Jessica Gomez, Iowa '27 was named ASDA's 2025 National Legislative Liaison of the Year at the Gold Crown Awards Ceremony at Annual Session.

The event was supported by ASDA’s Legislative Grassroots Network event grant, awarded annually. More information about next year’s LGN event grant cycle will be available in Fall 2025. 

Attending a Lobby Day Event This Year?

ASDA's 2024-25 Council on Advocacy hosted a Lobby Day prep webinar earlier this month to prepare you to successfully lobby for the future of dentistry. Watch a recording of the webinar here.

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Confirmed as Secretary for HHS

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. was confirmed as the Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary with a 52-48 vote in the U.S. Senate. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) was the lone Republican to vote across party lines. 

As Secretary of HHS, Kennedy will lead the Food and Drug Administration, National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and other key healthcare agencies in the federal government. 

During his confirmation hearing, he also acknowledged the importance of vaccinations to promote public health, despite his history of promoting false claims questioning the safety of vaccines. 

Department of Education Reforms Could Impact Student Loans

The Trump administration has announced its plans to abolish the U.S. Department of Education. Federal student loans, grants, and work-study loans are currently approved by the Department of Education’s Office of Federal Student Aid. Should the Department of Education be dissolved under the Trump administration, student loans will most likely be housed under the U.S. Treasury Department. 

Student debt relief programs and even the way loan payments are collected could change with the department’s dissolution. The Department of Education adheres to the Higher Education Act of 1965’s outlined borrower rights, a policy the U.S. Treasury Department may not choose to uphold. 

ASDA will continue to monitor federal education policies affecting dental student loans in accordance with Policy F-4 on Student Debt. 

Utah Bans Fluoride

Last month, the Utah state legislature passed a bill banning public water system fluoridation. Sponsors of the bill argued that fluoride consumption should be decided by individuals, rather than promoting widescale fluoridation in communities.  

This bill follows the Food & Water Watch v. EPA decision, in which a court ordered the EPA to “engage with a regulatory response” after a citizen petition was denied by the EPA. The petition, as well as sponsors of the Utah House bill, cite claims that fluoride causes adverse health effects. 

The bill passed the legislature and was signed by Governor Spencer Cox. This new law takes effect May 7, 2025.

Mississippi House Advances Bill to Expand Rural Dentist Scholarships

The Mississippi House passed a bill expanding the Mississippi Rural Dentist Scholarship Program from three admitted students per year to six. In partnership with the University of Mississippi Medical Center, the program recruits undergraduate students interested in practicing dentistry in rural areas of the state and provides support and resources through dental school and in the early phases of participants’ practices. 

More information about the Mississippi Rural Dentist Scholarship can be found here. 

Indiana House Advances Dental Compact Bill

The Indiana House of Representatives passed House Bill 1031, a measure promoting Indiana’s participation in the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact (DDH Compact). The compact, currently in its implementation phase, advances licensure portability across state lines.  

Licensed dentists and dental hygienists in states participating in the DDH Compact may apply for a “compact privilege,” which would permit them to practice in another participating state. Applicants must also meet a host of other requirements, including graduation from an accredited program, passage of examinations required for licensure, and a criminal background check. 

Ten states have joined the compact so far, and 16 additional states- including Indiana- have active legislation proposing adoption. 

Virginia Legislature Advances Bill to Extend Faculty Licensure for Foreign Trained Dentists

In February, the Virginia legislature passed a measure to make permanent a policy that allows the Virginia Board of Dentistry to grant faculty licenses to foreign-trained dentists. This bill ensures a pathway for qualified and credentialed international dental educators in Virginia. 

The bill has passed in Virginia’s House and Senate, and now moves to Governor Glenn Youngkin’s desk to be signed into law.