LD2209 • 2025

Resolve, to Direct the Department of Health and Human Services to Develop Innovative Models for the Delivery of Dental Services to Expand Access to Oral Health Care Throughout the State

Enacted

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

Sponsor
Last action: 2026-04-11
Official status: Became Law without Governor's Signature
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.

Resolve, to Direct the Department of Health and Human Services to Develop Innovative Models for the Delivery of Dental Services to Expand Access to Oral Health Care Throughout the State

Resolve, to Direct the Department of Health and Human Services to Develop Innovative Models for the Delivery of Dental Services to Expand Access to Oral Health Care Throughout the State Reference committee: Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Governor action: Became Law without Governor's Signature

What This Bill Does

Resolve, to Direct the Department of Health and Human Services to Develop Innovative Models for the Delivery of Dental Services to Expand Access to Oral Health Care Throughout the State Reference committee: Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Governor action: Became Law without Governor's Signature

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.

C-A (H-872)

Adopted by House & Senate

Plain English: Page 1 - 132LR3032(02) COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 1 L.D.

Page 1 - 132LR3032(02) COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 1 L.D.
2209 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

2026-04-11 Governor
Became Law without Governor's Signature
2026-03-30 Senate
FINALLY PASSED , in concurrence.
2026-03-26 House
FINALLY PASSED . Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
2026-03-19 Committee
Reported Out; OTP-AM/ONTP
2026-03-04 Committee
Work Session Held
2026-03-04 Committee
Voted; Divided Report
2026-02-10 Committee
Referred to Committee on Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services.

Official Summary Text

Resolve, to Direct the Department of Health and Human Services to Develop Innovative Models for the Delivery of Dental Services to Expand Access to Oral Health Care Throughout the State
Reference committee:
Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services
Governor action:
Became Law without Governor's Signature

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Page 1 - 132LR3032(03)
STATE OF MAINE
_____
IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD
TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-SIX
_____
H.P. 1488 - L.D. 2209
Resolve, to Direct the Department of Health and Human Services to Develop
Innovative Models for the Delivery of Dental Services to Expand Access to
Oral Health Care Throughout the State
Sec. 1. Department of Health and Human Services development of models
for expanded access to dental services. Resolved: That, based on the
recommendation of the Commission to Expand Access to Oral Health Care by Studying
Alternative Pathways for Obtaining a License to Practice Dentistry pursuant to Resolve
2025, chapter 107, the Department of Health and Human Services shall:
1. Consider the development of a so-called hub-and-spoke model to expand access to
dental services throughout the State. In developing the model, the department must include
as components of the model the dental services provided by the University of New England
and federally qualified health centers, mobile units and nontraditional dental care practices,
such as dental care practices that are limited in scope, that provide services in areas where
the population density is insufficient to support a dental provider setting up a practice;
2. Explore options to establish dental specialist residency programs in the State,
especially for pediatric dentists, oral surgeons and orthodontists; and
3. Explore options to expand education and training programs for dental therapists in
the State.
Sec. 2. Stakeholder participation. Resolved: That the Department of Health
and Human Services shall invite the participation of stakeholders to ensure that the
department has the information and expertise necessary to complete the tasks identified in
section 1, including, but not limited to, representatives from the University of New England
College of Dental Medicine, the Maine Public Health Association, the Maine Dental
Association, the Maine Dental Hygienists' Association, the Maine Oral Health Centers
Alliance and dentists working in private practice who serve the oral health care needs of
underserved and high-need populations. The Department of Professional and Financial
Regulation, Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation shall provide technical
assistance to the Department of Health and Human Services on behalf of the Board of
Dental Practice.
LAW WITHOUT
GOVERNOR'S
SIGNATURE

APRIL 11, 2026
CHAPTER
156
RESOLVES
Page 2 - 132LR3032(03)
Sec. 3. Report. Resolved: That, no later than February 15, 2027, the Department
of Health and Human Services shall submit a report that includes its findings and
recommendations under this resolve, including suggested legislation, to the joint standing
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health coverage, insurance and
financial services matters and the joint standing committee of the Legislature having
jurisdiction over health and human services matters. Each joint standing committee may
report out legislation to the 133rd Legislature in 2027 based on the report.