Adopting the dentist and dental hygienist compact.
Summary
SB 187 adopts the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact in New Hampshire. The bill adds a new section to RSA 317-A establishing an interstate compact that allows dentists and dental hygienists licensed in one participating state to obtain a “compact privilege” to practice in other participating states without obtaining a separate full license in each state. The compact is intended to improve access to dental care, address workforce shortages, and facilitate mobility for licensed professionals, including military members and spouses.
The bill sets out detailed eligibility, reporting, and oversight rules for participating states and licensees. To join and remain in the compact, a state must meet specified licensure, education, background check, continuing education, and data-sharing requirements, and must participate in a centralized data system and commission. Licensees practicing under compact privilege remain subject to the remote state’s scope-of-practice rules and regulatory authority, and adverse actions or investigative information can affect privileges across states. The compact also creates a multi-state commission with rulemaking, enforcement, dispute resolution, and administrative authority, and it includes provisions for fees, public meetings, emergency rules, and termination or withdrawal procedures.
Impact
The bill would amend New Hampshire law by adding RSA 317-A:26-a and superseding conflicting state laws to the extent necessary to implement the compact. It would authorize New Hampshire to participate in a multi-state licensing system for dentists and dental hygienists, require the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification to share licensure and disciplinary data, and allow qualified out-of-state licensees to practice in New Hampshire under compact privilege. The fiscal note anticipates no direct appropriation, but possible ongoing revenue and expenditure increases to the OPLC fund from additional compact-related licensing activity and administrative workload.
Sentiment
The overall sentiment reflected in the bill text and fiscal materials is favorable toward expanding access to dental services and improving professional mobility. The stated purpose of the compact emphasizes reducing duplicative licensing burdens, supporting workforce needs, and helping military families. No committee transcript or vote record is provided, so there is no recorded opposition or support beyond the bill’s pro-access framing and the fiscal note’s neutral administrative assessment.
Contention
The main points of potential contention are administrative burden, fee impacts, and state regulatory control. The fiscal note indicates the OPLC expects additional processing costs and possible fee increases if compact participation leads to a significant volume of applications. The compact also raises policy questions about how much authority is centralized in the interstate commission versus retained by New Hampshire, especially regarding rulemaking, disciplinary information sharing, and the effect of remote-state adverse actions on a licensee’s privileges in all participating states. Another possible issue is the requirement that participating states adopt substantially similar compact language and data-sharing systems, which may be viewed as limiting state flexibility.
Health occupations: dentists; dentist and dental hygienist compact; enact. Amends sec. 16601 of 1978 PA 368 (MCL 333.16601) & adds secs. 16187b & 16611a.