Florida Farm Bill Advances, Sparking Debate Over Water Fluoridation and Additives

A Florida Farm Bill, backed by Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, is making its way through the House and stirring up the ongoing debate over water fluoridation.

The Agriculture & Natural Resources Budget Subcommittee is the latest group to advance Rep. Kaylee Tuck’s legislation (HB 651). This time, the public voiced strong support for a provision that would prevent Florida cities from adding fluoride to their water supply.

While the bill covers a range of issues, the discussion surrounding “additives” in municipal water systems took center stage, with Democrats leading the charge.

Rep. Michelle Rayner questioned the need for a “preemption” on fluoride.

Tuck explained that the bill addresses all additives and rejected the idea that banning fluoride would result in more cavities.

This session saw more public participation than previous ones, with many speaking out against mandatory fluoridation.

Susan Clark, a former research assistant at the Harvard School of Public Health, presented scientific arguments against fluoridation, suggesting it could cause “neurologic problems.”

“It’s a key component in rat poison,” Clark remarked.

Lyn Hartman, a Melbourne Beach resident with dual German-American citizenship, also supported the fluoride preemption, highlighting the desire of many Floridians to “remove toxins” from their water.

“No one’s woker than Germans. And Germans don’t have fluoride in the water,” Hartman said.

Mya Hahn, Vice President of React Research and a speech-language pathologist, spoke on behalf of the “MAHA Florida” Coalition, advocating for clean drinking water free from “forced additives” and stressing the need for “informed consent” for families.

“This bill restores our choice. It demands oversight and transparency, ensuring water hydrates, not medicates,” Hahn stated. “As a mom, I worry about my kids’ brains. As a specialist, I see neurodivergent children suffering from environmental harms. We deserve the right to refuse this risk and access clean, safe drinking water.”

The bill has received support from Heritage Action, the Heartland Institute, the National Rifle Association, the Florida Agritourism Association, the Florida Poultry Association, the Florida Farm Bureau Federation, and the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association. It still has one more committee stop before moving forward. The bill is also progressing in the Senate.

In addition to addressing fluoridation, the bill tackles other matters such as banning psychedelic mushrooms and regulating the labeling of plant-based products as milk or meat.

It also includes a provision for a ballot initiative that would allow voters to exempt agricultural lands from property taxes and provide grants to counties with limited resources to install electric vehicle charging stations.

The bill would also enable schools to maintain agricultural spaces for the Future Farmers of America and the 4H Club, exempting them from local zoning laws that would otherwise prevent such activities.

Furthermore, the bill would ban drones from agricultural lands, with Tuck noting that the language would add “ag operations” to criminal statutes.

While mail theft is already a federal offense, the bill would grant the state the authority to enforce it.