Fox News: “Jamming fluoride in the water supply … is essentially a forced medication. At the end of the day, we should all agree that people deserve informed consent.”

He also wrote in a post on X on Tuesday: “Today I was in Miami to support SB 700, which bans local governments from unilaterally adding fluoride to public drinking water. With wide access to topical fluoride, there’s no need to medicate entire communities without their consent. The Free State of Florida says no to forced medication, and we’re proud to lead the nation on this effort!”

Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, wrote in a post on X on Tuesday, commenting on Florida’s passed bill: “Thank you @GovRonDeSantis for your leadership in banning fluoride from Florida’s public water supply. You’re standing up for every Floridian’s right to choose what goes into their own body. That’s the core of the MAHA agenda—restoring informed consent, protecting health freedom, and returning power to the people. I urge governors across the country to follow your lead.”

What Happens Next

Florida’s decision could influence other states where anti-fluoridation sentiment is growing to push forward similar legislation, particularly among groups advocating for health choice and decentralized regulation.

The bill aligns with national efforts such as the “Make America Healthy Again” initiative, led by Secretary Kennedy Jr., which pushes for consumer control over health decisions.