Lawmakers in Tennessee move to ban fluoride in drinking water

A GOP state lawmaker from Signal Mountain has co-introduced a bill to ban fluoride in drinking water.

Tennessee Rep. Michele Reneau (R-Dist. 27) and Sen. Joey Hensley (R-Dist. 28) have proposed SB 0162/HB 2396 that would prohibit public water systems from adding fluoride to their water systems.

The bill, which was first introduced in January of 2025, and then advanced in first consideration, was placed on the Senate Energy, Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee calendar for March 4. Action on the bill was deferred.

It would also have an associated, mandatory funding measure of $3,930,800 and if passed, could become effective July 1, 2026.

According to the proposed bill’s fiscal note, “an estimated 6,383,549 Tennesseans receive water from community water systems which add fluoride to its water supply.”