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Bill

Bill

A 979

Adds one dental assistant to membership of New Jersey State Board of Dentistry.

2026-2027 Regular Session Introduced by Carol Murphy

Expands New Jersey State Board of Dentistry membership by adding one dental assistant seat to increase workforce representation in dental regulatory decisions.

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Regulated Professions Committee
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Bill Summary · A 979

Legislative bill overview

Bill A 979 proposes adding one dental assistant position to the membership of the New Jersey State Board of Dentistry. This would expand the board's composition to include direct representation from dental assistants, who currently lack a dedicated seat on the regulatory body.

Why is this important

The State Board of Dentistry sets standards, issues licenses, and enforces regulations for dental professionals in New Jersey. Adding a dental assistant member could ensure that workforce perspectives and concerns are represented in these regulatory decisions. Dental assistants make up a significant portion of dental practice employees and have direct experience with daily operational challenges.

Potential points of contention

  • Board size and efficiency: Adding a member increases the board's size, potentially affecting decision-making speed and operational costs
  • Representation balance: Questions about whether one seat adequately represents dental assistants' interests or if it creates an appearance of tokenism
  • Scope of influence: Debate over what authority and voting power a dental assistant member should have on matters affecting dentists and other dental professionals

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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