‘Basically forced medication’: Florida’s Ron DeSantis signed broad farm bill rewriting rules on water, agriculture — but here’s why everyone from dentists to bankers worry about its impacts

Removing fluoride from water could have health implications

The headline change of the bill is a statewide ban on adding fluoride to drinking water. The law doesn't specifically mention fluoride; rather the law bans “The use of any additives in a public water system which do not meet the definition of a water quality additive as defined in s. 403.852, or the use of any additives included primarily for health-related purposes."

DeSantis called fluoridation “forced medication on people” and said residents can add the mineral at home if they wish. Florida is only the second state to ban fluoride in drinking water; Utah outlawed it in March. But officials and medical experts are concerned about the long-term impact.

Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava shared a statement in which she said, in part:

“I am deeply disappointed by the Florida Legislature’s decision to pursue a statewide ban on water fluoridation, a decision that disregards the overwhelming consensus of dentists, doctors, and medical experts and will end a practice that has been in place for decades to protect our health.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and American Dental Association still rank water fluoridation among the top public-health wins of the 20th century, noting it cuts cavities by more than 25% even in the toothpaste era.

Hawaii, where only 11% of residents get fluoridated water, records the nation’s worst child-decay rate — 71% of third-graders have tooth decay, compared to the national average of 52%.

The CDC notes that cavities often go untreated and can cause pain and severe infections that may result in issues with eating, playing and learning. In some cases, cavities can lead to abscesses, which can, in rare cases, lead to death.

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Food labeling changes

The bill also orders “truth in labeling,” targeting plant-based or lab-grown products. These products can no longer use the words milk, meat, poultry or eggs.

"If it's not grown on a hoof, you're not going to be able to call it meat," Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson said at the signing ceremony held on his property.

"And if it's not out of an udder, you're not going to be able to call it milk."

For producers, this law change means they must make changes to labeling including removing the word "milk" from packaging for milk alternatives like soy milk, oat milk and almond milk. Shoppers can expect clearer language on the products they buy and, possibly, a modest price hike as procedures scramble to update their packaging.

Other farm-related laws and their impact

The law also covers three other farm-related topics, including drone usage over farms, 4-H funding and how lenders extend credit to farmers.

Flying a drone over agricultural or hunting land without written consent is now illegal. Florida House of Representatives Member Danny Alvarez said the measure ensures farmers are protected.

"Our farmers and hunters are the backbone of Florida’s heritage, and they deserve to be protected from those who would use drones to intimidate and disrupt them. I’m glad to see Commissioner Simpson lead forward and fight back against those who would try to cause them harm,” shared Rep. Alvarez

Drones have been used by activists looking to monitor poaching and illegal deforestation and keep a watchful eye on zoos and aquariums. In 2013, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) launched a drone campaign to track illegal hunting in Massachusetts. They've also been used to get a bird's-eye view of factory farms in the midwest. However, no major news sources have reported on any Florida farmers being harassed by drones. In fact, farmers are beginning to use drones to detect pests and signs of stress in crops.

The bill also protects 4-H and Future Farmers of America (FFA) programs. Under the bill, local governments are banned from zoning changes that make it harder for 4-H and FFA programs to operate. Schools can now classify on-campus barns and gardens as “agricultural,” shielding student livestock projects from zoning disputes and even providing scholarships for FFA dues.

And a bill provision called “Florida Farmer Financial Protection Act” bars lenders from denying credit to producers because of environmental, social or governance (ESG) standards and lets farmers sue if they suspect discrimination.

Anthony DiMarco, executive vice-president of government relations at the Florida Bankers Association, was reported to have objected to the provision, saying it would increase lawsuits against lenders, bar banks from cutting ties with high-risk clients such as medical-marijuana firms and encourage other industries to demand the same legal weapon.

With fluoride on its way out, labels changing, drones grounded and lenders on notice, Florida’s farm bill is redrawing the state’s agricultural landscape — leaving dentists, plant-based brands and bankers bracing for what comes next.