Representative Jeff Borton, sponsor of House Bill 49-10, told the House Health Policy Committee the bill “will allow dental professionals who belong to a recognized organization, like the Michigan Dental Association, [to] count approved activities, such as meetings, committee service, or legislative work towards continuing education credits for license renewal.”

The bill does not change the number of required continuing education hours, Borton said, but would give dental therapists and other dental professionals "greater flexibility in meeting continuing education requirements" by recognizing professional engagement as valid credit.

During questions from the committee, Representative Wharton asked whether the bill caps the number of hours a practitioner could earn through alternative activities. Borton replied, “My legislation doesn't have a cap to it. We're leaving that up to the professional organizations to determine what that cap should be.”

Committee members also probed whether the proposal would require additional state resources to implement; Borton said he did not have an immediate estimate but offered to provide more information later. No formal vote on the bill was taken at the hearing.