2015 Legislative Wrap Up

Vermont Dental Hygienists’ Association
PO Box 1482
Williston VT, 05495-1482

** 06/05/2015 **

2015 Legislative Wrap Up

S.20, a bill that allows dental therapists to practice in Vermont, passed the
Senate floor with an 18 – 8 vote on April 3, 2015. This legislation, sponsored by Sen. Claire Ayer (D-Addison), Sen. Michael Sirotkin (D-Chittenden), and Sen. Jeanette White (D-Windham), will increase access to affordable, quality dental care for all Vermonters.

Dental therapists will work within a narrowly defined scope of practice to provide important and needed routine and preventive care to underserved Vermonters. They will be trained at Vermont Technical College, which has more than a decade of experience providing high quality training for dental hygienists in Vermont, and will based solely on a licensed dental hygienist.

In addition to the votes on the Senate floor, the bill has received support from the
Shumlin Administration and a diverse statewide coalition, including children’s advocates,
non-profit clinics, dental providers, advocates for seniors, the past two state dental directors, and over 1,000 petition signers statewide.

The bill will head to the House when the 2016 legislative session opens in January. Over the next few months, VDHA will continue to work with coalition leaders to prepare for the final steps toward passage of the bill in 2016.

The Executive Board of the Vermont Dental Hygienists’ Association thanks all of you who have supported this bill through phone calls, emails, and conversations with your legislators and the public. We still face stiff opposition from the Vermont Dental Society, and will be calling on your vocal support again in the near future.

Thank you for supporting the professional organization that supports you!

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