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SB1141 • 2026

Water

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 68, Chapter 221, Part 7, relative to fluoridation of drinking water.

Land
Active

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

Sponsor
Crowe, Todd
Last action
2025-03-19
Official status
Sponsor(s) Added.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and text do not provide specific details on costs or natural fluoride exceedances.

Amending Fluoride Levels and Testing Requirements for Drinking Water

This bill changes the threshold for fluoride testing in drinking water from 1.5 mg/L to 0.4 mg/L, mandates monthly testing if levels exceed this limit, stops adding fluoride by May 1, 2025, and requires notice to customers.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the level of fluoride that triggers more frequent testing from 1.5 milligrams per liter (mg/L) to 0.4 mg/L.
  • Requires public water systems to test fluoride levels monthly if they exceed 0.4 mg/L for three consecutive months.
  • Stops adding fluoride to drinking water by May 1, 2025, and requires written notice to customers at least a month before stopping.
  • Allows naturally occurring fluoride in the water supply as long as it does not go over federal limits.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Public water systems that add fluoride to drinking water.
  • Customers of public water systems who will receive notices about changes to their water supply.

Terms To Know

fluoride
A mineral added to some drinking water to help prevent tooth decay.
public water system
An organization that provides treated water for public use through a network of pipes and facilities.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if fluoride levels naturally exceed the limit.
  • It is unclear how much this change will cost local governments in the long term.

Amendments

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

Amendment 1-0 to SB1141

Plain English: The amendment changes how water systems must handle and report fluoride levels in drinking water if they exceed certain limits.

  • If a water sample shows more than 0.7 mg/L of fluoride, the water system must test monthly and inform customers about the high fluoride level.
  • Water systems can return to quarterly testing once three consecutive months show fluoride levels below 0.7 mg/L.
  • Public water systems fluoridating their supply after May 1, 2025, must reduce or stop adding fluoride by July 31, 2025, and notify customers at least a month in advance.
  • The amendment does not specify the exact consequences for violating the new reporting requirements.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Taken off notice for cal in s/c Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee of Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee

  2. 2026-01-28 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee for 2/4/2026

  3. 2026-01-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Meeting Canceled

  4. 2026-01-21 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee for 1/28/2026

  5. 2025-03-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee to First Calendar of 2026

  6. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  7. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  8. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee for 3/26/2025

  9. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee to 3/26/2025

  10. 2025-03-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Energy, Ag., and Nat. Resources Committee calendar for 3/19/2025

  11. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee for 3/19/2025

  12. 2025-03-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Action Def. in s/c Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee to 3/19/2025

  13. 2025-03-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee for 3/12/2025

  14. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    No Action Taken

  15. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  16. 2025-02-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  17. 2025-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee for 3/5/2025

  18. 2025-02-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  19. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

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

  20. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  21. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  22. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee

  23. 2025-02-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  24. 2025-02-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C, ref. to Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee

  25. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  26. 2025-02-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HOUSE BILL 897
By Todd

SENATE BILL 1141
By Crowe

SB1141
001072
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 68,
Chapter 221, Part 7, relative to fluoridation of
drinking water.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 68-221-709, is amended by deleting
the section and substituting:
(a) If the quarterly analysis of a water sample from a public water system by a
certified laboratory confirms that the level of fluoride in the sample exceeds four-tenths
milligrams per liter (0.4 mg/L), the public water system from which the sample was taken
must:
(1) Obtain laboratory analysis of water samples monthly for fluoride
levels; and
(2) Notify all of its customers that a water sample tested exceeded four-
tenths milligrams per liter (0.4 mg/L) of fluoride in a manner established by the
department.
(b) Once the monthly analysis of water samples for fluoride conducted pursuant
to subdivision (a)(1) confirms that the fluoride level in samples is less than four-tenths
milligrams per liter (0.4 mg/L) for three (3) consecutive months, the public water system
may resume quarterly laboratory analysis for fluoride.
(c) This part does not prohibit naturally occurring fluoride in the water supply;
provided, that fluoride levels do not exceed the maximum levels permitted by federal law
or federal regulations.

- 2 - 001072

SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 68-221-708(c), is amended by
deleting the subsection and substituting:
(c) A public water system fluoridating its water supply on May 1, 2025, shall:
(1) Cease the addition of fluoride or fluoride compounds to the water
supply no later than July 31, 2025; and
(2) Provide written notice to their customers informing them of the
discontinuation of fluoridation and specify the date on which fluoridation will
cease. The notice must be issued thirty (30) days prior to the cessation of
fluoridation.
SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 68-221-711, is amended by adding
the following new subdivision:
( ) The addition of fluoride, or a fluoride compound, to the public drinking water
supply by the operator of a water supply system in the state.
SECTION 4. This act takes effect May 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it.