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bill that sought to ban the addition of fluoride to public water systems across Louisiana failed in the state Legislature this week, halted by a surprising bipartisan vote in a House committee.
The measure, sponsored by Republican state Sens. Mike Fesi and Patrick McMath, aimed to
repeal the state's mandatory public water fluoridation program.
Under current law, the Louisiana Department of Health is required to maintain fluoridation for public water systems. The proposed legislation, which had passed the state Senate but met its demise Wednesday in the House Health and Welfare Committee, would have fundamentally changed this by prohibiting the fluoridation of any public water system in Louisiana unless it receives explicit local authorization.
Fluoridation would only be authorized if "a majority of the registered voters who cast a vote in said election approve the fluoridation."
Proponents like Fesi during the hearing argued that ending mandated fluoridation is rooted in the principle of informed consent. He said that fluoridated water could have negative health impacts, including on thyroid health. Louisiana Surgeon General Dr. Ralph Abraham supported the proposal, stating the science behind fluoridation citing claims that overfluoridation can lower children’s IQs.
Several health organizations strongly opposed the bill.
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statement released in April by The American Dental Association (ADA) said that along with The Louisiana Dental Association and New Orleans Department of Health, it advocates for fluoridated water, as it “provides a constant low level of fluoride during the day to remineralize, or repair, the damage caused to enamel.”
According to ADA President Brett Kessler, there are more than “80 years of evidence-based, proven research demonstrating that the amount of fluoride added to community water systems is safe and effective at helping to prevent cavities.”
The debate in Louisiana unfolded amidst a broader national conversation influenced by the U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Kennedy has publicly expressed skepticism about water fluoridation, attributing various health issues, such as arthritis, bone fractures, thyroid disease, IQ loss, and neurodevelopmental disorders, to the practice. Kennedy called fluoride an “industrial waste” and “dangerous neurotoxin,” and
announced that he would tell the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to stop recommending fluoridation in municipal water nationwide.
Following Kennedy’s advocacy to prohibit fluoride, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in April
announced it would expeditiously review new scientific information on potential health risks of fluoride in drinking water. The EPA review follows a National Toxicology Program (NTP) report that concluded with "moderate confidence" that fluoride exposure above 1.5 milligrams per liter is associated with lower IQ in children, although it also stated more research is needed on lower concentrations.
It's important to note that the study findings referenced by NTP did not pertain to the typical U.S. fluoridation level of 0.7 mg/L.
As Louisiana maintains its fluoride policy, Utah became the first state to ban fluoride in public drinking water in March 2025, followed by Florida in May 2025.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the measure at an event in Dade City after state lawmakers
approved the bill in April, requiring that the mineral and other additives be removed from public drinking water systems statewide. The law will go into effect on July 1.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox in March
signed a law banning the addition of fluoride to public drinking water, making his state the first in the nation to do so. The bill,
HB81, prohibited public water systems from adding fluoride and allowed pharmacists to prescribe fluoride tablets as an alternative for individuals who want it.
