Governor Youngkin Invites VDA Members to Ceremonial Bill Signing for Licensure Portability and Mental Health Legislation
Governor Glenn Youngkin held a ceremonial bill signing this week for legislation that enters Virginia into the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact (HB225/SB22) and for legislation that grants Safe Haven protections to dentists and dental hygienists seeking mental health treatment (SB 629/HB42).
Delegate Mark Sickles and Senator Mamie Locke sponsored the compact legislation, which will reduce barriers to license portability. Ohio recently became the 10th state to pass enabling legislation, and the first compact commission meeting will take place on August 28, 2024.
Delegate Patrick Hope and Senator Todd Pillion, DDS, sponsored the Safe Haven legislation to reduce barriers to oral health professionals seeking necessary care. This follows legislation passed in 2023 that removed stigmatizing questions about mental health from licensure applications in Virginia. More information about Safe Haven protections and resources can be found at https://www.msv.org/programs/safehaven/.
In speaking at the bill signing ceremony, Governor Youngkin affirmed his support for working with the VDA to address oral healthcare needs in Virginia and for continuing the process of planning and building new facilities for the VCU School of Dentistry, with initial planning authorization and funding included in the budget approved this year.
The VDA member dentists were joined by Virginia Secretary of Labor Bryan Slater, Commissioner of Virginia Works Carrie Roth, Director of the Virginia Department of Health Professions Arne Owens, Executive Director of the Virginia Board of Dentistry Jamie Sacksteder, and representatives from the Virginia Dental Hygienists' Association, the Association of Dental Support Organizations, and the Medical Society of Virginia (MSV), who all played roles in supporting the legislation.
