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.