Louisiana is not poised for a single statewide vote on fluoride, but communities across the state could soon be allowed to hold local elections on whether their public water systems should keep fluoridating drinking water if Senate Bill 4 (SB4) becomes law.
The bill cleared the Legislature this week after the state’s House gave final passage on May 26, the Senate concurred in House amendments on May 27, and the measure was enrolled on May 28. The legislation is now awaiting Governor Jeff Landry’s signature.
Why It Matters
Fluoride has become one of the most closely watched public health issuestied to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the broader “Make America Healthy Again” movement.
Kennedy has called for fluoride to be removed from public drinking water, and Newsweek reported last year that states and communities across the country were already moving on the issue as some of his ideas gained traction.
Close-up of a fluoride pipe at the Davis Water Treatment Plant, Austin, Texas, November 18, 2009. | John Anderson/The Austin Chronicle/Getty Images
What To Know
Under current Louisiana law, certain public water systems can be exempted from fluoridation requirements only after a petition signed by at least 15 percent of registered voters in the affected precincts is submitted and a local election is held. SB4 would allow any system to opt out if a local governing authority calls an election to determine whether a system will be exempt from fluoridation requirements, with a majority vote deciding the outcome.
In practical terms, that means the bill might not automatically remove fluoride from any system; it could create a process for local governments to put the question before voters.
SB4 was introduced by State Senator Mike Fesi, a Republican serving Louisiana’s District 20.
Fesi has argued fluoride causes health problems in children, including lower IQ, while the Louisiana Dental Association says years of evidence show fluoride is a safe and effective public health measure for reducing dental decay, as per KTAL.
The move comes as fluoridation remains far from universal in the state.
The Louisiana Department of Health says many residents in the state lack access to regular dental care, and only 39 percent of Louisiana residents currently benefit from community water fluoridation, compared with nearly 75 percent nationally.
What Happens Next
If Landry signs SB4, the next steps would likely depend on whether individual local governing bodies choose to call elections in the water systems they oversee.
Original article online at: https://www.newsweek.com/louisiana-could-soon-vote-on-fluoride-in-drinking-water-12008214