Senate rejects motion to calendar bill to repeal fluoridation enforcement provisions

A motion to place Senate Bill 133 on the Senate calendar for immediate consideration failed on a roll call after contentious floor remarks by proponents and opponents.

Senator Perry moved to calendar the bill, describing it as "an act to repeal enforcement provisions for, modifying requirements related to the fluoridation of public water supplies," and said "fluoride in drinking water poses enough risk." The presiding officer reminded members they should limit remarks to reasons for calendaring rather than substantive debate.

Senator Reid urged colleagues to resist the motion and to respect the committee process, noting the bill previously failed a motion on the 41st day and that committee hearings allowed many opponents to testify: "you are not gonna hear from those 15 different opponents" if the bill bypassed committee consideration, Reid said. Senator Miskemence, identifying as a retired dentist, said opponents in committee emphasized the bill's negative impact on dental health.

After floor remarks limited to calendaring, the secretary called the roll. The result was announced as 12 yeas and 22 nays; the presiding officer declared the motion lost. Because the calendar motion failed, the bill was not placed on the day's calendar for immediate consideration and no final action on the bill was taken on the floor.