Bill > HCR113

This concurrent resolution requests the Director of Health to convene a Water Fluoridation Working Group to address oral health challenges in Hawaii, where many residents lack dental insurance and the state has received poor oral health ratings. The working group would be composed of representatives from the state's health department and water supply departments from Honolulu, Kauai, Maui, and Hawaii counties, with the Director of Health or their designee serving as chairperson. The group's primary objectives are to determine best practices for adding fluoride to public drinking water systems and identify obstacles to implementation, as current water systems (except on military bases) do not have added fluoride. The working group is requested to submit a comprehensive report with findings and recommendations, including potential legislation, to the Legislature by late 2025, and is set to dissolve on June 30, 2026. The resolution highlights that water fluoridation is considered safe and cost-effective by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and could help prevent tooth decay by providing communities with optimal levels of naturally occurring fluoride in their water supply.

Health and Social Services

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HCR&billnumber=113&year=2025