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LD 1615

An Act To Expand Access To Oral Health Care By Creating A New Path For Obtaining A License To Practice Dentistry

132nd Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Joe Baldacci and 8 co-sponsors

The bill directs a study to explore alternative licensure pathways for dentists in Maine to expand access to oral health care, with recommendations for possible changes.

Signed by Governor
#adjunctdentists #dental #healthcarepersonnel
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Bill Summary · LD 1615

Summary — LD 1615: "An Act To Expand Access To Oral Health Care by Creating a New Path for Obtaining a License to Practice Dentistry"

Status: Signed by the Governor (emergency measure), July 1, 2025
Introduced: April 11, 2025
Committee: Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services

Purpose

LD 1615 directs a legislative study to examine alternative pathways for obtaining a license to practice dentistry in Maine with the aim of expanding access to oral health care. Rather than immediately creating a new license class or changing licensure rules, the enacted language (a Resolve) charges a study/commission to research options and produce recommendations for legislative or regulatory action.

Key provisions / actions

  • Establishes a study (commission or similar body) to examine alternative licensure pathways for dentists in Maine and to recommend statutory or rule changes that could expand access to dental care.
  • Anticipates participation by the Board of Dental Practice and the Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation (these entities will serve on or assist the study).
  • The study is authorized and funded as a legislative study (general operating expenses identified for the study).

Note: The enacted measure was amended by Committee Amendment "A" (H‑535) and further by Senate Amendment "A" (S‑440); those amendments were adopted before final passage.

Who is affected

  • Aspiring dentists and supervised/adjunct dental practitioners (potential future applicants if new pathways are created).
  • Current licensed dentists and dental employers (may be affected by changes in workforce composition or supervision rules).
  • Patients and communities with limited access to dental services (primary intended beneficiaries).
  • Board of Dental Practice and Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation (will participate in the study; any later rulemaking or licensing work could affect their workload).

Fiscal impact

  • The approved fiscal estimate for conducting the study: approximately $3,050 in fiscal year 2025–26 for general operating expenses.
  • The Legislature’s budget for legislative studies contains funds and balances that the fiscal note indicates should be sufficient to cover the study cost; staffing assistance can be absorbed within existing staff resources.
  • Additional costs to the Board of Dental Practice and the Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation to serve on the commission are expected to be absorbable within existing budgets.
  • Earlier preliminary estimates noted a minor net impact to special revenue funds (minor licensing fee revenue increase if new pathways are later implemented).

Legislative/timeline notes

  • Passed by the Legislature in June 2025 (committee and senate amendments adopted; emergency measure required two‑thirds votes).
  • Declared an emergency measure — so the Act took effect upon the Governor’s signature (July 1, 2025).
  • Next steps: the study will proceed under the terms of the Resolve; the study’s report and any formal recommendations will guide whether and how the Legislature or regulators create a new licensure pathway.

If you want, I can produce a short timeline of the legislative actions (committee votes, amendment adoption, and final passage) or extract the specific membership and reporting deadlines from the enacted language if you provide the full text of the Resolve.

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

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