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SB0162 • 2026

Utilities, Utility Districts

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

Land
Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor
Hensley, Reneau
Last action
2026-03-11
Official status
Failed in Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide information about the bill's impact on the state budget or its effective date in detail.

Prohibition on Adding Fluoride to Public Water Systems

This bill would prohibit public water suppliers from adding fluoride to their water systems.

What This Bill Does

  • Adds a new rule to Tennessee's laws that says public water system owners, operators, or controllers cannot add fluoride to the water they supply.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Public water system owners and operators in Tennessee
  • People who get their drinking water from public water systems

Terms To Know

public water system
A system that provides piped water to people's homes or businesses, which is owned by a city, town, company, or other organization.
fluoride
A mineral added to some drinking water and toothpaste to help prevent cavities in teeth.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill did not pass the Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee.
  • It is unclear how many public water systems currently add fluoride to their water.
  • The bill does not provide any information about why fluoride should or shouldn't be added to water.

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 effective date of SB0162 to July 1, 2026.

  • Changes the effective date of the bill from an unspecified date to July 1, 2026.
  • The original effective date is not specified in the amendment text, so it's unclear what the previous effective date was.

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

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

  9. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  10. 2026-03-04 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  11. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  12. 2026-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee 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 
HOUSE BILL 2396
By Reneau

SENATE BILL 162
By Hensley
SB0162
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.