HB 611-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2021 SESSION
21-0490
06/10
HOUSE BILL 611-FN
AN ACT abolishing fluoridation in water.
SPONSORS: Rep. Cushman, Hills. 2; Rep. Abramson, Rock. 37; Rep. Binford, Graf. 15; Rep.
Moffett, Merr. 9; Rep. Cambrils, Merr. 9; Rep. P. Schmidt, Straf. 19; Rep. Howard,
Belk. 8
COMMITTEE: Resources, Recreation and Development
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ANALYSIS
This bill prohibits the introduction of fluoride into the drinking water of the state.
This bill also prohibits a school district from introducing fluoride into the drinking water of a
school.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
HB 611-FN - AS INTRODUCED
21-0490
06/10
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty One
AN ACT abolishing fluoridation in water.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 1 Fluoride Introduction Prohibited. RSA 485:14 is repealed and reenacted to read as follows:
2 485:14 Fluoride Introduction Prohibited. No fluoride, or any chemical containing fluoride, shall
3 be introduced into a public water system.
4 2 School Districts; Powers of Districts. Amend RSA 194:3 to read as follows:
5 194:3 Powers of Districts; Prohibition.
6 I. School districts may raise money, as required by law, or, in addition thereto:
7 (a) To procure land for lots for schoolhouses and school administrative unit facilities,
8 and for the enlargement of existing lots;
9 (b) To build, purchase, rent, repair, or remove schoolhouses and outbuildings, buildings
10 to be used for occupancy by teachers in the employ of such school district, and buildings to be used
11 for educational administration including office facilities for school administrative units;
12 (c) To procure insurance against such risks of loss, cost or damage to itself, its
13 employees or its pupils as its school board may determine;
14 (d) To provide group plan life, accident, medical, surgical and hospitalization insurance
15 benefits, or any combinations of such benefits, for all regular employees of the district and their
16 dependents, the cost thereof to be borne in whole or in part by the district;
17 (e) To plant and care for shade and ornamental trees upon schoolhouse lots;
18 (f) To provide suitable furniture, books, maps, charts, apparatus and conveniences for
19 schools;
20 (g) To purchase vehicles for the transportation of children;
21 (h) To provide for health and sanitation;
22 (i) To provide for adult high school diploma and continuing education programs; and
23 (j) To pay debts.
24 II. No school district shall add fluoride to the drinking water of a school.
25 3 Repeal. The following are repealed:
26 I. RSA 31:17-a, relative to referendum on public water supply.
27 II. RSA 44:16, relative to public water supplies.
28 III. RSA 52:23, relative to public water in village districts.
29 IV. RSA 485:14-a, relative to referendum for public water systems serving more than one
30 political subdivision.
31 V. RSA 485:14-b, relative to a fluoride statement.
HB 611-FN - AS INTRODUCED
- Page 2 -
1 4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
LBA
21-0490
Revised 1/15/21
HB 611-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
AN ACT abolishing fluoridation in water.
FISCAL IMPACT: [ X ] State [ ] County [ X ] Local [ ] None
Estimated Increase / (Decrease)
STATE: FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023 FY 2024
Appropriation $0 $0 $0 $0
Revenue $0 $0 $0 $0
Indeterminable Indeterminable Indeterminable
Expenditures $0
Increase Increase Increase
[ X ] General [ ] Education [ ] Highway [ X ] Other -
Funding Source:
Various Government Funds
LOCAL:
Revenue $0 $0 $0 $0
Expenditures $0 Indeterminable Indeterminable Indeterminable
METHODOLOGY:
This bill prohibits the introduction of fluoride into the drinking water of the state and prohibits a
school district from introducing fluoride into the drinking water of a school.
The Department of Environmental Services indicates the state receives monthly reports from the
12 water systems that add fluoride. The reports are reviewed for compliance with the target
dose range established by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If
fluoridation is abolished, it will reduce expenditures of about 12 municipal water systems that
currently purchase chemicals to fluoridate by some amount. This amount cannot be determined.
If fluoridation is abolished, it will increase health care services expenditures for state, local and
county governments by an indeterminate amount due to increases in tooth decay and other
dental health problems. The public health and financial benefits of fluoridating drinking water
are documented in numerous documents including materials published by the CDC.
The Department of Health and Human Services administers the federal-state Medicaid program.
The Department indicates there are 10 municipalities that currently place fluoride into the
public water supply in compliance with state law, and another 7 communities that purchase
fluoridated water from Manchester. Under this bill those municipalities and communities would
need to stop the practice and the children in those communities would receive prescriptions for
fluoride supplements from their medical and/or dental providers because it is considered best
practice. The Department states the full fiscal impact is indeterminable based on the limited
information available, but provided the following information:
· There are 25,932 children ages 0-12 and 42,979 residents age 13 and older in the
Medicaid program residing in the 17 communities required to stop fluoridation of their
water system.
· The per person average cost for a 30-day supply of prescription fluoride supplements paid
for by Medicaid is $13.89.
· Assuming only half of the 25,932 children would access fluoride supplements, the annual
cost of providing the supplements would be $2,161,173 ( 12,966 X $13.89 X 12 ).
· The Department cannot estimate the cost of future hospitalizations for dental treatment
or the cost of dental visits to hospital emergency departments for decay, pain, and
infection. The Department also cannot estimate potential long term costs associated
with lack of fluoride, including increased tooth decay leading to more fillings and
extractions.
· A 2016 economic analysis found an average annual savings of $20 per dollar invested in
CWF in communities of 1,000 or more people. An additional average of $32 per person
was saved by avoiding treatment for dental caries.
It is assumed that any fiscal impact would occur after July 1, 2021.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Departments of Health and Human Services and Environmental Services
Statutes affected: Introduced: 194:3
latest version: 194:3