Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law on 15 May 2025 the bill that bans fluoridating public water systems, making it the second state to enact such a law, following Utah. The bill takes effect on 1 July 2025. It has been condemned by public health officials and dentists who believe that water fluoridation is an evidence-based prevention of tooth cavities in children.
Florida Governor DeSantis has been backing the bill as a way of shielding people from “forced medication” and individual choice of liberty. Its opponents expect the ban to contribute to more dental problems, especially among low-income individuals who will most likely not use other means of fluoride.
In the meantime, a ballot referendum to overturn a constitutional amendment that legalized abortion rights in Missouri was legalized by the lawmakers of Missouri in November 2024. The bill for the November 2026 ballot referendum attempts to ban abortions due to medical emergencies, rape, or incest. It also covers provisions involving gender-affirming care for children.
This is after a court ruling in December 2024 that the de facto abortion ban in Missouri state cannot be enforced under the new constitutional amendment. The pending referendum indicates there still exists discord over reproductive rights in the state. These Florida and Missouri incidents reveal the energetic and combative character of America’s public and reproductive health politics. They will continue to have deep effects on citizens and even impact surrounding controversy in other states.