SB 492

Maryland Commission to Study the Dental Hygienist Shortage - Establishment

Sponsor: Mike McKay (District 1)Committee: FinanceSubject: Public HealthStatus: Hearing 2/11 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 15FavorableFWA 2Favorable with amendmentsINFO 2Information 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	Woodard, Marklobbyist	Job Opportunities Task Force	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	Stephenson, Amanda	Maryland Rural Health Association	Written (PDF)
FAV	Hong, Stella	Maryland State Dental Association Foundation	Written (PDF)
FAV	Reische, David	Public Justice Center	Oral
FAV	Woolard, Ashley	Public Justice Center	Written (PDF)
FAV	Elliott, Robynlobbyist	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Krone, Christinelobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	McKay, Mike	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Senator McKay, Senator McKaylegislator	Individual	Oral
FWA	Doring, Charles	Maryland State Dental Association	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Cartee, Deborah	The Maryland State Board of Dental Examiners/Dental Board	Oral
INFO	Rossetto, Matthew	American Dental Association	Oral + Written (PDF)
INFO	Lynch, Meghan	Maryland Department of Health	Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

American Dental AssociationINFO 1

Beyond NursingFAV 1

Dental HygienistFAV 1

HJMFAV 1

Job Opportunities Task ForceFAV 1

Jon Burr FoundationFAV 1

Maryland Association of Community CollegesFAV 1

Maryland Dental Action CoalitionFAV 1

Maryland Department of HealthINFO 1

Maryland Rural Health AssociationFAV 1

Maryland State Dental AssociationFWA 1

Maryland State Dental Association FoundationFAV 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…

FAVWoodard, MarkJob Opportunities Task ForceRegistered for: Job Opportunities Task Force (JOTF)

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…