Florida has become the second state in the U.S. to ban the addition of fluoride to public water systems. Governor Ron DeSantis signed SB 1082, also known as the Florida Farm Bill, on May 9. While the bill does not explicitly name fluoride, it prohibits "the use of certain additives in a water system," effectively outlawing fluoridation.
The new law goes into effect on July 1 and follows a similar move by Utah, which became the first state to pass a fluoride ban earlier this year. Miami-Dade County had previously attempted to veto the measure locally, but the county commission later overruled the decision with a vote of 8–4.
Fluoride has been added to drinking water across the U.S. for decades as a public health measure to reduce tooth decay. Major health organizations, including the CDC and ADA, support fluoridation, citing studies showing a significant reduction in cavities. With this new legislation, Florida joins a small but growing list of states reevaluating fluoride's place in municipal water supplies.
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