A right-wing organization that advocates for parental rights is spearheading an effort to pass legislation to remove fluoride from Utah's drinking water during the 2025 Legislature. They're also urging lawmakers to crack down on the Utah Education Association, the state's largest teachers union.
On Monday evening, Utah Parents United founder Corrine Johnson spoke to the far-right Utah Citizens for the Constitution about the group's legislative priorities for the upcoming session. She excitedly told the approximately 150 people on the call about the anti-fluoride measure.
“You're going to love this one. There will be a piece of legislation to remove fluoride from the water in Utah,” Johnson said.
“We are so supportive of health initiatives here in the state of Utah that allow parents to make medical decisions for their children. We've been pushing for this legislation since we fought masks and vaccines.”
Johnson told the group that they have a lawmaker lined up to sponsor the bill, but would not say who that is. The group did not respond to questions or emails seeking comment.
UPU included several questions about outlawing fluoridation in their 2025 legislative survey. The non-scientific poll results are presented to lawmakers as “proof” of widespread public support for whatever legislation they favor.
“It gives us that data so that when we go to the Legislature, it really helps us to show how important this legislation is to parents in the state of Utah and helps us get those bills passed,” Johnson said.
Johnson made the far-fetched claim that 95% of the parents who responded to the survey so far favor removing fluoride. That figure seems a bit high, since Brigham City residents overwhelmingly rejected a ballot initiative to end fluoridation in that city in 2023.
The UPU survey also asked several questions about the Utah Education Association, including “Do you believe the UEA represents your values?” and “Do you believe the UEA has a negative influence on education in the state?”
It's not surprising that UPU would take aim at the UEA. Johnson's organization was a driving force behind Utah's $82 million private school voucher program, which allows parents to take money meant for public education to pay for private school tuition or homeschooling. The UEA has challenged the voucher legislation in court, arguing the program diverts much needed funding from public education in the state.
The UPU survey also asked whether parents would support union-busting legislation to stop the UEA from collecting dues through automatic payroll deduction, which Johnson claimed “100% of parents” would support, and a requirement that the union hold a recertification vote every year. If the recertification vote fails, the union would be disbanded.
Both of those ideas were part of anti-union legislation proposed by Republicans during the 2024 session. Lawmakers backed off after massive opposition from Utah union members.
UEA president Renée Pinkney said the proposals from Utah Parents United would not help Utah's schools.
"This proposal is not about improving education, but about undermining those who champion it," UEA President Renée Pinkney said in a statement to Utah Political Watch.
"Removing the freedom to use payroll deduction for union or professional organization dues is a direct attack on educators' voices and their ability to advocate for better public school funding, improved working conditions, and higher salaries."
"Instead of targeting public school educators, we should focus on collaborative efforts to address the real challenges in our schools—ensuring adequate funding, improving student outcomes, and supporting the educators who dedicate their lives to shaping Utah’s future."
Proposals to add fluoride to drinking water have raised concerns about health threats and spawned countless conspiracy theories, including communist mind control plots.
In 1976, Utah voters narrowly approved a ballot initiative that prohibited adding fluoride to water systems unless the move was approved at the ballot box.
Brigham City was the first city in Utah to add fluoride to the water after voters approved the move in 1966. A 2023 referendum to remove fluoride from Brigham City's water was overwhelmingly defeated at the ballot box.
About 63% of all Americans have fluoride in their water systems, according to 2022 statistics from the CDC. Utah ranks 44th out of 50 states, with just 43.6% of residents who have fluoridated drinking water.
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr, Donald Trump's nominee to head the Department of Health and Human Services, says the Trump administration will recommend removing fluoride from drinking water in the United States. Scientists say the addition of fluoride to drinking water is one of the greatest health achievements of the 20th century.
Utah Parents United became a political force when it helped to organize opposition against mask mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic. The group was a driving force behind Utah's private school voucher program, which allows parents to take money meant for public education to pay for private school tuition or homeschooling.
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