THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2073

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to water fluoridation.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that drinking fluoridated water is a safe and cost-effective way to reduce cavities and to help protect against tooth decay.  Drinking water with the optimal fluoride concentration helps keep teeth strong and reduces tooth decay by approximately twenty-five per cent.  For this reason, most states and many countries, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Singapore, require fluoridation, or the addition of fluoride, in their public water systems.

     In Hawaii, only military bases currently add fluoride to their water supplies, meaning that approximately eighty-nine per cent of the State's residents lack access to the benefits of fluoridated drinking water.  The legislature believes that this contributes to the State's high prevalence of tooth decay, which affects many adults and approximately seventy per cent of Hawaii's children.

     The legislature also recognizes that many of the State's residents receive minimal to no routine dental care.  Many residents do not have dental insurance, and medicaid managed care plans cover dental services for children but not for adults.  As a result, the State's hospitals experience thousands of visits per year for dental emergencies that routine dental care would likely have prevented.  The legislature believes that requiring fluoridation in the State's public water supplies will help support residents' oral health in the absence of, or in addition to, other dental care services.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to:

     (1)  Require certain private and government-owned suppliers of water to adjust the level of fluoride in the supplier's public water system to match the optimal fluoride level for community water fluoridation, as established by the United States Department of Health and Human Services;

     (2)  Require each supplier of water to conduct periodic tests of water fluoridation and to report the findings to the department of health; and

     (3)  Require the department of health to submit annual reports to the legislature on statewide fluoride concentration levels.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 340E, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part I to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§340E-     Water fluoridation; testing; report.  (a)  Each private or government-owned supplier of water in the State having one thousand or more service connections shall adjust the level of fluoride in the supplier's public water system to meet the optimal fluoride level for community water fluoridation, as established by the United States Department of Health and Human Services; provided that this section shall not apply to any federal agency operating a public water system in the State.

     (b)  Each supplier of water shall:

     (1)  Monitor and sample, at intervals established by the department, the level of fluoride in the supplier's water system; and

     (2)  Report the results of the sampling to the department.

     (c)  The department shall provide technical assistance and training relating to community water fluoridation and the management of fluoridation systems to each supplier of water that is subject to this section.

     (d)  The department shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations on statewide fluoride concentration levels, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of each regular session."

     SECTION 3.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

 

 

 

Report Title:

HHS; DOH; Water Fluoridation; Water Testing; Reports

 

Description:

Requires certain suppliers of water in the State to adjust the fluoride levels in the supplier's public water system to meet the optimal fluoride level for community water fluoridation, as established by the United States Department of Health and Human Services.  Requires suppliers to test water systems for fluoride levels, at intervals established by the state Department of Health.  Requires the Department of Health to provide training to suppliers on the implementation of water fluoridation.  Requires the Department of Health to submit annual reports to the Legislature.

 

 

 

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