TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – As cities and counties throughout the state debate the difficulty, the Florida Senate on Wednesday handed a invoice that may forestall native governments from including fluoride to water provides.
The proposed ban, included in a broad invoice coping with the Florida Division of Agriculture and Shopper Providers, comes after many years of communities including fluoride to water to assist forestall cavities and different dental issues.
However with folks akin to state Surgeon Normal Joseph Ladapo arguing fluoridation can carry different well being dangers, many communities have reconsidered the follow. The invoice doesn’t particularly point out fluoridation, however it could forestall including substances to public water provides that aren’t about “water high quality.”
“We’re right here to hydrate, not medicate,” invoice sponsor Keith Truenow, R-Tavares, mentioned earlier than the Senate voted 27-9 to move the measure (SB 700) on Wednesday.
However throughout a debate Tuesday, Sen. Tina Polsky, D-Boca Raton, mentioned assaults on fluoridation are the “conspiracy principle du jour.” Opponents of the invoice mentioned eliminating fluoride from water provides may notably result in dental issues for youngsters.
“This has been confirmed science for the final 50 years,” Polsky mentioned. “Because of this we have now wholesome tooth.”
The fluoridation ban is included in what has been dubbed the “Florida Farm Invoice,” which includes quite a few points associated to the Division of Agriculture and Shopper Providers. The Home Commerce Committee on Monday authorized the same invoice (HB 651), which additionally features a fluoridation ban. That invoice is able to go to the complete Home.
If Florida passes a ban, it could comply with the lead of Utah, one other Republican-controlled state that authorized such a measure in March. Debates have performed out all through Florida.
In a single high-profile instance, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava final week vetoed a choice by the Miami-Dade County Fee to finish including fluoride to the water system. In an announcement, she mentioned fluoridation is a “protected, efficient, and environment friendly option to preserve dental well being in our county — and halting it may have long-lasting well being penalties, particularly for our most weak households.”
However after the fee authorized the ban April 1, Ladapo praised the transfer in a social-media submit on X.
“What a win for the folks! In the present day, the Miami-Dade County Fee voted to cease fluoridating their water. Comm. @RobJGonzalezFL’s brave management, and all who supported him, made this attainable. Present science helps the choice, and it’s a great day for medical freedom!” Ladapo mentioned within the submit, referring to County Commissioner Roberto J. Gonzalez.
9 Democrats opposed the Senate invoice Wednesday. Along with Polsky, they had been Sen. Kristen Arrington, D-Kissimmee; Sen. Lori Berman, D-Boca Raton; Sen. Mack Bernard, D-West Palm Seaside; Sen. Tracie Davis, D-Jacksonville; Sen. Rosalind Osgood, D-Tamarac; Sen. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg; Sen. Barbara Sharief, D-Davie; and Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith, D-Orlando.
Sharief, a complicated follow registered nurse, urged senators Wednesday to “stand with science.”
“This isn’t a debate about liberty,” she mentioned. “It’s a debate about duty.”
However in the course of the Tuesday debate, Sen. Danny Burgess, R-Zephyrhills, framed the difficulty as being broader than fluoride due to the chance different merchandise may finally be added to water provides.
“First, it’s fluoride, after which doubtlessly what’s after that?” Burgess mentioned.
