Louisiana lawmakers are debating a bill that could make it harder for communities to keep fluoride in their drinking water. Under the proposal, fluoride wouldn’t be added automatically, local voters would have to approve it through an election.
The bill was introduced by State Sen. Mike Fesi (R-Houma) who originally wanted to ban fluoride statewide. While presenting the measure to the Senate Health and Welfare Committee, on Wednesday, he called fluoride a “hazardous waste” and suggested it could lower children’s IQ and cause other health problems, claims most medical experts say aren’t supported by evidence, the Louisiana Illuminator reported.
According to the Illuminator, Fesi also questioned why dentists continue to back fluoridation, saying he would prioritize what he sees as overall health safety over healthy teeth.
He argued that under current law, a statewide ban is the only way to stop fluoridation in individual water systems, which is why he pushed for a broader change. The proposal would not affect fluoride that occurs naturally in water.
State Sen. Gerald Boudreaux (D-Lafayette) pushed back, arguing that cities already using fluoride shouldn’t be forced into a political fight just to keep their current water standards. He revised the bill so that the decision would be made locally instead of through a statewide ban, the news outlet reported.
Under the updated version, if at least 15% of registered voters in a water district sign a petition, it would force an election. The 15% threshold is lower than what’s needed to recall an elected official in Louisiana. A simple majority would decide whether fluoride is allowed.
Once a vote is held, the issue couldn’t be revisited for another four years.
According to the Illuminator, the proposal is facing opposition from dental and public health groups, which point out that fewer than 40% of Louisiana residents currently have fluoridated water. They also cite decades of research showing fluoride helps prevent tooth decay.
Under current state law, any public water system with 5,000 or more service connections is required to add fluoride to its water if the natural levels are too low. However, water systems don’t have to comply unless the state provides the money to pay for the equipment and installation. Fluoride levels in drinking water vary widely across the New Orleans region, depending on where you live. New Orleans fluoridates its drinking water, and is one of the largest systems in Louisiana to do so. Neighboring Jefferson Parish follows suit, with both East Jefferson Water Works District #1 and West Jefferson Water Works District #2 adding fluoride. But across Lake Pontchartrain in St. Tammany and Tangipahoa parishes, major providers — including the Tangipahoa Water District and the St. Tammany Department of Utilities — do not add supplemental fluoride. Water systems in cities like Slidell, Mandeville and Hammond report only trace, naturally occurring fluoride levels.
The bill has now moved forward to the full Senate. If it passes and is signed into law, it would take effect on Jan. 1, 2027.
Original article online at: https://www.wwltv.com/article/news/health/louisiana-bill-could-let-voters-decide-on-water-fluoridation/289-6997707d-bddd-4e46-9f82-c51c0186faa5