Purpose of the Bill

The bill aims to prohibit the addition of fluoride to public drinking water in Minnesota. This action is based on concerns regarding the potential health risks associated with fluoride and a desire to maintain the purity and safety of water sources.

Main Provisions

• Definition of Terms:

  • "Fluoride" includes compounds such as sodium fluoride, hydrofluoric acid, sodium fluorosilicate, and hydrofluorosilicic acid.
  • "Public water system" is defined as a system providing water for human consumption to at least 15 service connections or serving at least 25 people for at least 60 days a year. These can be publicly or privately owned.

• Prohibition of Fluoride Addition:

  • It is prohibited for any person to add fluoride to any public water system in Minnesota.
  • Municipal and other public water systems that currently fluoridate must cease this practice by August 1, 2025.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• The bill seeks to introduce a new statute in Minnesota that prohibits the addition of fluoride to public water systems.
• It plans to repeal the current Minnesota Statutes section 144.145 that may provide regulations or requirements for fluoridation of public water supplies.

Enforcement

• The Minnesota Commissioner of Health will enforce this prohibition.
• Violations of this prohibition will result in fines, with charges accruing per day of noncompliance.

Relevant Terms

fluoride, public drinking water, public water system, health risks, water fluoridation, sodium fluoride, hydrofluoric acid, sodium fluorosilicate, hydrofluorosilicic acid, fluoride prohibition.