Massachusetts legislation · 194th General Court
Massachusetts H4869: An Act to improve oral health for all Massachusetts residents
Status: In committee, July 27, 2026
What the bill says
From the introduced text, January 5, 2026:
SECTION 1. Chapter 71 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after Section 34H the following new section:- Section 34I. A public school shall notify the parent or legal guardian of a pupil described in the second paragraph of section 57 of chapter 71 concerning the importance of oral health screenings. The department of public health, in consultation with the board of registration in dentistry, shall develop a standard form of notice containing, at minimum, information on the importance of primary teeth; information on the importance of oral health to overall health as it relates to learning; contact information for local public health departments; and information about programs and services to access affordable dental care. SECTION 2. Paragraph 4 of subsection (d) of section 7 of chapter 94C of the General Laws, is hereby amended by striking out the words "practical nurse or a licensed dental hygienist" and inserting in place thereof the following words:- practical nurse; a licensed dental therapist under the supervision of a practitioner as defined in section 1 for the purposes of administering analgesics, anti-inflammatories and antibiotics only; or a licensed dental hygienist. SECTION 3. Subsection (a) of section 9 of said chapter 94C is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph:- A practitioner, as defined in section 1, may cause controlled substances to …
Sponsors
- Health, Joint Committee on Public (I) · primary sponsor
- Jason Lewis (D, Fifth Middlesex)
- Marc Lombardo (R, 22nd Middlesex)
- Tricia Farley-Bouvier (D, 2nd Berkshire)
- Bradley Jones (R)
- Tarr, Andrew (D, 5th Essex)
- Natalie Higgins (D, 4th Worcester)
- Christine Barber (D)
- James Eldridge (D, Middlesex and Worcester)
- Samantha Montaño (D)
- Rodney Elliott (D)
- Lindsay Sabadosa (D, 1st Hampshire)
Latest actions
- : Committee recommended bill ought to pass and referred to the committee on House Ways and Means
- : Reporting date extended to Thursday, December 31, 2026
- : Reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Health Care Financing
- : New draft of H2410
- : Reported from the committee on Public Health
Votes
- Committee Vote - Joint Committee on Health Care Financing (July 16, 2026): 13 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Committee Vote - Joint Committee on Public Health (December 9, 2025): 10 yea, 0 nay, passed
Common questions
- What is H4869?
- H4869 is a bill in the Massachusetts Legislature (194th General Court): An Act to improve oral health for all Massachusetts residents.
- What is the status of H4869?
- In committee as of July 27, 2026. Latest action: Committee recommended bill ought to pass and referred to the committee on House Ways and Means (July 27, 2026).
- Who sponsored H4869?
- Health, Joint Committee on Public (I), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for H4869?
- On the Massachusetts Legislature website: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H4869
Source: official Massachusetts record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.