LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Allowing people to vote for or against water fluoridation is the goal of a bill that passed in a Senate committee on Tuesday.
The bill is sponsored by Sen. Clint Penzo (R-Springdale).
“Ultimately this is about giving our constituents a voice on whether or not they want it in their water supply,” Penzo said.
There are a couple of ways counties can vote on this.
“A majority vote of the quorum court can trigger this to go on the ballot, or a petition signed by no less than 5 percent of the total number of votes cast within the county for the county judge in the last election,” Penzo said.
Penzo told the committee he believes there is new research coming that shows fluoride could be a neurotoxin.
A bill debated earlier in the session would’ve repealed the statewide water fluoridation mandate.
It failed in committee after debate and testimony from dentists opposed.
KARK 4 News did reach out to the Arkansas State Dental Association they said they support the efficacy of community water fluoridation.
They passed on a voice vote without discussion and it now heads to the Senate floor.
Original article online at: https://www.kark.com/news/politics/arkansas-bill-would-allow-people-to-vote-for-against-water-fluoridation/