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Ohio State Dental Board requests $2.28M in FY26, flags compact assessment risk
Summary
Miguel Santiago, chief legal counsel and interim executive director of the Ohio State Dental Board, told the House Health Committee the board requests $2,281,030 for FY2026 and $2,372,258 for FY2027, said the board licenses over 40,000 dental professionals, and warned that the new Dentists and Dental Hygienists Compact may impose an as-yet undetermined annual assessment on participating states.
The Ohio State Dental Board asked the House Health Committee for $2,281,030 in spending authority for fiscal year 2026 and $2,372,258 for fiscal year 2027 as part of Governor DeWine’s proposed budget.
"The mission of the Ohio State Dental Board is to protect Ohioans through legislation, licensure, education, and enforcement of laws and rules with fairness and integrity," Miguel Santiago, the board’s chief legal counsel and interim executive director, said in opening testimony. He told the committee the board issues and maintains credentials for more than 40,000 dental professionals in Ohio and described staff responsibilities including enforcement and licensure coordination.
Santiago said the board’s operating funds come from the occupational licensing and regulatory 4KS90 fund, supported by fees charged to applicants and licensees. He noted the Dental Board is unique among licensing boards in not having fining authority under the revised code and therefore does not collect fines.
Committee members questioned the board about enforcement tools and workforce incentives. Representative Brownlee asked about the fine process; Santiago said the board "actually don't have fining authority" and that enforcement proceeds through measures such as suspensions and probations. Representative King pressed whether the board or profession offers loan-repayment or scholarship programs to attract pediatric dentists to rural areas. Santiago said the Department of Health administers a dental loan repayment program funded via pass-throughs from the board and offered to provide utilization numbers to the committee.
On policy changes, Santiago highlighted recent legislative standardization of renewal cycles and initial license fees, which he said will stabilize the board’s budget cycle over time. He also described a pending operational cost tied to Senate Bill 40, the Dentists and Dental Hygienists Compact, which creates an interstate commission. "The amount of this fee has yet to be determined by the commission, but we anticipate that this fee will be imposed at some point either in fiscal year 2026 or fiscal year 2027," Santiago said, noting that the board expects increased administrative work to process compact privileges.
Santiago flagged a near-term licensing demand increase tied to NEOMED’s Botante College of Dentistry enrolling its first class in 2025 and said that will increase requests for limited dental teaching and resident licenses.
The committee did not take action on the request during the hearing. Santiago said he would follow up with data requested by members.
