Arizona State Senator Janae Shamp has introduced legislation aimed at banning the addition of fluoride chemicals to the state’s public water systems, according to a press release from the Arizona Senate Republicans. SB 1019, filed ahead of the 2026 legislative session, would prohibit individuals and political subdivisions from introducing fluoride or fluoride-containing compounds into drinking water supplied by public systems.
The bill, sponsored by Shamp, a former Senate Majority Leader and registered nurse, is described as a response to concerns about fluoridation practices and legal issues tied to mandatory fluoridation. It would leave choices about fluoride exposure to individual families, the release says.
In a press release, Shamp framed the measure as part of a broader effort to limit government involvement in medical decisions. Shamp also linked the bill to similar actions in other states, asserting the need to protect children’s health and maintain water free from what she described as “unnecessary chemicals.” She said, “With similar legislation passing in Utah and Florida, it’s now time for Arizona to embrace medical liberty and protect our children’s health by ensuring that our drinking water remains free from unnecessary chemicals.”
Arizona lawmakers argue that fluoridation entails ongoing costs for chemicals, equipment and maintenance, and say those funds could be better allocated to infrastructure upgrades or water conservation efforts. They also point to support from leaders, including Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., for establishing a “national standard for clean, unadulterated water.”
If approved by the Arizona Legislature and signed into law, the proposal would represent a shift in state policy on water additives that have been routinely used in public water supplies for decades.
