One way the Legislature intends to address health disparities this year is by focusing on oral health—specifically, the fluoridation of public water systems.

HB 1684, sponsored by Rep. Paul Harries (R–Vancouver), places a variety of requirements for fluoridation planning on public water systems with 5,000 or more service connections or customers and on the Department of Health (DOH). In summary, the bill requires:

• Water systems to incorporate a cost analysis for implementing and maintaining fluoridation when undertaking any systems planning.
• DOH to adopt rules to facilitate and support water systems to implement fluoridation.
• DOH to create a program to provide water systems with engineering assistance to implement or upgrade to fluoridation.
• Water systems considering discontinuing fluoridation to notify customers before fluoridation is stopped.
• DOH to conduct an oral health equity assessment and provide the report and recommendations for increasing access to fluoridated water by June 30, 2023.

Date to remember

HB 1684 will be heard in the House Local Government Committee on Tuesday, January 25 at 10 am and is scheduled for a committee vote on Friday at 8 am.