An Act to Address the Dental Professional Workforce Shortage by
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1891
Sponsors: DAIGLE, STEWART
Amends: 20-A MRSA §12301, 20-A MRSA §12307, 20-A MRSA §12308, 36 MRSA §5219-D

Legislative Document
No. 1891
H.P. 1262
House of Representatives, May 5, 2025
An Act to Address the Dental Professional Workforce Shortage by 
Establishing Scholarship and Loan Programs and Updating the 
Dental Care Access Tax Credit
Received by the Clerk of the House on May 1, 2025.  Referred to the Committee on 
Education and Cultural Affairs pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to 
Joint Rule 401.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative DAIGLE of Fort Kent.
Cosponsored by Senator STEWART of Aroostook and
Representatives: DEBRITO of Waterville, GRAHAM of North Yarmouth, GRIFFIN of 
Levant, LEMELIN of Chelsea, Senator: MOORE of Washington.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  20-A MRSA §12301, sub-§2-A is enacted to read:
2-A.  Extreme shortage area.  "Extreme shortage area" means the county of 
Androscoggin, Aroostook, Franklin, Hancock, Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, Oxford, 
Penobscot, Piscataquis, Somerset, Waldo or Washington.
Sec. 2.  20-A MRSA §12307 is enacted to read:
§12307.  Dentists for Maine's Future Scholarship Program
There is established the Dentists for Maine's Future Scholarship Program, referred to 
in this section as "the scholarship program," to provide a tuition subsidy of 50% of the cost 
of attendance, up to a maximum of $25,000 per student annually, for eligible students who 
enter dental school programs in this State for the purpose of increasing the number of 
dentists in this State who practice in extreme shortage areas.  For the purposes of this 
section, "cost of attendance" means the tuition and fees applicable to an eligible student, 
together with estimated other expenses reasonably related to the cost of attendance at a 
dental school program in this State. 
1.  Definition; eligible student.  For purposes of this section, "eligible student" means 
a student who meets eligibility requirements set by the authority by rule that include at least 
the following: 
A.  That the student is or will be enrolled in a dental school program in this State; and 
B.  That the student has a substantial connection to the State as evidenced by factors 
such as prior education in this State, a parent residing in this State and at least one year 
of residence in this State for purposes other than education. 
2.  Priority.  In awarding scholarships under the scholarship program, the authority 
shall give priority to an eligible student who meets at least 2 of the following provisions: 
A.  The student has received a high school diploma, or its equivalent, in this State; 
B.  The student has received a bachelor's degree from a 4-year college or university in 
this State; and 
C.  A parent of the student maintains the parent's legal residence in this State. 
3.  Allocation.  The total number of scholarships available under the scholarship 
program must be allocated equally among dental school programs in this State, except that 
a program may not be allocated more than the number of scholarships for which the 
program has raised matching funds pursuant to subsection 4 as of the January 1st 
immediately preceding the scholarship award. 
4.  Matching funds.  Beginning January 1, 2026, if a dental school program in this 
State raises matching funds in an amount less than the amount of scholarship funds 
allocable to it under this section from the State for a given year or does not have a sufficient 
number of eligible students who apply to fill the number of scholarships allocable to it, the 
number of scholarships allocated to that program must be reduced accordingly and 
scholarships must be reallocated for that year to eligible students of other dental school 
programs in this State.  A dental school program in this State must use funds raised through 
philanthropic and private dental education fundraising to increase the number of 
scholarships available to eligible students and must use matching funds to provide no fewer 
than the number of scholarships allocated to the program by the State in a given academic 
year. 
5.  Notification.  For each eligible student receiving a scholarship under this section, 
the student's dental school program in this State shall notify the authority of the location of 
the student's residency and place of employment for each of the 8 years after the student's 
graduation from the program. 
6.  Dentists for Maine's Future Scholarship Fund created.  A nonlapsing, interest-
earning, revolving fund under the jurisdiction of the authority, known as the Dentists for 
Maine's Future Scholarship Fund, is created to carry out the purposes of this section.  Any 
unexpended balance in the fund carries over for continued use under this section.  The 
authority may receive, invest and expend on behalf of the fund money from gifts, grants, 
bequests and donations or other sources in addition to money appropriated or allocated by 
the State.  Money in the fund must be invested by the authority, as provided by law, with 
the earned income to be added to the fund.  Money received by the authority on behalf of 
the fund, except interest income, must be used for the purposes of this section; interest 
income may be used for such purposes or to pay student financial assistance administrative 
costs incurred by the authority. 
Sec. 3.  20-A MRSA §12308 is enacted to read:
§12308.  Extreme Shortage Area Dental Education Loan Program
1.  Establishment.  The Extreme Shortage Area Dental Education Loan Program, 
referred to in this section as "the program," is established.  The authority shall administer 
the program.  Under the program and pursuant to subsection 3:
A.  Loans are available to Maine residents enrolled in a dental school program or 
enrolled in any accredited school in a program of study for dental hygienists, dental 
therapists, expanded function dental assistants or dental assistants; or  
B.  A loan repayment agreement is available to a person who is eligible for licensure 
as a doctor of dental medicine or as a dental hygienist, dental therapist, expanded 
function dental assistant or dental assistant in this State and who has outstanding dental 
education loans.  
2.  Application process.  An application for participation in the program must be made 
directly to the authority.
3.  Eligibility.  The following persons are eligible to participate in the program:
A.  Applicants under subsection 1, paragraph A who meet eligibility criteria established 
by rule of the authority, which at a minimum must require:
(1)  That a student be a Maine resident;
(2)  That a student be enrolled in a dental school program or in any accredited 
school with a program of study for dental hygienists, dental therapists, expanded 
function dental assistants or dental assistants; 
(3)  That a student agree to serve an extreme shortage area; and
(4)  That priority be given to a student:
(a)  Who previously received a loan pursuant to this section; and
(b)  Who exhibits financial need; and
B.  Applicants under subsection 1, paragraph B who meet eligibility criteria established 
by rule of the authority, which at a minimum must require:
(1)  That an applicant be eligible for licensure to practice dental medicine or as a 
dental hygienist, dental therapist, expanded function dental assistant or dental 
assistant in this State; 
(2)  That an applicant have outstanding dental education loans; and
(3)  That an applicant agree to serve an extreme shortage area. 
4.  Maximum amount.  For a loan recipient pursuant to subsection 1, paragraph A 
who receives a first loan after January 1, 2026 or a loan repayment recipient pursuant to 
subsection 1, paragraph B who signs a first loan repayment agreement after January 1, 
2026, the maximum loan or loan repayment amount available is $25,000 per year for a 
period of up to 4 years.
5.  Loan agreement; forgiveness.  A student applying under subsection 1, paragraph 
A shall enter into a loan agreement as set out in this subsection.
A.  Upon completion of the recipient's dental education, the recipient shall repay the 
loan in accordance with this paragraph.
(1)  A loan recipient who does not obtain loan forgiveness pursuant to 
subparagraph (2) shall repay the entire principal of the loan plus simple interest at 
a rate to be determined by rule of the authority.
Interest does not begin to accrue until the loan recipient completes the recipient's 
dental education.
(2)  A loan recipient who, upon completion of the recipient's dental education, 
including any fellowships, elects to serve as a doctor of dental medicine, dental 
hygienist, dental therapist, expanded function dental assistant or dental assistant in 
an extreme shortage area is forgiven 25% of the original outstanding indebtedness 
for each year of that practice.  
B.  Loans must be repaid over a term of no longer than 10 years, except that the chief 
executive officer may extend a loan recipient's term as necessary to ensure repayment 
of the loan.  Repayment must commence when the loan recipient completes, withdraws 
from or otherwise fails to continue the recipient's dental education.
C.  A loan recipient serving an extreme shortage area pursuant to paragraph A, 
subparagraph (2) must serve patients regardless of the patients' ability to pay through 
insurance or other payment source.  
6.  Loan repayment agreement.  An applicant under subsection 1, paragraph B shall 
enter into a loan repayment agreement as set out in this subsection.
A.  A loan repayment recipient who signs a first loan repayment agreement after 
January 1, 2026 receives payment from the authority on the recipient's outstanding 
indebtedness for dental education at a rate of up to $25,000 per year of practice in an 
extreme shortage area for up to 4 years as long as the recipient continues to serve as a 
doctor of dental medicine, dental hygienist, dental therapist, expanded function dental 
assistant or dental assistant in an extreme shortage area.  
B.  A person receiving loan repayment payments under this subsection must serve 
patients regardless of the patients' ability to pay through insurance or other payment 
source.  
7.  Default.  A loan recipient pursuant to subsection 1, paragraph A who agrees to 
practice in an extreme shortage area and who fails to complete the period of service 
required to pay off the loan is liable to the authority for an amount equal to the sum of the 
total amount paid by or on behalf of the authority to or on behalf of the recipient under the 
agreement under subsection 5 plus interest at a rate determined by the authority.  Credit for 
practice in an extreme shortage area must be awarded for each consecutive 12-month period 
served.  Exceptions may be made by the authority in accordance with subsection 8.
A loan recipient may be granted permission to default without penalty from an agreement 
to serve in an extreme shortage area under subsection 5 by petitioning the authority.  
Grounds for permission to default without penalty include, but are not limited to, 
catastrophic circumstances that prevent the recipient from remaining in an extreme 
shortage area for the required period of time.  The recipient receives credit for the number 
of months served, and the remaining financial obligation plus interest must be repaid to the 
authority in cash under the terms of the original agreement.
8.  Deferments.  Deferments on the repayment of a loan under the program pursuant 
to subsection 1, paragraph A may be granted for causes established by rule of the authority.  
Interest at a rate to be determined by rule of the authority must be assessed during the 
deferment.  A loan recipient's total debt to the authority, including principal and interest, 
must be repaid either through return service or cash payments.  The chief executive officer 
shall make determinations of deferment on a case-by-case basis.  The decision of the chief 
executive officer is final.
