HARRISONBURG – The House of Delegates on Tuesday kicked back to the Timberville Town Council a decision whether to continue using fluoride in the town’s water supply.

The House defeated a bill introduced by Del. Matt Lohr, R-Broadway, that sought to give Timberville residents a chance to vote on a nonbinding referendum on the issue this fall.

The proposed legislation for Timberville was among several bills that were before their respective legislative chambers from local lawmakers on Tuesday.

Different Approach

The final vote was 50-43 against passage with one abstention.

To pass, the bill needed 67 votes, or two-thirds of the 100 members in the House, because it was special legislation for a specific locality, Lohr said.

Along with Lohr, Dels. Todd Gilbert, R-Woodstock, and Steve Landes, R-Weyers Cave, supported the bill. Del. Chris Saxman, R-Staunton, abstained from voting.

Critics of the bill, according to Lohr, said the issue was something that could be decided by the elected town officials.

While the bill is dead for this year, Lohr said the Timberville council could ask the General Assembly next year for a change in the town charter that would allow advisory referendums.

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