West Virginia House Bill HB2301

West Virginia 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/12/25
• Refer: 2/12/25

Caption

Relating to authorizing the Board of Dentistry to promulgate a legislative rule relating to mobile dental facilities and portable dental units

Summary

HB2301 authorizes the West Virginia Board of Dentistry to promulgate a legislative rule governing mobile dental facilities and portable dental units. The bill does not itself create a new regulatory program; rather, it gives legislative approval to an existing rule filed by the Board of Dentistry and revised to address concerns raised by the Legislative Rule-Making Review Committee. The measure concerns the operation and regulation of dental services delivered outside of a traditional brick-and-mortar office, including mobile clinics and portable equipment used in schools, community settings, long-term care facilities, and other outreach locations. By authorizing the rule, the Legislature would allow the Board’s standards for these services to take effect under state administrative law.

Impact

HB2301 would amend West Virginia Code §64-9-1 to authorize a specific legislative rule of the Board of Dentistry, thereby giving the rule legal force. The practical effect is to confirm the Board’s authority to regulate mobile dental facilities and portable dental units, which may affect dentists, dental hygienists, dental practices, public health providers, and organizations that deliver dental care in nontraditional settings. It also reinforces the Legislature’s oversight role in the state rulemaking process by approving a rule that was modified in response to committee objections.

Sentiment

The available context suggests generally neutral to favorable sentiment, since the bill is a routine authorization of a rule rather than a controversial policy change. The bill text indicates the rule was already revised to meet objections from the Legislative Rule-Making Review Committee, which suggests the main concerns were technical or administrative rather than ideological. No votes or committee transcripts were provided, so there is no evidence of organized opposition or strong public debate in the available record.

Contention

The only notable point of contention apparent from the bill text is the prior objection by the Legislative Rule-Making Review Committee, which required the Board of Dentistry to modify and refile the rule before legislative authorization. That suggests the discussion likely centered on the scope, wording, or administrative details of the rule for mobile and portable dental services. No other specific disputes, stakeholder positions, or floor debate are available in the provided materials.