Image Credit: TN General Assembly
The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –
A bill which would remove chemical fluoride from public water supplies narrowly passed the House Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee on Wednesday, March 4.
HB2396 by Rep. Michele Reneau (R-Signal Mountain-District 27) simply adds fluoridating a public water system to the list of prohibited acts concerning water systems under the Tennessee Safe Drinking Water Act of 1983.
During the subcommittee meeting, Rep. Reneau introduced the bill by stating it is, “grounded in a simple principle, and that is that public water should not be used as a system for mass medication without informed consent. Fluoridation is not done to purify or clean water, it is done to prevent cavities. This makes it a therapeutic drug intervention delivered through a public utility.”
She also addressed the dangers of the non-naturally occurring fluoride compounds, revealing the most prominent form of fluoride added to water supplies is a synthetic byproduct of phosphate fertilizing manufacturing. Reneau also pointed to the drawbacks of mass exposure as infants, elderly persons, and those with medical vulnerabilities are subjected to unregulated dosages of fluoride by default.
“There is no opt-in, no parental permission, and no way to avoid this exposure unless a family spends a significant amount of money on filtration systems. There is no individualized dosing,” she advocated. “A toddler consuming formula may, with tap water, receive a very different exposure per pound of body weight than an adult, something that we would never accept with any other medical intervention.”
Additionally, she informed the committee that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classifies fluoride as a drug used to prevent cavities in toothpaste, which carries a warning to contact poison control if swallowed in excess.
“We have had fluoridated water for many decades, yet cavities remain common because tooth decay is primarily driven by sugar consumption, ultra-processed foods, and poor nutrition. You cannot out-fluoride a high-sugar diet,” she said.
And contrary to many bills which add a fiscal burden to the state, HB2396 would actually save local governments approximately $4 million annually by discontinuing fluoridation, not including repairs, maintenance, and replacement of equipment for storing or transmitting the highly corrosive and hazardous chemical.
Reneau contended the saved funds could easily be applied to support TennCare dental services, school-based sealant programs, and education efforts that directly reach the most at-risk children.
Several experts testified in both favor and against the bill, with opposition coming mainly from legislative representatives from the Tennessee Dental Association and Tennessee Dental Hygienist’s Association.
Subcommittee members asked questions of all the witnesses, with Representatives from both sides of the aisle expressing skepticism about the presented dangers of fluoridation.
After extensive discussion, the bill narrowly passed the subcommittee with a vote of 4-3, with Republicans Rusty Grills, Greg Martin, Chris Todd, and Greg Vital voting “Yes”. Republicans Rebecca Alexander and Tom Stinnett joined Democrat Johnny Shaw in voting “No”. Democrat Justin Jones marked himself as “Present Not Voting”.
HB2396 will now move to the full House Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee to be heard on March 10.
The Senate companion bill, SB0162, is set to be heard by the Senate Energy, Agriculture, and Natural Resources Committee on Wednesday, March 11.
The committee will also hear SB2304 on the same day, a second, separate defluoridation bill which would also apply to bottled water sold in the state.
If you support either piece of legislation, use the information below to contact members of the committees:
House Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee – HB2396 to be heard on March 10
HB2396 adds fluoridating a public water system to the list of prohibited acts concerning water systems under the Tennessee Safe Drinking Water Act of 1983.
Rep.chris.todd@capitol.tn.gov; rep.tom.stinnett@capitol.tn.gov; rep.rebecca.alexander@capitol.tn.gov; rep.aftyn.behn@capitol.tn.gov; rep.tandy.darby@capitol.tn.gov; rep.clay.doggett@capitol.tn.gov; rep.monty.fritts@capitol.tn.gov; rep.rusty.grills@capitol.tn.gov; rep.bud.hulsey@capitol.tn.gov; rep.chris.hurt@capitol.tn.gov; rep.justin.jones@capitol.tn.gov; rep.greg.martin@capitol.tn.gov; rep.jay.reedy@capitol.tn.gov; rep.johnny.shaw@capitol.tn.gov; rep.ron.travis@capitol.tn.gov; rep.greg.vital@capitol.tn.gov
Senate Energy, Agriculture, and Natural Resources Committee – SB0162 & SB2304 to be heard on March 11
SB0162 adds fluoridating a public water system to the list of prohibited acts concerning water systems under the Tennessee Safe Drinking Water Act of 1983.
SB2304 prohibits the addition of fluoride in public water supplies, but also in any bottled water sold in Tennessee.
Sen.shane.reeves@capitol.tn.gov; sen.adam.lowe@capitol.tn.gov; sen.jessie.seal@capitol.tn.gov; sen.janice.bowling@capitol.tn.gov; sen.heidi.campbell@capitol.tn.gov; sen.bobby.harshbarger@capitol.tn.gov; sen.charlane.oliver@capitol.tn.gov; sen.mark.pody@capitol.tn.gov; sen.page.walley@capitol.tn.gov
About the Author: Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
