All Roll Calls
Yes: 186 • No: 0
IllinoisSB2492104th General Assembly (2025–2026)SenateWALLET
DENTAL PRACTICE ACT
Sponsored By: Suzy Glowiak Hilton (Democratic)
Became Law
assignmentslicensed activitieshealth care licenses
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
19 provisions identified: 12 benefits, 1 costs, 6 mixed.
Getting and keeping a dental license
The law requires a state license to practice dentistry. You must apply with the fee, take the next exam, and pass within set time limits or lose the fee. Applications expire after 3 years without a pass. The Department issues general, specialty, temporary training, and 3‑year faculty licenses. New residents in CODA programs may practice up to 3 months pre‑license, with a written extension allowed. Out‑of‑state dentists from similar‑standard states with 2 years of recent practice can get licensed by endorsement. All licenses renew every 3 years. You must show current BLS; up to 4 CE hours count. You can restore an expired license within 5 years with fees and CE; after 5 years you may need more proof or a practical exam. Military members can renew without lapsed fees if within 2 years after service ends. You may elect inactive status, but you cannot practice while inactive.
Dentists can give adults flu shots
Dentists who complete state training may give flu shots to patients age 18 or older. A doctor’s prescription or standing order is required. The dentist must give the shot, record it, notify your primary doctor, and add it to the state registry. For covered shots, the dentist must be credentialed by your health plan. Medicare or Medicaid shots are allowed only if federal or state authorities approve. This authority ends January 1, 2026.
Free dental care from visiting dentists
If you are on Medicaid or uninsured and your household income is at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, you can get free care from visiting dentists. The dentist must be invited by a charity or approved education sponsor and be in good standing. The dentist works with an Illinois dentist who is physically present during clinical training. The permit covers up to five straight clinical days within six months and is usually limited to once per year. No moderate, deep, or general anesthesia is allowed. The Department can charge a fee, cancel permits, and fine up to $10,000.
Clear scope and tougher discipline
The law spells out what counts as practicing dentistry, like diagnosing, treating, extractions, X‑rays, and fitting or repairing dental appliances, and notes specific exemptions. The Department can fine dentists and hygienists up to $10,000 per violation and take license action for listed misconduct. For hygienists, most cases must start within 5 years of a complaint (up to 7 years for fraud), and returning after more than 5 years of suspension or revocation requires meeting restoration rules.
Faster license suspensions to protect patients
The Secretary can suspend a dental license right away when a provider is an immediate danger, including on notice from top health officials. A hearing happens within 15 days. If a court orders your involuntary mental health admission, your license is suspended until the Board clears you. The Department can require mental or physical exams; refusing leads to automatic suspension until you comply. If you do not answer charges on time, the Secretary can discipline you by default. When discipline is ordered, you must surrender your license or the Department can seize it. Sanctions for patient-care issues stay in place during court review.
Expanded dental team duties through 2025
The law defines what hygienists can do, like cleanings, X‑rays, and some preventive care. With approved training, they may give or monitor nitrous oxide and local anesthesia. General supervision is allowed if the patient had a dentist exam within the past year and it is noted. An office may have at most four hygienists per dentist. Certified public health hygienists may treat Medicaid or uninsured patients with income up to 300% of the federal poverty level, but this ends January 1, 2026. Dentists and public health hygienists must have a written supervision agreement, meet in person at least quarterly, and follow record and reporting rules. Trained dental assistants may do more restorative tasks. A dentist may supervise only a limited number of assistants, and coronal scaling is limited to certain patients. Most of these expanded team duties end on January 1, 2026.
Clear dental ads, credentials, and directories
Dentists must keep ads truthful. They cannot claim superior care, promise pain‑free dentistry, or use “sedation dentistry” without a permit. Gifts to lure patients are banned, though free exams are allowed. Practices with more than one location must tell health plans where a dentist is taking new patients. Plans must remove a listing within 10 business days after notice. Dentists and hygienists must display their license where patients can see it and show it on request. Duplicates are available if lost or for use at more than one office.
Keep a dental practice running after death
If a dentist dies or becomes incapacitated, a representative may hire another dentist to run the practice for up to one year or until sale. They must file a notice with the Department first and, within 30 days, mail patients seen in the last 12 months information on getting records. The Department may extend operations in 12‑month blocks, can end them after a hearing for violations, or end them immediately if there is an urgent threat. The operator can ask for a hearing within 30 days after written notice of an immediate shutdown.
Stronger rules on dental financing offers
When a dentist talks about third‑party financing or hands you an application, you must get a written notice in at least 14‑point type. It explains that the loan is from a separate lender, lists risks and alternatives, and shows how to file complaints. Dentists and staff may not arrange or broker loans, submit applications, or provide devices to apply. They may not promote financing while you are sedated, in treatment, or in treatment areas without a separate space. The Department posts the model notice online. Violations can bring fines.
Stronger truth-in-dentist advertising
Dentists may advertise only allowed facts like services offered, name, hours, address, phone, specialties, and usual fees. If you advertise a listed specialty you are not licensed in, the ad must say you are not licensed in that specialty. The Department of Public Health sets rules to enforce these standards.
