Fluoride, a chemical commonly added to drinking water and dental hygiene products to prevent tooth decay, has been locally and nationally debated for decades. Supporters argued that it was an

Utah’s Republican Gov. Spencer Cox signed a law Friday to prohibit fluoride in public drinking water amid a recent surge of concern over the mineral additive—despite decades of backing by public health officials—fueled in part by Health Secretary Robert F. Kenney Jr.’s claims of its potential health risks.

Republican Governor Spencer Cox signed legislation Thursday barring cities and communities from deciding whether to add the mineral to their water systems.