Senate Bill No. by Senator Fesi amends the existing law regarding water fluoridation in Louisiana. The bill repeals the mandatory fluoridation program previously established by the Louisiana Department of Health and prohibits the fluoridation of public water systems unless it is approved through a local election. The new provisions require that at least 15% of registered voters in the precincts served by the water system must sign a petition to initiate the fluoridation process, followed by a local election where a majority of voters must approve the fluoridation. Additionally, the bill clarifies that public water systems are not required to remove any naturally occurring fluoride from their water.

The effective date for this legislation is set for January 1, 2027. The bill reflects a significant shift in policy, moving from a mandatory fluoridation approach to one that emphasizes local control and voter approval for fluoridation decisions. This change aims to empower communities to make decisions regarding the fluoridation of their water supply while ensuring that public health considerations are still addressed through the established rules and regulations.

Statutes affected:
SB4 Original: