2026 legislative report

Arizona dentists had a voice at the Capitol

AzDA worked throughout the 2026 legislative session to protect dental practices, preserve evidence-based oral health policy, defend workforce solutions, improve professional oversight, and expand access to preventive dental care.

Practice protection Public oral health Workforce stability Professional oversight
5 major dental policy issues addressed
2 AzDA-supported measures signed into law
2 harmful proposals successfully stopped
1 access-to-care priority advanced
Featured practice protection

This new law prohibits dental insurance companies and their holding companies from owning dental practices. It helps prevent the same corporate interests that determine coverage and payment from also controlling the practices that deliver patient care.

Limits insurer consolidation Protects clinical independence Preserves patient choice
Results delivered

Signed into law

These AzDA-supported measures became law, creating lasting protections for Arizona dentists and the profession.

2 new laws
HB2308

Protecting dental practices from insurer ownership

Signed into law
Why this matters

Dental insurers and their holding companies may not own business organizations that provide professional dental services to the public.

  • Helps prevent excessive consolidation within the dental market.
  • Reduces conflicts between insurance decisions and patient care.
  • Protects dentists' professional and clinical independence.
  • Supports patient choice and a competitive practice environment.
HB2906

Permanent oral surgeon representation on BODEX

Signed into law
Why this matters

One of the six dentist positions on the Arizona State Board of Dental Examiners must now be held by an actively practicing oral and maxillofacial surgeon.

  • Establishes permanent specialty representation on the Board.
  • Adds relevant surgical expertise to regulatory decisions.
  • Strengthens informed oversight of complex dental procedures.
  • Ensures the appointee is actively practicing at the time of appointment.
Defensive advocacy

Harmful legislation stopped

Effective advocacy is not limited to passing bills. AzDA also works to stop proposals that could harm patients, practices, or previously enacted dental workforce policy.

2 bills stopped
SB1019

Statewide community water fluoridation ban

Stopped
AzDA's position

AzDA opposed the proposed statewide prohibition on adding fluoride to public water systems and helped stop the measure.

  • Preserved local control over community water fluoridation.
  • Defended a long-established preventive oral health measure.
  • Protected communities that rely on fluoridated water.
HB2326

Attempted rollback of the OPA workforce law

Stopped
AzDA's position

The proposal became a strike-everything effort aimed at repealing or weakening the Oral Preventive Assistant law enacted during the prior legislative session.

  • Preserved the new Oral Preventive Assistant workforce pathway.
  • Protected a solution developed in response to staffing shortages.
  • Maintained the law's training and supervision safeguards.
Work continues

Access-to-care priority advanced

Although this measure was not funded in the final state budget, it advanced through the House and kept preventive adult dental coverage before lawmakers.

1 priority advanced
HB2542

Preventive dental care for adult AHCCCS members

Passed House; not funded
What the bill would have done

HB2542 sought to add preventive dental services to the adult AHCCCS dental benefit, allowing eligible patients to receive care before a condition became an emergency.

The bill passed the Arizona House but required funding in the state budget. Because additional funding was unavailable, the proposal was not included in the final budget.

Why the effort still matters
  • Advanced preventive dental coverage through a legislative chamber.
  • Kept adult oral health access visible during budget talks.
  • Built momentum for renewed advocacy in a future session.
These results did not happen by accident

Insurance companies have lobbyists. Arizona dentists have AzDA.

AzDA monitors legislation, works directly with elected officials, coordinates testimony, and protects dentistry at the Arizona Capitol. That year-round representation is a core benefit of membership.

Join or renew with AzDA Learn more about advocacy