Overview

• The new law prohibits both individuals and government entities from adding fluoride to public water systems and bars local governments from permitting fluoridation.
• Governor Cox justified the decision by stating there is no significant difference in dental health outcomes between Utah residents with and without access to fluoridated water.
• Major health organizations, including the American Dental Association and CDC, warn the ban could lead to worsening dental health, particularly for low-income communities.
• The legislation aligns with growing national skepticism toward public health interventions, influenced by figures like Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
• Utah ranks 44th in the U.S. for fluoridated water access, with only 44% of residents served by fluoridated systems as of 2022.