Shamp Proposes AZ Ban on Drinking Water Fluoride

Former Senate Majority Leader Janae Shamp, a registered nurse with extensive hands-on healthcare experience, is introducing Senate Bill SB1019, which bans the continued use of fluoride in Arizona’s public water systems. Senator Shamp describes the bill as a “direct strike against government overreach” and says it’s meant to ensure Arizona’s drinking water remains “clean, pure, and free from mandatory chemical additives.”

Shamp’s bill would prohibit individuals and political subdivisions from adding fluoride or fluoride-containing compounds to any public water system in Arizona. Shamp says she introduced the bill in response to legal concerns about fluoridation practices and the availability of voluntary fluoride products that allow families to choose their desired level of fluoride exposure.

The proposal mirrors similar legislation passed by Utah in May 2025, which was the first statewide prohibition on adding fluoride to public drinking water. Florida followed later in 2025, when Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a measure preventing local governments from adding fluoride to water systems. Although the Florida prohibition was not technically a state-level ban, it had the same effect.  

Shamp argues the issue is fundamentally about individual consent and choice. In a press release issued on December 11, 2025, Shamp stated, “As a state senator and nurse, I cannot support fluoridation as a form of mass medication without informed consent,” she said. “Unlike voluntary measures such as fluoride toothpaste or dental treatments, adding fluoride to our water forces every Arizonan—from infants to the elderly—to ingest a chemical they may not need or want. In a free society like ours, medical decisions should be personal, not mandated by the government. SB 1019 restores that freedom by banning the use of artificial fluoridation, allowing families to choose their own sources of fluoride if they wish.”

Her statement continued, “With similar legislation passing in Utah and Florida, it’s now time for Arizona to embrace medical liberty and protect our children’s health by ensuring that our drinking water remains free from unnecessary chemicals. Fluoridating water costs Arizona taxpayers millions each year in chemicals, equipment, and maintenance—funds that could be better spent on infrastructure or conservation in our arid state. With support from leaders like Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., we can establish a national standard for clean, unadulterated water. Together, we can remove these chemicals from our water and return control to the people, making Arizona fluoride-free.”

Shamp’s legislation, combined with continuing national studies raising concerns about excessive fluoride exposure, sets the stage for a high-profile fight over whether Arizona should continue mandatory fluoridation or leave the decision to fluoridate up to individuals and families.