Washington state’s 105-day legislative session adjourned, on time, on Sunday, April 23, 2023. This session WSDA tracked several bills concerning dental-related issues, workforce, insurance, small business issues, employer/employee matters, and much more. A complete summary of legislation and budget items that may impact you as a provider, business owner, employer, or employee will be available soon. Below is an update on WSDA’s week 15 activities in Olympia.

Update on Legislation from Weeks 1-14 Blogs

Faculty in Dental Schools (Senate Bill 5113)

SB 5113 modernizes Washington’s dental faculty licensure law by expanding faculty licenses beyond the University of Washington School of Dentistry to apply to future accredited dental schools. SB 5113 allows any CODA-accredited dental school in Washington state to request temporary licensure for persons who have accepted faculty employment at the school and allows dental schools to request limited licensure for postdoctoral students or postdoctoral residents. This bill ensures that faculty of the recently established Pacific Northwest University School of Dental Medicine, along with future CODA-accredited dental schools, are able to obtain a faculty license.



SB 5113 was signed into law by Governor Inslee on April 14.

SB 5113 passed the House of Representatives unanimously on April 5, and floor action can be viewed on TVW [41:01-42:52].

SB 5113 passed out of the House Post Secondary Education & Workforce Committee with a do pass recommendation on March 17, and executive session can be viewed on TVW [8:00-10:30].

SB 5113 had a public hearing in the House Post Secondary Education & Workforce Committee on March 14, and testimony can be viewed on TVW [14:07-16:20 and 39:08-40:51].

SB 5113 passed the Senate unanimously on Feb. 22, and floor action can be viewed on TVW [1:17:13-1:21:27].

SB 5113 had a public hearing in the Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee on Jan 19, and Dr. Fotinos Panagakos, Dean of the School of Dental Medicine at PNWU, testified in support. Dean Panagakos’ testimony can be viewed on TVW [1:03:42-1:06:16]. SB 5113 passed out of the Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee unanimously on Jan. 24.

WSDA signed in PRO on SB 5113.

Concerning Water Systems' Notice to Customers of Public Health Considerations (Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1251)

ESHB 1251 requires a public water system to notify customers and the Department of Health of intentions to start or stop water fluoridation. Further, the bill requires a public water system in violation of the notification requirements to return fluoridation to its prior level until the notification requirements have been satisfied.



ESHB 1251 was signed into law by Governor Inslee on April 20.

ESHB 1251 passed out of the Senate unanimously – with one excused – on April 10, and floor action can be viewed on TVW [3:44:12-3:48:06].

ESHB 1251 passed out of the Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee on March 14, and executive session can be viewed on TVW [1:45:50-1:46:00 and 1:48:53-1:49:17].

ESHB 1251 had a public hearing in the Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee on March 10, and testimony can be viewed on TVW [1:00:15-1:23:55].

ESHB 1251 passed out of the House of Representatives unanimously – with one excused – on Feb. 9, and floor action can be viewed on TVW [6:05-10:55].

Dr. Chris Delecki, former WSDA President, testified in support of SHB 1251 during the bill’s public hearing in the House Local Government Committee on Jan. 24, and Dr. Delecki’s testimony can be viewed on TVW [58:30-1:00:54].

Questions?

Please contact WSDA at info@wsda.org.