Washington legislation · 2025-26 Regular Session
Washington HB2522: Preventive dental care
Status: In committee, January 16, 2026
Advancing oral health equity and protecting access to preventive dental care.
What the bill says
An act Relating to advancing oral health equity and protecting access to preventive dental care amid federal and private sector coverage restrictions; adding a new section to chapter 48.43 RCW; and creating a new section. NEW SECTION.
From the introduced text:
AN ACT Relating to advancing oral health equity and protecting access to preventive dental care amid federal and private sector coverage restrictions; adding a new section to chapter 48.43 RCW; and creating a new section. NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) The legislature finds (b) Untreated oral health issues are strongly linked to systemic health conditions, such as diabetes, early-onset Alzheimer's, cardiovascular disease, pregnancy complications, and respiratory illness. By improving access to early preventive intervention, progression of these chronic conditions can be mitigated, and the long-term health of Washington patients is improved; and (c) Recent federal actions propose removing or restricting fluoride, including the federal food and drug administration's consideration of pulling ingestible fluoride supplements for children and efforts to scale back community water fluoridation. National dental leaders from the American dental association and the American academy of pediatric dentistry have warned that such policies would unravel decades of public health progress and disproportionately harm vulnerable populations. Yet, at the same time these federal actions are being considered, some dental benefit carriers continue to impose age, frequency, and other limitations on coverage for preventive dental care even when patient benefit dollars remain available. These combined federal and private sector actions create unnecessary barriers to essential preventive dental services, such as fluoride application, placement of sealants, and oral cancer screenings. (2) Therefore, …
Sponsors
- My-Linh Thai (D) · primary sponsor
- Valdez, Michelle (R)
- Lisa Parshley (D)
- Timm Ormsby (D)
- Brandy Donaghy (D)
- Mary Fosse (D)
- Lisa Callan (D)
Latest actions
- : First reading, referred to Health Care & Wellness.
Subjects: DENTISTS AND DENTISTRY
Common questions
- What is HB2522?
- HB2522 is a bill in the Washington Legislature (2025-26 Regular Session): Preventive dental care.
- What does HB2522 do?
- In its own words: An act Relating to advancing oral health equity and protecting access to preventive dental care amid federal and private sector coverage restrictions; adding a new section to chapter 48.43 RCW; and creating a new section. NEW SECTION.
- What is the status of HB2522?
- In committee as of January 16, 2026. Latest action: First reading, referred to Health Care & Wellness. (January 16, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB2522?
- My-Linh Thai (D), with 6 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB2522?
- On the Washington Legislature website: https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=2522&Year=2025
Source: official Washington record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.