The 2025-2026 legislative session in Pennsylvania commenced on January 6, 2025. Once again, the state operates under a split legislature, with Republicans maintaining control of the Senate and Democrats hoping to retain their slim majority after the special election to fill one seat.
Legislative Activity and Key Bills
Lawmakers in Harrisburg have actively introduced and advanced numerous bills. In alignment with the 2025 Policy Agenda, PCOH has been monitoring several key pieces of legislation, including:
- SCO 108 – Restoring Dental Coverage for Medical Assistance Recipients.
- HCO 284 – Advisory Opinions from Licensing Boards.
- SB 81 & HCO 721 – Legislation authorizing Pennsylvania to join the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact and outlining its structure.
- HCO 1412 – American Association of Dental Boards Dental & Dental Hygiene Compact Legislation.
- HB 157 – Establishing grant awards for entities in rural counties and designated medically underserved areas to address practitioner education debt. As of 2/5/2025, this bill was unanimously amended by the House Health committee to include dentists and dental hygienists as eligible awardees and passed out of committee with unanimous support.
Governor’s Budget Address
On February 4, 2025, Governor Josh Shapiro delivered his third budget address. The Governor shared that “Pennsylvania is on the rise” as he proposed a budget with dedicated funding to address healthcare workforce issues and healthcare cost transparency. While it does not appear that funding to restore the comprehensive dental benefit is openly included in the DHS program budget, PCOH will continue to advocate for this need as the General Assembly prepares to commence budget hearings and negotiate budget priorities.
Federal Developments and Impact on Pennsylvania
With the beginning of President Trump’s second term, significant federal activity has raised concerns regarding dental care access in Pennsylvania. A recent executive order freezing federal funding caused temporary disruptions in state Medicaid portal access. Although a U.S. District judge has blocked this freeze, uncertainty remains about the future of federal funding for state-funded programs. Any reductions at the federal level could impact critical services for under-resourced communities
across Pennsylvania.
Additionally, hearings are underway to determine the composition of President Trump’s cabinet, including the Secretary of Health and Human Services. President Trump has nominated Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. for the role, a decision met with opposition from various public health and medical organizations due to his controversial stance on vaccines and community water fluoridation. The Senate Finance Committee approved his nomination in a narrow 14-13 vote, sending it to the Senate floor for final consideration.
PCOH will continue monitoring these legislative and policy developments to ensure Pennsylvanians maintain access to essential dental care services.