The New Hampshire State Legislature is considering several legislative proposals pertaining to dental hygiene.One of these is House Bill 1190, a bill that seeks to add regulatory authority to the newly established dental hygienists committee of the Board of Dental Examiners.Currently the dental hygienists committee is charged with developing and proposing administrative rules regarding the practice, regulation, discipline, education, examination and licensure of dental hygienists.The proposed rules are made as a recommendation to the board; however, the board is not required to adopt the committee’s recommendations. Under HB 1190, the board shall adopt the rules proposed by the committee unless the rules are outside of the committee’s jurisdiction, impose an undue ..nancial burden, or are not supported by the record.

The other piece of legislation under consideration is Senate Bill 284, a bill that seeks to establish pilot projects as a way to improve access to oral health care.This legislation would authorize a pilot program in which public health dental hygienists with additional training could deliver an expanded scope of services in underserved areas of the state. The bill would also create a mid-level dental therapist provider who could provide basic restorative services under the general supervision of a dentist. The legislation does not detail the specifics of the required education or the respective scopes of practice for these providers. The bill is supported by the PEW Center on the States, the New Hampshire Children’s Alliance and New Hampshire Child Advocacy Network.The New Hampshire Dental Hygienists’ Association is supportive of the concept of testing new providers and is actively participating in the workforce conversation.

Stateline is prepared by the ADHA Division of Governmental Affairs.