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HB2396 • 2026

Utilities, Utility Districts

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 68, Chapter 221, relative to fluoride.

Land
Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Reneau, Hensley
Last action
2026-03-24
Official status
Taken off notice for cal. in Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and text do not provide information on enforcement mechanisms, penalties, or financial impacts.

Prohibition on Adding Fluoride to Public Water Systems

This bill prohibits public water suppliers from adding fluoride to their water systems starting July 1, 2025.

What This Bill Does

  • Adds a new rule that says public water system owners, operators, or controllers cannot add fluoride to the water they supply.
  • Changes Tennessee law by adding this new rule about fluoride in public water systems.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Public water system owners and operators

Terms To Know

public water system
A water supply that serves the general public, like city water.
fluoride
A mineral added to some drinking water to help prevent tooth decay.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what will happen if someone breaks this rule.
  • It is unclear how much it might cost local governments to comply with or enforce this new law.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

Amendment 1-0 to SB0162

Plain English: The amendment changes the start date for when a new law about fluoride in Tennessee will begin to be enforced.

  • Changes the effective date of the bill from its original unspecified date to July 1, 2026.
  • The specific details and content of the original bill are not provided, so the exact changes made by HB2396 cannot be explained here.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Taken off notice for cal. in Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee

  2. 2026-03-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee for 3/24/2026

  3. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Failed in Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee

  4. 2026-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  5. 2026-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  6. 2026-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action def. in Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee to Next Available Calendar

  7. 2026-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee calendar for 3/11/2026

  8. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee for 3/10/2026

  9. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee

  10. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action deferred in Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee to 3/11/2026

  11. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee for 3/4/2026

  12. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee calendar for 3/4/2026

  13. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee

  14. 2026-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee

  15. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  16. 2026-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  17. 2025-01-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee

  18. 2025-01-16 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  19. 2025-01-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SENATE BILL 162
By Hensley

HOUSE BILL 2396
By Reneau
HB2396
000977
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 68,
Chapter 221, relative to fluoride.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 68-221-711, is amended by adding
the following as a new subdivision:
( ) The adding of fluoride to a public water system by the supplier of water who
owns, operates, or controls the public water system.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it.