Central Coast Dental Hygienists' Society
Join CDHA for Sacramento Lobby Day 2026
Monday March 23 9:00am-5:00pm
CDHA is calling on Dental Hygienists across California to join us in Sacramento on Monday, March 23 for an important day of advocacy at the State Capitol. We must come together to oppose AB 1952- legislation that would create a new pathway for internationally trained Dentists to become licensed Dental Hygienists in California.
AB 1952 would require the Dental Hygiene Board of California to license internationally trained Dentists who meet certain requirements as Dental Hygienists. While supporters argue this addresses a workforce shortage, CDHA strongly believes this proposal is not the right solution for protecting patient safety, education standards, and the integrity of our profession.
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AB 1952 Outreach Toolkit
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LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
November 20, 2025
Situation Update
From CDHA's Government Relations Council
Dental Therapy
The national movement for Dental Therapy is coming to California. CDHA is not opposed to Dental Therapy as a way to extend dental services to under-served areas. Our concern is the educational and practice model the organizers may promote.
In some models, dental therapists can scale supra-gingivally. In another model, a hygiene degree is required to apply. As a hygienist/therapist these graduates would be able to provide all of the dental hygiene services as well as provide restorative procedures under the supervision of a dentist.
Since California has its own regulatory board and has the RDH/RDHAP licensure categories, CDHA is against creating a new category of provider, but is willing to work with the community coalition leading this movement to create a model that utilizes the RDH/RDHAP.
On Monday, December 8, 2025 the American Dental Therapy Association begin its three-day National Dental Therapy Conference in Sacramento sponsored by The California Oral Health Equity Coalition (cohec.org). It will be held at the Double Tree by Hilton beginning at 8AM. The first day is free with a suggestion for a $50 donation.
For more information: https://web.cvent.com/event/e942d7d6-20cd-4aca-a637-82c7263df1a7/websitePage:80a53eb4-3fca-4b25-8615-d5d50c299b70
CDHA members will be attending the informational session.
The Anesthesia Issue
A group supporting advance practice for expanded function dental assistants (RDAEFs) has made application to the California Department of Health Access and Information (HCAI) for a pilot project teaching RDAEFs to deliver anesthesia. CDHA reviewed and sent written comments about the application. While CDHA is supportive of increasing scope for dental assistants, there are many concerns about this curriculum, hands-on training, supervision and other issues. HCAI will hold a hearing on Thursday December 18 from 10AM-2PM. Details as to the meeting time and format have not been provided. There may be an opportunity to listen in electronically.
CDHA may need members to listen in or comment.
The CDHA Government Relations Council (GRC) represents the interests of CDHA in legislative matters affecting the licensure and practice of dental hygienists in the state of California. We are your voice and attend all meetings of the Dental Hygiene Board of California (DHBC), the Dental Board of California (DBC), as well as legislative hearings on bills important to the profession of dental hygiene.
Our Political Action Committee (CalHyPAC) works with our legislative advocates, Aaron Read & Associates, LLC(ARA), one of the most prominent legislative advocacy firms in California.