TALLAHASSEE, FL — Governor Ron DeSantis signed a controversial new law today making Florida the second state in the nation to prohibit the addition of fluoride to public water systems. The measure, which goes into effect July 1, prohibits local governments from fluoridating drinking water — a move that has drawn sharp criticism from health experts and directly contradicts a recent vote by the City of Cocoa to resume the practice.
Standing alongside Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo in Dade City, DeSantis called the practice of community water fluoridation “forced medication.”
“Use fluoride for your teeth, that’s fine,” DeSantis said. “But forcing it in the water supply is basically forced medication on people. They don’t have a choice, and you’re taking that away from them.”
Florida joins Utah, which implemented a similar ban in March, in barring municipalities from adding fluoride to water. Critics of the ban, including the American Dental Association and numerous local officials, argue that the policy ignores decades of scientific consensus about the safety and dental benefits of fluoride.
Cocoa Takes Opposite Approach
Just weeks before the governor’s signature made the statewide ban law, the Cocoa City Council voted 4-1 to resume fluoridating the city’s water — bucking both the state trend and a recommendation from Surgeon General Ladapo.
The city had halted fluoridation two years ago due to equipment failure. Despite Lapado’s advisory citing potential neuropsychiatric risks and his recommendation to stop the practice, Cocoa leaders moved forward, citing strong public support and well-established science.
“Water fluoridation is a safe, effective, and efficient way to maintain dental health in our county,” said Cocoa Mayor Michael Blake, who urged council members to “take a stance.”
“I’m living proof,” Blake said. “Our kids and our grandkids drink this water. I’d rather err on the side of helping someone than not helping someone.”
City officials estimate it will cost Cocoa around $700,000 to restart fluoridation and $65,000 annually to maintain it. The project is still underway, meaning it could be halted before implementation under the new law, unless a legal challenge emerges.
Mounting Tension Across Florida
Cocoa’s move stands in contrast to decisions made by several other cities, including Palm Bay and Melbourne, which have recently opted to stop fluoridation altogether. Titusville is reportedly considering a similar move.
Miami-Dade County also faced backlash after commissioners overrode a veto by Mayor Daniella Levine Cava to move forward with plans to remove fluoride. Levine Cava defended her position, stating that ending fluoridation “could have long-lasting health consequences, especially for our most vulnerable families.”
The new law sets up potential legal conflicts between home rule advocates and state preemption laws. Some cities, like Cocoa, may face tough decisions about whether to defy the mandate, seek legal recourse, or abandon their plans.
As the July 1 deadline approaches, Florida’s public health policies are once again in the national spotlight — this time, for stripping away what many consider a basic, evidence-backed public health protection.
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