HB 849

Maryland Commission to Study the Dental Hygienist Shortage - Establishment

Sponsor: Lesley J. Lopez (District 39)Committee: Health and Government OperationsSubject: Public HealthStatus: Hearing 3/04 at 1:00 p.m. (as of Dec 1, 2025)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Establishing the Maryland Commission to Study the Dental Hygienist Shortage; providing that the purpose of the Commission is to support the State's efforts to improve the oral health of Marylanders by ensuring the stability and sustainability of the State's dental hygiene workforce; and requiring the Commission to submit an interim report by December 1, 2025, and a final report of its findings and recommendations by December 1, 2026, to the General Assembly, the Maryland Department of Health, and the Higher Education Commission.

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Testimony (0)

MGA witness list

FAV 12FavorableFWA 4Favorable with amendmentsUNF 1UnfavorableINFO 1Information only

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Bell, Dr. Melani	Beyond Nursing	Oral
FAV	Battani, Katy	Dental Hygienist	Oral
FAV	McDonough, Caitlinlobbyist	HJM	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Peebles, Betty	Jon Burr Foundation	Oral
FAV	Jabin, Drew	Maryland Association of Community Colleges	Written (PDF)
FAV	Backley, Mary	Maryland Dental Action Coalition	Oral
FAV	Reische, David	Public Justice Center	Oral
FAV	Woolard, Ashley	Public Justice Center	Written (PDF)
FAV	Delegate Lopez, Delegate Lopezlegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Elliott, Robynlobbyist	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Krone, Christinelobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Lopez, Lesley	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Rosa, Richard	Individual	Position only
FWA	Doring, Charles	Maryland State Dental Association	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Doherty, Daniel	Maryland State Dental Association, Maryland Society of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Cartee, Deborah	The Maryland State Board of Dental Examiners/Dental Board	Oral
FWA	(MD), State of Maryland	Individual	Written (PDF)
INFO	Lynch, Meghan	Maryland Department of Health	Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

Beyond NursingFAV 1

Dental HygienistFAV 1

HJMFAV 1

Jon Burr FoundationFAV 1

Maryland Association of Community CollegesFAV 1

Maryland Dental Action CoalitionFAV 1

Maryland Department of HealthINFO 1

Maryland State Dental AssociationFWA 1

Maryland State Dental Association, Maryland Society of Oral & Maxillofacial SurgeonsFWA 1

Public Justice CenterFAV 2

The Maryland State Board of Dental Examiners/Dental BoardFWA 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVMcDonough, CaitlinHJMRegistered for: AbbVie Inc.; Aligned Data Centers; American Academy of Anesthesiology Assistants, Inc.; Associated Builders & Contractors; Association of Independent Midwives of Maryland (AIMM); Baltimore Gas and Electric Company…

FAVElliott, RobynRegistered for: American Association for Marriage and Family Therapists; Amica Center for Immigrant Rights; CareForth; Chase Brexton Health System; Coordinating Center, The; Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition…

FAVKrone, ChristineRegistered for: American Coatings Association; Baltimore Gas and Electric Company; City of Rockville; Coordinating Center for Home and Community Care, The, LLC (dba The Coordinating Center); Greater Washington Society for Clinical Social Work, Inc.; LifeSpan Network…