Florida is on the verge of banning local governments from adding fluoride to tap water, ending decades of a practice that’s hailed by dentists and medical groups but under fire from top health officials in Tallahassee and Washington, D.C.
The Florida House on Tuesday passed a farm bill that includes a ban on fluoridation of drinking water under a provision that creates new restrictions on what local governments can add to water supplies. The state Senate already passed the legislation, meaning the bill will be sent to Gov. Ron DeSantis, who opposes adding fluoride to drinking water. If enacted, Florida would be the second state to ban fluoridation of drinking water. Utah became the first in March.
Tallahassee’s move against fluoridation falls in the middle of Miami-Dade’s own fight over the issue, with the County Commission earlier this month voting to end adding fluoride to the county’s drinking water. DeSantis himself endorsed the county legislation, posting on social media about Miami-Dade: “Say no to forced medication!”…