Committee advances bill to merge denturist regulation into Board of Dentistry

The Senate Health and Welfare Committee voted to send House Bill 935 to the floor with a due-pass recommendation after hearing two hours of testimony from denturists, dentists and business owners.

Sponsor Todd Lakey said the bill consolidates the separate Board of Denturity and the Board of Dentistry to promote operational efficiencies and reduce licensure costs. "This legislation combines the board of denturity and the board of dentistry," Lakey said, adding the denturist board has a negative cash balance and cannot sustain itself with roughly two dozen licensees.

The bill would repeal separate code sections for denturists and dentists and replace them with provisions for a consolidated board, while retaining separate provisions regarding each profession's areas of practice, Lakey said. He told senators consolidation could reduce denturist fees from about $750 to below $100 because of shared administrative costs.

Opponents including Amanda Rowe Bronson, president of the Idaho Dentures Association, and local denture business owners urged the committee to hold the bill. "Placing dentures under the regulatory authority of the Board of Dentistry creates a structural conflict of interest as the professions directly compete for many of the same patients," Bronson said, and asked the committee to allow time to pursue alternatives that address access and financial stability.

Business owner Robert Van Giffin said consolidation could let competitors influence testing, licensing or rules. "This bill allows board of competitors to redefine accepted educational standards or schools," he said, warning of past examples in other states where denturists faced delays and retrenchment.

Elizabeth Criner of the Idaho State Dental Association supported the measure, saying it preserves public protections and reduces government size. "This merger ensures protections for the public's health and safety, continued oversight of the dentures profession," Criner said.

After debate, Senator Blaylock moved to hold the bill in committee; a substitute motion by Senator Lenny to send the bill to the floor with a due-pass recommendation carried on a roll-call vote recorded as 4 in favor, 3 against and 2 absent. The committee record shows senators expressing concern for denturists' representation but concluding legislative rule review and an explicit denturist seat on the consolidated board provide procedural checks.

The committee action advances the bill to the next chamber with the recommendation that the full Senate consider it; the sponsor and committee did not adopt additional amendments at this hearing.