Florida GOP Gov DeSantis signs bill into law banning fluoride in water

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) on Thursday signed a bill into law banning fluoride in the state's water systems, after Utah became the first state to ban it.

“We have other ways where people can get access to fluoride," DeSantis said earlier this month, according to the Associated Press. "When you do this in the water supply, you’re taking away a choice of someone who may not want to have overexposure to fluoride.”

The bill passed the state legislature last month, requiring fluoride and some other additives to be removed from the state's water sources.

Utah banned fluoride in late March and went into effect last week. Florida's law will take effect July 1.

Ahead of the statewide ban, some local governments in Florida have already voted to remove fluoride from their water. Miami-Dade County commissioners voted earlier this month to override a veto by Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and move ahead with plans to remove fluoride from the county's water system.