Overview: LD 1891, An Act To Address The Dental Professional Workforce Shortage By Establishing Scholarship And Loan Programs And Updating The Dental Care Access Tax Credit, Pursuant to Joint Rule 310.3 Placed in Legislative Files (DEAD), Introduced: May 01, 2025
Purpose and Intent: This bill aims to address the shortage of dental professionals in Maine by creating new scholarship and loan repayment programs, as well as updating an existing tax credit to incentivize dental care access.
Key Provisions:
- Establishes a dental education loan repayment program to provide up to $20,000 per year for eligible dentists and dental hygienists who practice in underserved areas
- Creates a dental education scholarship program to cover tuition and fees for students pursuing dental or dental hygiene degrees
- Expands the Dental Care Access Credit to include eligible dental hygienists, increasing the maximum credit from $12,000 to $15,000
Affected Parties and Impacts: This bill would primarily benefit dental professionals, students, and underserved communities in Maine. The loan repayment and scholarship programs aim to attract more individuals to the dental field and encourage them to practice in areas with limited access to care. Expanding the tax credit would provide additional financial incentives for dentists and hygienists to serve in rural or low-income regions.
Procedural and Timeline Considerations: The bill has been placed in the legislative files, indicating it did not advance during the current session. If reintroduced and enacted, the new programs and tax credit changes would likely take effect in the next fiscal year.
