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S 1587

Imposes term limits for the offices of governor, comptroller and attorney-general

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Steve Chan and 4 co-sponsors

Massachusetts bill would let registered dental hygienists administer nitrous oxide analgesia, expanding access to pain relief during hygiene visits and related care.

OPINION REFERRED TO JUDICIARY
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Bill Summary · S 1587

Summary — S.1587 (Massachusetts): “An Act enabling registered dental hygienists to administer nitrous oxide”

Main purpose

To amend Massachusetts law to explicitly permit registered dental hygienists to administer nitrous oxide inhalation analgesia (commonly called “nitrous oxide” or “laughing gas”) as part of the services they may provide.

Key statutory change

  • Amends Section 51 of Chapter 112 of the Massachusetts General Laws by inserting the words “and nitrous oxide inhalation analgesia” immediately after the phrase “local anesthesia agents.”
  • In effect, the bill adds nitrous oxide inhalation analgesia to the list of anesthetic/analgesic services that a registered dental hygienist may provide under the statute.

(The bill text is short and makes only this insert; it does not itself set out supervision, training, certification, recordkeeping, or scope-of-practice details beyond the single statutory insertion.)

Who or what would be affected

  • Registered dental hygienists in Massachusetts: would be expressly authorized by statute to administer nitrous oxide inhalation analgesia.
  • Dentists and dental practices: clinical workflows, delegation, supervision, and office protocols may change to incorporate dental hygienists’ use of nitrous oxide.
  • Patients: potential for expanded access to inhalation analgesia during hygiene visits or other procedures where a hygienist is involved.
  • Regulatory agencies and professional boards (e.g., Board of Registration in Dentistry, Department of Public Health): likely will need to interpret and implement the change through regulations, guidance, or rulemaking (training, credentialing, supervision requirements, safety protocols).

Key considerations and likely next steps

  • The bill text does not specify training requirements, certification standards, allowed settings, or supervision levels. Those details typically will be addressed in existing statute, regulations, or by the state board that oversees dental practice.
  • Liability, malpractice coverage, infection control and emergency preparedness standards for nitrous oxide administration may require clarification or regulatory updates.
  • Payers/insurers and clinic credentialing processes may need to update policies to reflect the expanded statutory authority.

Legislative status and procedural history (as recorded)

  • Filed as Senate Docket No. 101 (filed 01/07/2025); presented by Sen. Michael O. Moore with petitioners including Sal N. DiDomenico, Bradley H. Jones, Jr., and Marc T. Lombardo.
  • Legislative actions listed include: introduced (05/05/2025); read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions; hearings scheduled/rescheduled in July 2025; bill reported favorably by committee and referred to Health Care Financing (10/30/2025); multiple referrals for attorney-general opinion and to Judiciary are recorded (01/13/2025 and 01/31/2025 entries appear in the record).
  • Current status shown as: OPINION REFERRED TO JUDICIARY.

Sponsors / Related matters

  • Presented in the Massachusetts Senate by Michael O. Moore; petition lists other state legislators as supporters.
  • The docket references similar/prior-session measures. (A separate “Sponsors” list in the provided file appears inconsistent with the Massachusetts bill text and likely pertains to other legislation.)

If enacted, this narrow statutory change would explicitly authorize dental hygienists in Massachusetts to administer nitrous oxide inhalation analgesia; implementation details (training, supervision, safety standards) will depend on regulatory action or further statutory clarification.

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

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