SB 4 — TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS; AND TO ALLOW VOTERS TO ELECT "FOR" OR "AGAINST" WATER FLUORIDATION.

Bill Text

• SB 4 View text Current pdf

AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

The bill allows voters of a public water system to elect on whether to fluoridate the water and establishes procedures for such elections.

• 14-116-108

  Election for fluoridation of water — Definition. (a) Customers of a public water system shall have the option to hold an election of the qualified electors of the public water system to determine whether or not the public water system shall fluoridate the water. (b)(1) An election under this section may be called by: (A) Majority vote of the board of directors of the public water system; (B) A petition signed by no less than ten percent (10%) of the qualified electors in the public water system; (C) Majority vote of the board of directors or city council of a city supplied by the public water system; or (D) Majority vote of the quorum court of a county supplied by the public water system. (2)(A) Except as provided under subdivision (b)(2)(B) of this section, an election under this section shall be held at the next general election. (B) A subsequent election in the public water system under this section shall not be held earlier than four (4) years after an election is held under this section. (3) Except as provided in this section, the election under this section shall be held and conducted in accordance with the general election laws of this state. (4) The question of whether to fluoridate the water in the public water system shall be placed upon the ballots of the qualified electors in the following form: "___ FOR THE FLUORIDATION OF WATER IN [DESCRIPTION OF THE PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM] ___ AGAINST THE FLUORIDATION OF WATER IN [DESCRIPTION OF PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM].". (c)(1) The petition under this section shall be filed with the county clerk of each county within the public water system no less than one hundred twenty (120) days before the general election. (2) No more than ten (10) days after the filing of the petition under subdivision (c)(1) of this section, the county clerk shall: (A) Verify the petition; (B) Certify the petition; and (C) Notify the county boards of election commissioners for the counties within the public water system and the board of directors of the public water system of the verification and certification of the petition. (3) The petition shall clearly state: (A) The boundaries of the public water system; and (B) That the petition is to elect "for" or "against" fluoridation of the water in the public water system. (d) If the majority of the qualified electors of the public water system elect to prohibit fluoridation of water, the public water system shall cease fluoridation of the water within thirty (30) days of the certification of the election results. (e) As used in this section, "public water system" means a facility, including without limitation a parent system, consecutive system, or other system, that holds, treats, and supplies water directly or through a consecutive system or consecutive systems to five thousand (5,000) persons or more.

  This addition creates a new section that allows for public elections regarding water fluoridation in public water systems.

• 20-7-136(b)

  The → Unless a majority of the qualified electors of the public water system have elected to prohibit fluoridation of water under § 14-116-108, the

  This change modifies the existing law to condition fluoridation practices on the results of the new elections established by the bill.

Action History

1. May 05, 2025

   Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment.

2. January 13, 2025

   Read first time, rules suspended, read second time, referred to STATE AGENCIES & GOVT'L AFFAIRS-SENATE

3. November 20, 2024

   Filed

Sponsors

• Aaron Pilkington · Cosponsor
• Bryan King · Cosponsor
• Matt Duffield · Primary
• Clint Penzo · Primary

Subjects