IllinoisSB1463104th General Assembly (2025–2026)SenateWALLET

DENTAL PRACTICE ACT EXTENSION

Sponsored By: Julie A. Morrison (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

Summary

Amends the Regulatory Sunset Act. Changes the repeal date of the Illinois Dental Practice Act from January 1, 2026 to January 1, 2036. Amends the Illinois Dental Practice Act. In the definition of "branches of dentistry", adds oral and maxillofacial pathology, dental public health, oral medicine, and orofacial pain to the included specialties. Creates a temporary dental hygiene license for dental students who meet certain requirements. Provides that a licensee holding a temporary dental hygiene license must practice under the supervision of a dentist. Provides that the temporary dental hygiene license is active for one year from its issuance date. Changes the implementation deadline for an order regarding the services that are necessary to be performed on a patient who is in a State or federal prison and who cannot travel to a dental office to 180 days of the order's issuance (rather than 45 days of the order's issuance). Removes language providing that provisions concerning public health dentistry are inoperative on and after January 1, 2026. Effective immediately.

assignmentslicensed activitieshealth care licenses

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

Dental applicants can work before licensing

Illinois general dentist and dental hygienist applicants can work while their license applications are pending. They must pass the state-approved exam, give employers official written proof, submit their applications, and pay the required fees. They must work under tasks delegated by a licensed general dentist. Permission ends when the license is issued, the application is denied, or the licensing department directs them to stop. It also ends six months after the exam date, unless the department extends that period by rule.

Prison patients face longer dental care deadlines

Dental hygiene orders for patients in state or federal prisons can take up to 180 days to carry out. The usual deadline is 45 days after the order is issued. This rule covers patients unable to travel to a dental office because of illness, infirmity, or imprisonment. A dentist must examine and diagnose the patient, or use approved remote dental methods, determine needed services, and issue an order.

Assistants keep providing limited children's dental care

The law keeps trained dental assistants' authority to remove tartar above the gumline and place temporary fillings after January 1, 2026. For tartar removal, patients must be 17 or younger, without gum disease, medical complications, or special needs. They must qualify for Medicaid, be uninsured, or have household income at or below 300% of the federal poverty level. Assistants need at least 2,000 hours of direct patient care experience and must complete the required training. An approved tooth-polishing course must come before the tartar-removal course. That course requires at least 32 hours, a skills assessment, and dentist sign-off on six full-mouth procedures, unless an approved dental education program provides the training. Assistants must use hand tools, and a dentist can supervise no more than two assistants removing tartar at once.

Public health dental care continues for patients

The law removes January 1, 2026 deadlines that ended the public health dental hygienist service rules and supervision framework. Certified hygienists can continue providing preventive care and screenings in community settings under written agreements with dentists. Patients must qualify for Medicaid or be uninsured with household income at or below 300% of the federal poverty level. Hygienists need two years of full-time clinical experience or 4,000 clinical hours, plus at least 42 hours of public health training. They also need four additional hours of public health continuing education each year. Dentists must remain available for contact and conduct quarterly in-person reviews; consent, referral, and recordkeeping rules continue. This pathway does not allow local anesthesia, nitrous oxide, periodontal therapy, or placing, carving, or finishing amalgam fillings.

Dentists gain four recognized specialty areas

The law adds four areas to the dental specialties recognized in Illinois. They are oral and maxillofacial pathology, dental public health, oral medicine, and orofacial pain. This expands the statutory list used for dental practice and licensing.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Julie A. Morrison

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Abdelnasser Rashid

    Democratic • House

  • Gregg Johnson

    Democratic • House

  • Janet Yang Rohr

    Democratic • House

  • Javier L. Cervantes

    Democratic • Senate

  • Theresa Mah

    Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 182 • No: 0

House vote • 5/21/2025

Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed

Yes: 111 • No: 0

House vote • 4/23/2025

Do Pass / Short Debate Health Care Licenses Committee;

Yes: 13 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/3/2025

Third Reading - Passed;

Yes: 52 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/19/2025

Do Pass as Amended Licensed Activities;

Yes: 6 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0103

    8/1/2025Senate
  2. Effective Date August 1, 2025

    8/1/2025Senate
  3. Governor Approved

    8/1/2025Senate
  4. Sent to the Governor

    6/18/2025Senate
  5. Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid

    5/21/2025House
  6. Passed Both Houses

    5/21/2025Senate
  7. Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 111-000-000

    5/21/2025House
  8. Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate

    5/16/2025House
  9. Second Reading - Short Debate

    5/16/2025House
  10. Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Gregg Johnson

    5/2/2025House
  11. Added Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Janet Yang Rohr

    4/23/2025House
  12. Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate

    4/23/2025House
  13. Do Pass / Short Debate Health Care Licenses Committee; 013-000-000

    4/23/2025House
  14. Assigned to Health Care Licenses Committee

    4/17/2025House
  15. Referred to Rules Committee

    4/7/2025House
  16. First Reading

    4/7/2025House
  17. Chief House Sponsor Rep. Theresa Mah

    4/4/2025House
  18. Arrived in House

    4/4/2025House
  19. Third Reading - Passed; 052-000-000

    4/3/2025Senate
  20. Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Javier L. Cervantes

    3/21/2025Senate
  21. Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading April 1, 2025

    3/20/2025Senate
  22. Second Reading

    3/20/2025Senate
  23. Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading March 20, 2025

    3/19/2025Senate
  24. Do Pass as Amended Licensed Activities; 006-000-000

    3/19/2025Senate
  25. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Adopted

    3/19/2025Senate

Bill Text

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