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House committee advances Dental Practice Act sunset bill after debate over accreditation and scope changes
Summary
Lawmakers advanced a multi‑year update to the state Dental Practice Act that clarifies accreditation language, authorizes limited new duties for dentists and dental hygienists and drew questions from DORA about licensing pathways for foreign‑trained practitioners.
A House Health & Human Services committee advanced Senate Bill 194 on a 12‑0 voice vote, sending the bill to the Committee on Appropriations with a favorable recommendation after testimony from dental professionals, educators and regulators.
The bill is a sunset review package that updates the state Dental Practice Act and includes clarified language that identifies the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) as the accrediting entity recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Sponsors and multiple witnesses said the measure preserves existing licensure requirements while modernizing scope items to expand access to care.
Sponsors said the changes were produced through stakeholder work and the DORA (Department of Regulatory Agencies) sunset review. Representative Hartzook, a co‑prime sponsor, told the committee the bill “supports the dental community across our state, increases access, [and] advances the practice of dentistry in a successful way forward until 2034.”
Dental stakeholders described several specific provisions during testimony: dentists and dental hygienists would be explicitly authorized to administer vaccines in…
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