MaineMaine requires preventive dental services in public schools
Maine’s health department must provide dental services in every public school, plan mobile providers in each public health district, and train primary care providers.
What it does
Maine’s health department must provide preventive dental services in all public schools. Partnerships may let mobile providers offer additional care and help address dental disease at school.
The department must plan for a mobile dental provider in every public health district. Partnerships help providers get equipment and supplies and arrange how the service will operate.
The department must train primary care providers to treat tooth problems in infants and young children. Licensed dental professionals provide the training, and $325,000 is set aside for 2026–27 to support school services and ongoing training.
Argument forChildren could receive preventive dental care at school, and trained primary care providers could help treat tooth problems early.
Argument againstSetting up mobile dental services in each district could require coordination and funding, while the text provides $325,000 for 2026–27.
More detail
The Department of Health and Human Services must provide preventive oral health services in public schools through the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. This applies to all public schools in Maine. The department must form partnerships with public or state agencies, schools, and private groups to let mobile providers offer additional preventive care and disease intervention services. The amended page shows January 1, 2027 as the operative deadline; January 1, 2025 is struck out.
The Department of Health and Human Services must establish a model for mobile dental service providers in each public health district and form partnerships to set them up. The model covers each public health district in Maine. The model is based on the Cumberland County School Oral Health Project. Mobile dental services take place somewhere other than a permanent dental clinic. Partnerships help providers obtain equipment and supplies and arrange logistics and operations.
The Department of Health and Human Services’ oral health program must train and educate primary care providers on minimally invasive dental treatment for infants and small children. The training covers primary care providers treating infants and small children. Licensed dental health professionals must provide the training. Using guidance from From the First Tooth or its successor and the American Academy of Pediatrics, the department must encourage pediatricians to use silver diamine fluoride in primary care settings. The appropriation is for fiscal year 2026–27.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 16Signed by Governor Janet MillsLatest
- Apr 14PASSED TO BE ENACTED, in concurrence.Major
- Apr 13Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
- Apr 13PASSED TO BE ENACTED.Passed 2nd Chamber
- Apr 13ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
- Apr 13The House RECEDED and CONCURRED to PASSAGE TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (H-585) as Amended by Senate Amendment "A" (S-699) thereto.Minor
- Apr 13Sent down for concurrence.
- Apr 13PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED BY Committee Amendment "A" (H-585) as Amended by Senate Amendment "A" (S-699) thereto in NON-CONCURRENCE.Minor
- Apr 13Committee Amendment "A" (H-585) as Amended by Senate Amendment "A" (S-699) thereto ADOPTED.Minor
- Apr 13On further motion by Same Senator Senate Amendment "A" (S-699) to Committee Amendment "A" (H-585) READ and ADOPTED.
- Apr 13On further motion by Same Senator the Senate SUSPENDED THE RULES to RECONSIDER their actions whereby Committee Amendment "A" (H-585) was ADOPTED.Minor
- Apr 13On motion by Same Senator the Senate SUSPENDED THE RULES to RECONSIDER their actions whereby the Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED by Committee Amendment "A" (H-585) in concurrence.Minor
- Apr 13On motion by Senator ROTUNDO of Androscoggin taken from the Special Appropriations Table
- 2025
- Jun 25CARRIED OVER, in the same posture, to any special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature, pursuant to Joint Order SP 800.
- Jun 11On motion by Senator ROTUNDO of Androscoggin PLACED ON THE SPECIAL APPROPRIATIONS TABLE pending ENACTMENT in concurrence.
- Jun 10Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
- Jun 10PASSED TO BE ENACTED.Became Law
- Jun 10Ordered sent down forthwith.
- Jun 10Under suspension of the Rules, READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED BY Committee Amendment "A" (H-585), in concurrence.Minor
- Jun 10Committee Amendment "A" (H-585) READ and ADOPTED, in concurrence.Minor
- Jun 10READ ONCE.Minor
- Jun 10Report READ and ACCEPTED, in concurrence.
- Jun 9Reported Out - OTP-AM
- Jun 9Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
- Jun 9The Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (H-585).Minor
- Jun 9Under suspension of the rules CONSENT CALENDAR - SECOND DAY.
- Jun 9CONSENT CALENDAR - FIRST DAY
- May 16Voted - OTP-AM
- May 16Work Session Held
- Apr 22The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES in concurrenceMinor
- Apr 22Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
- Apr 22The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.Minor
- Apr 22Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed.Introduced
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