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LD2030 • 2025

An Act to Expand the Scope of Practice of Independent Practice Dental Hygienists

An Act to Expand the Scope of Practice of Independent Practice Dental Hygienists

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Representative Anne-Marie Mastraccio
Last action
2026-04-03
Official status
Signed by the Governor (Emergency Measure)
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

An Act to Expand the Scope of Practice of Independent Practice Dental Hygienists

An Act to Expand the Scope of Practice of Independent Practice Dental Hygienists Sponsor: Representative Anne-Marie Mastraccio Reference committee: Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Governor action: Signed by the Governor (Emergency Measure)

What This Bill Does

  • An Act to Expand the Scope of Practice of Independent Practice Dental Hygienists Sponsor: Representative Anne-Marie Mastraccio Reference committee: Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Governor action: Signed by the Governor (Emergency Measure)

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

Adopted by House & Senate

Plain English: Page 1 - 132LR2700(02) COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 1 L.D.

  • Page 1 - 132LR2700(02) COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 1 L.D.
  • 2030 2 Date: (Filing No.
  • H- ) 3HEALTH COVERAGE, INSURANCE AND FINANCIAL SERVICES 4 Reproduced and distributed under the direction of the Clerk of the House.
  • 5STATE OF MAINE 6HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 7132ND LEGISLATURE 8SECOND REGULAR SESSION 9 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT “ ” to H.P.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-03 Governor

    Signed by the Governor (Emergency Measure)

  2. 2026-03-25 Senate

    PASSED TO BE ENACTED - Emergency - 2/3 Elected Required, in concurrence.

  3. 2026-03-24 House

    This being an emergency measure, a two-thirds vote of all the members elected to the House was necessary. PASSED TO BE ENACTED . Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

  4. 2026-03-13 Committee

    Reported Out; OTP-AM

  5. 2026-01-28 Committee

    Work Session Held

  6. 2026-01-28 Committee

    Voted; OTP-AM

  7. 2025-12-03 Committee

    Referred to Committee on Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services.

Official Summary Text

An Act to Expand the Scope of Practice of Independent Practice Dental Hygienists
Sponsor:
Representative Anne-Marie Mastraccio
Reference committee:
Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services
Governor action:
Signed by the Governor (Emergency Measure)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Page 1 - 132LR2700(03)
STATE OF MAINE
_____
IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD
TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-SIX
_____
H.P. 1360 - L.D. 2030
An Act to Expand the Scope of Practice of Independent Practice Dental
Hygienists
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, this legislation allows an independent practice dental hygienist to
administer local anesthesia or nitrous oxide analgesia as long as the independent practice
dental hygienist has the appropriate licensure authority; and
Whereas, this legislation will provide more opportunities for persons in need of dental
cleanings and other preventive dental services to access these services through an
independent practice dental hygienist; and
Whereas, immediate enactment of this legislation is necessary to expand access to
oral health care in this State; and
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now,
therefore,
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 32 MRSA §18375, sub-§1, ¶Q, as amended by PL 2023, c. 354, §8, is
further amended to read:
Q. Prescribe, dispense or administer fluoride, silver diamine fluoride, antimicrobial
solutions for mouth rinsing, topical anesthetics, other nonsystemic antimicrobial
agents, desensitizing agents and resorbable antimicrobial agents; and
Sec. 2. 32 MRSA §18375, sub-§1, ¶R, as enacted by PL 2023, c. 354, §8, is
amended to read:
R. Perform dental hygiene assessment, dental hygiene diagnosis and dental hygiene
treatment planning and implementation in the identification, prevention and
management of oral disease.; and
APPROVED
APRIL 3, 2026
BY GOVERNOR
CHAPTER
601
PUBLIC LAW
Page 2 - 132LR2700(03)
Sec. 3. 32 MRSA §18375, sub-§1, ¶S is enacted to read:
S. Administer local anesthesia or nitrous oxide analgesia, as long as the independent
practice dental hygienist has authority to administer the relevant medication pursuant
to section 18345, subsection 2, paragraph D or E, respectively.
Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation
takes effect when approved.