Ohio House Bill HB916

Ohio 2025-2026 Regular Session

Caption

To enact section 3701.27 of the Revised Code to establish the Children's Dental Services Program and to make an appropriation.

Summary

HB916 would create a new Children’s Dental Services Program within the Ohio Department of Health by July 1, 2027. The program would provide dental screenings, treatment, and preventive care for children who live in underserved areas, with additional eligibility criteria to be set by the department. The bill specifically contemplates using mobile dental units to deliver services at schools and in underserved communities. The bill also includes a direct appropriation of $3 million from the General Revenue Fund for fiscal year 2027 to support the program, with any unspent balance reappropriated for fiscal year 2028. The Department of Health would be responsible for administering the program and focusing on improving children’s access to dental care and reducing dental caries (tooth decay) among children.

Impact

HB916 would add a new section to the Revised Code, section 3701.27, creating statutory authority for a state-run children’s dental access program and directing the Department of Health to establish it. It would also create a new line-item appropriation for the Department of Health, making the program a funded state initiative rather than only a policy directive. The bill would primarily affect children in underserved areas, schools, mobile dental providers, and the Department of Health, while potentially expanding access to preventive and restorative dental services in communities with limited dental care availability.

Sentiment

Because the bill was only introduced and no committee transcript or vote history is available, there is no recorded floor or committee sentiment to measure. Based on the text alone, the bill appears broadly public-health oriented and aimed at expanding access to care for children, with an emphasis on prevention and service delivery in underserved areas. The absence of recorded opposition or amendments means the available context does not show any formal support or resistance yet.

Contention

No specific points of contention are documented in the available materials. Potential areas of debate, based on the bill’s structure, could include the adequacy of the $3 million appropriation, how the Department of Health would define underserved areas and other eligibility criteria, and whether mobile dental units are the most effective delivery model. Another possible issue is the bill’s reliance on future administrative rulemaking to determine who qualifies for services and how the program will operate.