AGD Capitol Connections

On January 22, 2026, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a notice entitled, Review of Science on Fluoride in Drinking Water: Preliminary Assessment Plan and Literature Survey, seeking public comment on its plan to develop a toxicity assessment that will review scientific information on the potential health risks of fluoride in drinking water.

On February 3, 2026, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the remaining five FY2026 appropriations bills, along with a two-week Continuing Resolution (CR) for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) by a vote of 217-214, bringing to an end a brief partial government shutdown.

The AGD Advocacy Fund supports national and constituent advocacy efforts by providing resources to tackle new matters, such as legislation or legal action affecting the practice of general dentistry. The fund accumulates across budgetary cycles, allowing the AGD to act nimbly and substantially when the need arises.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) have extended the temporary telemedicine flexibilities for prescribing controlled substances through December 31, 2026.

On January 20, 2026, House and Senate appropriators released a four-bill funding package covering the Defense; Homeland; Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), Education; and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (HUD) agencies.

In 2026 AGD is joining the National Council of Insurance Legislators (NCOIL) as a Corporate and Institutional Partner. This allows AGD access to special events during NCOIL meetings and free exhibit space during NCOIL meetings. NCOIL is a very influential organization of state legislators who are involved in insurance reform.

On December 17, 2025, the House passed H.R. 6703, the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act, a Republican-led proposal to address health care affordability. The bill includes provisions to enhance association health plans, fund cost-sharing reduction (CSR) payments, expand eligibility for bronze catastrophic plans, and implement pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) reforms.

The AGD Advocacy Fund supports national and constituent advocacy efforts by providing resources to tackle new matters, such as legislation or legal action affecting the practice of general dentistry.

The fate of the enhanced premium tax credits (EPTCs) for Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace plans is front and center on Capitol Hill this month. On December 11, the Senate failed to advance a bill that would provide a clean three-year extension of the EPTCs, which are set to expire on December 31, 2025.

At its Annual Meeting in November the Health Insurance and Long-Term Care Issues Committee of the National Conference of Insurance Legislators (NCOIL) passed an amended Dental Reform Model Law.

On November 21, 2025, AGD, together with 25 other national organizations, sent a letter to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Mehmet Oz, MD urging the agency to fill the vacant Chief Dental Officer (CDO) position and maintain the role as a senior, agency-wide role within the CMS Office of the Administrator.

On November 12, 2025, the House of Representatives voted 222-209, mostly along party lines, to approve a continuing resolution (CR) to fund the federal government through January 30, 2026. The Senate passed the funding bill earlier that week by a vote of 60-40, with eight members of the Democratic Caucus voting in favor to reach the 60-vote threshold required for passage.

On December 1, 2025, President Trump signed the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act of 2025 (H.R. 2483), into law. First enacted in 2018, the SUPPORT Act authorizes funding for community-based substance use disorder (SUD) prevention, treatment, and recovery programs.

On October 31, 2025, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced new actions to limit the sale of unapproved ingestible fluoride prescription drug products for children under three years of age and for children at low or moderate risk for tooth decay.

On November 10, 2025, Senate Republicans along with eight Democratic Senators began the process of reopening the government by passing a continuing resolution (CR) that would extend federal funding for most of the government through January 30, 2026.

Join us November 21 - 22, 2025 for a free, two half-day virtual event designed to keep you informed on the latest legislative and regulatory developments impacting general dentistry and gain valuable insights into current and emerging issues that could affect your practice.

The Competitive Health Insurance Reform Act (CHIRA), enacted in January 2021 with overwhelming bipartisan support, marked a major victory for consumer protection. The law repealed a long-standing exemption under the McCarran-Ferguson Act, which had allowed dental insurance companies to operate unregulated by federal antitrust laws.

On October 22, 2025, the Senate held its twelfth vote on the House-passed continuing resolution (CR) that would extend current government funding levels through November 21.

On September 30, 2025, Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) introduced the Health Care Workforce Expansion Act, which seeks to address shortages in the health care workforce, including dentistry.

The government shutdown, which began on October 1, 2025, continues as Democrats and Republicans remain at an impasse over federal funding. On October 9, 2025, the Senate failed for the seventh time to advance legislation to end the shutdown.