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Committee recommends ITL on bill to prohibit addition of fluoridation chemicals after wide-ranging hearing
Summary
After a lengthy hearing with pro‑ and anti‑fluoridation witnesses, the committee voted to recommend House Bill 691 be declared inexpedient to legislate. Testimony included scientific, regulatory and public‑health arguments on both sides and state agencies warned of oral‑health and fiscal consequences if community fluoridation were barred.
The Resources, Recreation and Development Committee voted to recommend that House Bill 691 — which would prohibit adding fluoridation chemicals to public water systems — be declared inexpedient to legislate (ITL).
Representative Peter Schmidt, the bill sponsor, framed HB 691 as a public‑health precaution. He and proponents cited a recent federal court ruling that ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to reassess risks associated with fluoride in drinking water and urged the committee to act to stop community fluoridation pending updated federal guidance.
"This is not a bill about banning fluoride use topically," Representative Peter Schmidt said. "This is about adding fluoride to the water supply." Proponents argued ingestion is different from topical use and raised studies that have linked fluoride exposure in utero and in infancy…
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