Legislation to eliminate fluoride from drinking water has been introduced in the Arkansas legislature

Little Rock, Arkansas – The Natural State’s drinking water fluoride requirement would be lifted by bills introduced in the Arkansas legislature on Wednesday.

Arkansas Code Section 20-7-136, which requires the use of fluoride and assigns responsibility for establishing limitations to the Department of Health, would be repealed by Senate Bill 2. Sen. Clint Penzo (R-Springdale) and Sen. Bryan King (R-Green Forest) are the bill’s sponsors, while Reps. Matt Duffield (R-Russellville) and Aaron Pilkington (R-Knoxville) are its co-sponsors.

Later in the day, the same four sponsors introduced SB 4, a second bill that would give voters the power to determine whether or not to fluoridate their public system. Voters may petition for a vote, or local authorities, such as the local water board’s board of directors, may decide to call one.

The benefits of fluoride are listed in a 2015 Department of Health handout on the website of the Arkansas legislature, which also compares it to iodized salt as a public health fortification of food and beverages. Act 197 of 2011, which was signed into law by then-Governor Mike Bebee and established the extent of water fluoridation in Arkansas, is cited.

Additionally, the legislative handout demonstrates the safety and scientific backing for fluoride.
Files for the upcoming legislative session, which is set to start on January 13, 2025, were due on Wednesday.