Senate Committee Passes Bill to Ban Fluoride Additives in Arizona's Public Drinking Water
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, January 28, 2026
PHOENIX, ARIZONA— The Senate Committee on Government is advancing legislation to ban the use of fluoride in Arizona's public water systems. SB 1019 passed out of the committee with only Republican support and will soon be considered by the full Senate body.
SB 1019, sponsored by former Senate Majority Leader Janae Shamp, prohibits individuals and political subdivisions from adding fluoride or fluoride-containing compounds to public water systems in Arizona. Senator Shamp, a registered nurse with extensive hands-on experience in healthcare, introduced this bill in response to legal concerns surrounding fluoridation practices and the availability of voluntary fluoride products, which allow families to choose their desired level of fluoride exposure.
Fluoridation has long been a point of debate, particularly as access to dental care and fluoride alternatives has expanded. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fluoride's primary benefit is topical, meaning it works best when applied directly to teeth through toothpaste or dental treatments, rather than ingested through drinking water. Today, more than 95% of toothpaste sold in the United States already contains fluoride, giving families multiple ways to protect dental health without relying on government-mandated additives in public water systems. SB 1019 reflects growing concern that a one-size-fits-all approach to medicating water removes individual choice, especially for children, seniors, and those with specific health sensitivities.
"I'm grateful for my colleagues' support in advancing this bill," said Senator Shamp. "Healthcare freedom should not be partisan. Arizonans deserve the right to make informed choices about what goes into their bodies, especially when it comes to something as personal as healthcare. Today, every resident is forced to ingest fluoride through public water, whether they need it or want it. That strips away informed consent. With fluoride widely available through toothpaste and other voluntary options, government has no justification for medicating water. This bill restores choice, protects children's health, and puts decision-making back where it belongs, with families. I look forward to bringing SB 1019 to the Senate floor and urge my colleagues to support it."
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For more information, contact:
Kim Quintero
Director of Communications | Arizona State Senate Republican Caucus