Liability shield for peer review work
Dentists who serve on peer review committees are immune from civil damages for committee decisions, findings, or recommendations, unless they act with willful or wanton misconduct. Professional groups that run peer review get the same immunity.
Dental financing disclosures and fines
Dentists must follow consumer‑protection rules for third‑party financing, including a clear, 14‑point disclosure that outside financing is not the dentist’s payment plan. The Department can set the forms and procedures. Breaking these rules can bring a fine up to $500 for the first violation and up to $1,000 for each later violation, plus other discipline if other laws are also violated.
Dental responders can help in emergencies
During a declared local, State, or national emergency, designated dental responders may provide disaster response, immunizations, mobile, and humanitarian care within their license. This expands the pool of trained people who can help in an emergency.
Felony for dental credential fraud
Filing someone else’s diploma or license as your own, or a forged affidavit, is a Class 3 felony. Penalties include fines and prison under Illinois forgery laws. This criminal rule ends January 1, 2026.
Tighter license application and payment rules
Applicants and licensees must give a current mailing and email address and report changes within 14 days. An original license application must include an SSN or ITIN, and renewals must use the Department customer ID. If a payment to the Department bounces, you owe a $50 fine plus the unpaid amount and must pay by certified funds within 30 days or face license termination or denial.
Safer dentures and lab record rules
Dentures and removable prostheses must be marked with the patient’s name in a permanent, legible way, unless that is not possible. Older unmarked devices must be marked at rebasing or duplication. Dentists and labs must have written prescriptions for prosthetic work, keep records for 3 years, and allow inspections. Violations are Class A misdemeanors and can lead to license discipline.
More tracking and disclosure for dental labs
Dentists must use Department forms when ordering extraoral prosthetic work, and both the dentist and lab must keep records for 3 years. If a lab uses a subcontractor, the lab must link the order to the original prescription, give a copy to the dentist, and both must keep records for 3 years. Labs must also tell the dentist where the work was done and where materials came from.
New Board of Dentistry structure
The law creates an 11‑member Board of Dentistry with 8 dentists, 2 hygienists (each licensed at least 5 years), and 1 public member. Members serve 4‑year terms, meet at least quarterly, and get per diem pay set by the Secretary. Members have limited immunity for good‑faith discipline work, and the Secretary may remove members for cause.
Clear rules for dental investigations and hearings
Department investigators can enter and inspect dental offices during business hours. With reasonable cause, they can subpoena patient records without consent; those records stay confidential and are shared only with law enforcement or other dental boards. Before an in-person interview, investigators must give written notice, and you may delay to consult counsel. Hearings can be run by a hearing officer; the Board has 60 days to act, and you have 20 days to ask for a rehearing. Notices may be sent by email, and state administrative hearing rules apply. To seek court review, file in your home county (or in Sangamon County if you live out of state) and first pay the Department’s record‑certification costs; exhibits are certified at no cost. The Department may pay subpoena fees and mileage, and large consent orders (over $10,000 fines or a suspension/revocation) need both Board and Secretary approval.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Suzy Glowiak Hilton
Democratic • Senate
Cosponsors
Bob Morgan
Democratic • House
Jawaharial Williams
Democratic • House
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 5/22/2025
Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed
Yes: 111 • No: 0 • Other: 1
House vote • 4/23/2025
Do Pass / Short Debate Health Care Licenses Committee;
Yes: 13 • No: 0
Senate vote • 4/9/2025
Third Reading - Passed;
Yes: 56 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/19/2025
Do Pass as Amended Licensed Activities;
Yes: 6 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0151
8/1/2025SenateEffective Date January 1, 2026; Some Provisions
8/1/2025SenateEffective Date August 1, 2025; Some Provisions
8/1/2025SenateGovernor Approved
8/1/2025SenateSent to the Governor
6/20/2025SenatePassed Both Houses
5/22/2025SenateThird Reading - Short Debate - Passed 111-000-001
5/22/2025HousePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate
5/14/2025HouseSecond Reading - Short Debate
5/14/2025HousePlaced on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate
4/23/2025HouseDo Pass / Short Debate Health Care Licenses Committee; 013-000-000
4/23/2025HouseAdded Alternate Co-Sponsor Rep. Jawaharial Williams
4/23/2025HouseAssigned to Health Care Licenses Committee
4/17/2025HouseReferred to Rules Committee
4/9/2025HouseFirst Reading
4/9/2025HouseChief House Sponsor Rep. Bob Morgan
4/9/2025HouseArrived in House
4/9/2025HouseThird Reading - Passed; 056-000-000
4/9/2025SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading
4/9/2025SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading **
4/4/2025SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading April 2, 2025
4/1/2025SenateSecond Reading
4/1/2025SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading March 20, 2025
3/19/2025SenateDo Pass as Amended Licensed Activities; 006-000-000
3/19/2025SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Adopted
3/19/2025Senate
Bill Text
Engrossed
Enrolled
Introduced
Senate Amendment 1