DelawareAN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO ALLOWING DENTAL HYGIENISTS TO ADMINISTER LOCAL ANESTHESIA.
What it does
This Act expands the definition of the “practice of dental hygiene” under Title 24 (Professions and Occupations) to include the administration of local anesthesia under the direct supervision of a licensed dentist and directs the State Board of Dentistry and Dental Hygiene (“Board”) to establish the necessary requirements and standards. Currently, Delaware is the only state in the nation that does not allow dental hygienists to administer local anesthesia. Delaware also suffers from a shortage of dental care providers, leaving many Delawareans unable to access timely, quality, affordable dental care.
More detail
Administering local anesthesia is a task that properly trained dental hygienists can do safely, as shown by the experiences of every other state. Expanding dental hygienists’ scope of practice to allow them to administer local anesthesia under the direct supervision of a licensed dentist will enable them to provide a broader range of services to patients and take some of the burden off the state’s limited supply of dentists.
Section 4 of this Act requires the Board to adopt regulations setting the requirements and standards to allow dental hygienists to administer local anesthesia under direct supervision of a licensed dentist no later than January 1, 2026. Section 5 of this Act provides that Sections 1 through 3 of this Act are effective on either January 1, 2026, or when the State Board of Dentistry and Dental Hygiene publishes final regulations implementing the Act, whichever is earlier.
This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2025
- Aug 25Signed by Governor Matt MeyerBecame Law
- Jun 24Passed By House. Votes: 40 YES 1 VACANTPassed House
- Vote recorded Passage. Result: pass.Lower
- Jun 17Reported Out of Committee (Sunset Committee (Policy Analysis & Government Accountability)) in House with 5 On Its MeritsMinor
- Jun 11Assigned to Sunset Committee (Policy Analysis & Government Accountability) Committee in HouseMinor
- Jun 10Passed By Senate. Votes: 18 YES 3 ABSENTPassed Senate
- Vote recorded Passage. Result: pass.Upper
- May 21Reported Out of Committee (Health & Social Services) in Senate with 7 FavorableMinor
- May 9Re-Assigned to Health & Social Services Committee in SenateMinor
- May 8Introduced and Assigned to Legislative Oversight & Sunset Committee in SenateIntroduced