In Florida, HB 683 was heard by the Health Quality Subcommittee on January 25.  The committee produced and approved a substitute version of the bill which does not contain the original dental therapist authorizing legislation, and instead only provides for a study to be carried out on access to care and to examine workforce policies.  The bill is now pending before the Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee.

The Health Quality Subcommittee also heard and approved HB 369, which would create the dental student loan repayment program. Under the program, new dentists practicing in underserved areas would be eligible to receive up to $50,000 per year to pay off student loans.

In Mississippi, SB 2899 failed to advance out of committee by the January 30 deadline for bills to do so.  The bill sought to provide for general supervision of licensed dental hygienists under certain conditions.

Also failing to advance was HB 1173, which sought to authorize dental therapists to practice in the state.

In Kansas, there are currently two dental therapist bills being considered: SB 308 seeks to allow dental therapists to carry out certain surgical, irreversible procedures under the general supervision of a dentist. SB 312 provides for direct supervision for direct supervision for the same procedures. SB 312 was heard by the Committee on Public Health and Welfare February 1, 2018.

If you would like more information on legislative matters in your state, or are interested in carrying out advocacy on AGD issues, please contact us at advocacy@agd.org or visit the AGD’s Advocacy webpage.