Louisiana Bill Aims to Allow Towns to Stop Fluoridating Water

Legislation would give local governments the option to hold a vote on ending fluoride treatment.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 1:42pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A glowing neon outline of a water droplet or faucet, conceptually representing the debate over water fluoridation and the autonomy of local communities to make that decision.A proposed bill would let Louisiana towns decide whether to continue adding fluoride to their drinking water.Houma Today

A Louisiana state senator is pushing a bill that would allow local governments to hold a vote on whether to stop adding fluoride to their public water systems. This is the second year in a row the senator has introduced legislation on this issue.

Why it matters

Water fluoridation has been a controversial public health topic, with some arguing it provides important dental health benefits while others raise concerns about potential health risks. This bill would give individual towns and cities the ability to decide whether to continue fluoridating their water supplies.

The details

Sen. Mike Fesi, a Republican from Houma, Louisiana, has introduced a bill that would let local governments in the state hold a public vote on whether to stop adding fluoride to their municipal water. This is the second year in a row Fesi has pushed for this legislation, which aims to give communities more control over their water treatment decisions.

  • Sen. Fesi first introduced a similar bill in 2025.
  • The current bill was introduced in the 2026 legislative session.

The players

Sen. Mike Fesi

A Republican state senator representing Houma, Louisiana, who has introduced legislation to allow local votes on ending water fluoridation.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

If the bill passes, individual Louisiana municipalities would be able to hold public votes on whether to continue fluoridating their water supplies.

The takeaway

This legislation reflects the ongoing debate around the public health benefits and risks of water fluoridation, and would give local communities more autonomy to decide the issue for themselves.