Student Health - Program for Student Dental Health - Established
Summary
HB771 establishes a new statewide program for student dental health administered by the Maryland Department of Health, with related responsibilities assigned to the State Department of Education. Beginning in the 2027-2028 school year, every student enrolled in a public elementary or secondary school must submit a certificate of dental health on a schedule set by the Department. The bill also requires the Department of Health to create the certificate, a standard form for dental health certification, and guidance for students and parents on dental insurance, pediatric dentists, and the importance of oral health.
The bill further directs the State Department of Education to support county boards in publishing student dental health information on local school system websites and in student handbooks. It adds a new section to the Health-General Article establishing the program and amends the Education Article to tie school enrollment requirements to the new certificate process. The act takes effect October 1, 2025, but the student submission requirement is delayed until the 2027-2028 school year to allow time for implementation and rulemaking.
Impact
HB771 changes Maryland education and health law by creating a new dental-health compliance framework for public school students and by assigning implementation duties to both the Maryland Department of Health and the State Department of Education. It adds Education § 7-402.1 and Health-General § 20-2302, requiring regulations, standardized forms, and public-facing informational materials, and it affects public elementary and secondary schools, students, parents, health care practitioners, and local school systems.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been received very favorably overall. It passed the House on third reading by a wide margin, 135-2, indicating strong bipartisan support and little visible opposition in the recorded vote. No committee transcript was provided, but the favorable committee report and overwhelming floor vote suggest broad agreement with the bill’s public health and student wellness goals.
Contention
The main practical issues likely concern implementation rather than the policy goal itself: the Department of Health must create standards, forms, and regulations, and schools must begin collecting certificates on a statewide schedule starting in 2027-2028. Potential points of concern include administrative burden on schools and families, access to dental care and insurance, and whether students in underserved areas will be able to obtain the required certification. The recorded vote shows only two nays, so any opposition appears limited and not well documented in the available materials.