Sec. 4.  36 MRSA §5219-DD, as amended by PL 2017, c. 435, §§1 to 3, is further 
amended to read:
§5219-DD.  Dental care access credit
1.  Definitions.  As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the 
following terms have the following meanings.
A.  "Eligible dentist" means a person licensed as a dentist under Title 32, chapter 143 
who, after January 1, 2009:
(1)  First begins practicing dentistry in the State by joining an existing dental 
practice in an underserved extreme shortage area or establishing a new dental 
practice or purchasing an existing dental practice in an underserved extreme 
shortage area;
(2)  Agrees to practice full time for at least 5 years in an underserved extreme 
shortage area; and
(3)  Is certified under subsection 3 to be eligible by the oral health program.
A-1.  "Eligible dental hygienist" means a person licensed as a dental hygienist under 
Title 32, chapter 143 who, after January 1, 2009:
(1)  First begins practicing dental hygiene in the State by joining an existing dental 
practice in an extreme shortage area or establishing a new dental practice or 
purchasing an existing dental practice in an extreme shortage area;
(2)  Agrees to practice full time for at least 5 years in an extreme shortage area; 
and
(3)  Is certified under subsection 3 to be eligible by the oral health program.
A-2.  "Extreme shortage area" means the county of Androscoggin, Aroostook, 
Franklin, Hancock, Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, Oxford, Penobscot, Piscataquis, 
Somerset, Waldo or Washington.
B.  "Oral health program" means the program within the Department of Health and 
Human Services with responsibility for oral health promotion and dental disease 
prevention activities.
C.  "Underserved area" means an area in the State that is a dental health professional 
shortage area as defined by the federal Department of Health and Human Services, 
Health Resources and Services Administration.
2.  Credit.  An eligible dentist determined to be eligible before January 1, 2012 is 
allowed a credit for each taxable year, not to exceed $15,000, against the taxes due under 
this Part.  An eligible dentist determined to be eligible on or after January 1, 2012 but before 
January 1, 2018 is allowed a credit for each taxable year, not to exceed $12,000, against 
the taxes due under this Part.  An eligible dentist or eligible dental hygienist determined to 
be eligible on or after January 1, 2018 but before January 1, 2023 2032 is allowed a credit, 
not to exceed $6,000 in the first year, $9,000 in the 2nd year, $12,000 in the 3rd year, 
$15,000 in the 4th year and $18,000 in the 5th year, against the taxes due under this Part.  
The credit may be claimed in the first year that the eligible dentist or eligible dental 
hygienist meets the conditions of eligibility for at least 6 months and each of the 4 
subsequent years.  The credit is not refundable.
3.  Eligibility limitation; certification.  The oral health program shall certify up to 5 
eligible dentists in each year in 2009, 2010 and 2011, up to 6 additional eligible dentists in 
each year from 2012 through 2015 and up to 5 eligible dentists in each year from 2018 
through 2022.  Additional dentists may not be certified after 2022.  Beginning in 2025, the 
oral health program shall certify up to 10 eligible dentists and up to 10 eligible dental 
hygienists each year.  The oral health program shall monitor certified dentists and certified 
dental hygienists to ensure that they continue to be eligible for the credit under this section 
and shall decertify any dentist or dental hygienist who ceases to meet the conditions of 
eligibility.  The oral health program shall notify the bureau whenever a dentist or dental 
hygienist is certified or decertified.  A decertified dentist or decertified dental hygienist 
ceases to be eligible for the credit under this section beginning with the tax year during 
which the dentist or dental hygienist is decertified.
4.  Review.  By March 1, 2011, the oral health program shall submit to the joint 
standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over taxation matters a report 
that analyzes the effectiveness of the credit provided by this section in attracting dentists 
to underserved areas and recommending whether the credit should be retained, repealed or 
amended.  The committee may submit legislation to the First Regular Session of the 125th 
Legislature related to the report.
5.  Rules.  The Department of Health and Human Services may adopt rules to 
implement this section.  Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules 
as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2‑A.
6.  Repeal.  This section is repealed December 31, 2027 2032.
SUMMARY
This bill establishes the Dentists for Maine's Future Scholarship Program to provide a 
tuition subsidy of 50% of the cost of attendance, up to a maximum of $25,000 per student 
annually, for eligible students who enter dental school programs in this State for the 
purpose of increasing the number of dentists in this State who practice in extreme shortage 
areas of the State.  The bill also establishes the Extreme Shortage Area Dental Education 
Loan Program to provide loans and loan repayment agreements to eligible dental students 
and individuals who are eligible for licensure as a doctor of dental medicine or as a dental 
hygienist, dental therapist, expanded function dental assistant or dental assistant who agrees 
to serve an extreme shortage area in the State.  The bill also updates the dental care access 
tax credit to include eligible dental hygienists and changes the date that the tax credit is 
repealed to December 31, 2032.