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LD 23

An Act To Extend The Period Of Time A Dentist May Operate The Practice Of A Deceased Or Incapacitated Dentist

132nd Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Rick Bennett and 1 co-sponsor

Extends how long a substitute dentist may operate a deceased or incapacitated colleague's practice, improving patient care, record transfers, and orderly handover (emergency).

Signed by Governor
#dental #healthcarepersonnel #practiceoperation
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Bill Summary · LD 23

Summary — LD 23 (132nd Maine Legislature)

Title: An Act To Extend The Period Of Time a Dentist May Operate the Practice of a Deceased or Incapacitated Dentist
Sponsor: Sen. Bennett (Oxford)
Committee: Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services
Status: Signed by Governor (emergency measure) — May 29, 2025

Purpose and intent

LD 23 amends Maine law to lengthen the period during which a licensed dentist may operate the dental practice of a colleague who is deceased or incapacitated. The intent is to provide additional time for orderly transition of patient care, practice records, and business affairs (including patient notification, transfer of records, and disposition of ongoing treatment plans) when a dentist is unable to operate their practice because of death or incapacity.

Key provisions

  • Extends the statutory time period that a substituted or successor dentist may continue to operate another dentist’s practice following the owner’s death or incapacity.
  • Enacted as amended by Committee Amendment “A” (S-87); the engrossed/amended language was passed by the Legislature.
  • Designated and processed as an emergency measure, requiring and receiving a two‑thirds majority for expedited enactment.

Note: The publicly available documents supplied (fiscal notes and legislative actions) state the bill’s purpose but do not include the precise number of days/months by which the operating period is extended. For exact statutory text and the specific time extension, consult the official enrolled bill or the Maine Legislature’s website.

Who is affected

  • Dentists who step in to operate the practice of a deceased or incapacitated colleague (successor/substitute dentists).
  • Patients of the affected practice (continuity of care and access to records).
  • Practice owners’ estates and families (administration of the practice).
  • Regulatory and licensing entities that oversee dental practice operations.

Fiscal and procedural notes

  • Fiscal impact: Determined to have no fiscal impact (preliminary and subsequent fiscal notes).
  • Legislative timeline: Introduced Jan 8, 2025; committee work and amendment adoption in February–May 2025; passed and enacted in late May 2025. Because it was enacted as an emergency measure, it took effect upon the Governor’s signature (May 29, 2025).

For the exact statutory amendment language and the specific extended time period, review the enrolled bill text (LD 23, as engrossed with C “A” (S‑87)) on the Maine Legislature website or the Office of the Revisor of Statutes.

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

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