A bill to repeal an Arkansas law that requires the fluoridation of drinking water has failed to pass a state senate committee, according to a Feb. 12 report from Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette.
Four members of the Senate Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee voted for repealing the mandate, while four voted to keep fluoride in place.
Senate Bill 2 would remove a section of state statute that currently states: "The company, corporation, municipality, county, government agency, or other entity that owns or controls a water system shall control the quantity of fluoride in the water so as to maintain a fluoride content established by the Department of Health."
Arkansas passed its water fluoridation mandate in 2011, and is one of the roughly dozen states to have a fluoride mandate.
Committee members heard about two hours of testimony from both supporters and detractors of the repeal, the report said.
The bill was introduced in November.