FRANKFORT, Ky. — Kentucky could lose control of whether cities put fluoride in water.

What You Need To Know

  • State lawmakers voted 16-1 Thursday in favor of House Bill 141 

  • The bill would end Kentucky's mandate of putting fluoride in drinking water

  • It allows individual water districts to make their own decisions about whether to include fluoride

  • The Kentucky Dental Association opposes ending the mandate

House Bill 141 passed out of committee this past week by a wide margin, as 16 lawmakers voted Thursday to end a state mandate requiring Kentucky municipalities with 3,000 or more residents to add fluoride to their drinking water. The decision would be left to individual water districts.

Members of the House Standing Committee on State Government heard testimony Thursday from both of the bill's sponsors, along with those who oppose it.

"Removing fluoride from the water supply from those Kentuckians served by these systems will only eventually lead to increased decay rates and increased time spent out of work and out of school for further preventable treatment," said Steve Robertson, who has practiced dentistry for more than 30 years and is executive director of the Kentucky Dental Association.

However, the bill is about local control, said State Rep. Mark Hart, R-Falmouth.

“My bill just allows a local option; it undoes an unfunded mandate from the state," Hart said.

"Honestly, it is forced medication," added co-sponsor and State Rep. William Lawrence, R-Maysville. "Whether you're for or against fluoride, this bill has nothing to do with that ... [it] lets the local water districts decide."

While HB 141 undoes the mandate and gives decision-making powers to individual water districts, Robertson said this would open the door for cities to end the use of fluoride, which could have negative effects.

"Fluoride has become a passion issue where there are people on both sides," Robertson said. 'I tell everybody ... whatever your position is, you can find something that supports it. This is just where the overwhelming positives outweigh the perceived negatives."

State Rep. Daniel Grossberg, D-Louisville, added, "For less than $1 per year per person, we can reduce dental costs by $40 per person, and study after study shows that tooth decay might be reduced by as little by 25% or as much as 70%." 

Members of the House Standing Committee on State Government voted 16-1 in favor of HB 141 to send it to the House. 

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