North Dakota House rejects bills to increase vaccine exemptions, ban fluoride in public water

Distrust in medical institutions and research dominated discussions in the North Dakota House of Representatives on Wednesday, Feb. 19, before lawmakers struck down two bills related to public health — one that would have banned fluoride treatments in public water supplies and another aiming to expand vaccination exemptions.

Denied by a vote of 40-53, House Bill 1605 sought to criminalize the use of fluoride in any public water supply and would have made the act punishable by a $500 fine.