Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official PDF posted by the Oklahoma Legislature, fetched 2026-07-23. Page and line markers are part of the official record; nothing is edited or removed. The official bill page.
1 STATE OF OKLAHOMA
2 1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025)
3 HOUSE BILL 2899 By: Townley
4
5
6 AS INTRODUCED
7 An Act relating to professions and occupations;
amending 59 O.S. 2021, Section 328.54, which relates
8 to dental practice; modifying teledentistry
requirements; amending 63 O.S. 2021, Sections 1-2711
9 and 2-2712, which relate to the Oklahoma Dental Loan
Repayment Act; adding legislative findings;
10 increasing certain repayment program allowances;
modifying program requirements; adding an exemption;
11 and providing an effective date.
12
13
14 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
15 SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 59 O.S. 2021, Section 328.54, is
16 amended to read as follows:
17 Section 328.54. A. Any person conducting a diagnosis for the
18 purpose of prescribing medication or treatment or any other action
19 determined to be a dental practice as defined by the State Dental
20 Act, via the Internet or other telecommunications device on any
21 patient that is physically located in this state shall hold a valid
22 Oklahoma state dental license.
23 B. A dentist holding a valid dental license in Oklahoma may
24 consult, diagnose and treat a patient of record via synchronous or
Req. No. 11752 Page 1
1 asynchronous telecommunication between the patient and dentist. The
2 dentist must record all activities relating to teledentistry in the
3 patient record and must have an office location in Oklahoma
4 available for follow-up treatment and maintenance of records in
5 Oklahoma or adjacent to Oklahoma and within fifty (50) miles of an
6 Oklahoma border of a state with an interstate dental and dental
7 hygienist compact.
8 SECTION 2. AMENDATORY 63 O.S. 2021, Section 1-2711, is
9 amended to read as follows:
10 Section 1-2711. A. The Legislature recognizes that there is a
11 need to:
12 1. Upgrade the availability of quality dental care services for
13 the people of Oklahoma;
14 2. Improve the balance of dental manpower distribution in the
15 state by geographic location; and
16 3. Increase access to dental care to those who are dependent on
17 the state for necessary dental care;
18 4. Allow providers to work at the top of their license and
19 utilize supporting roles; and
20 5. Address the need for dental faculty.
21 B. The purpose of the Oklahoma Dental Loan Repayment Act shall
22 be to:
23 1. Increase the number of dentists serving and caring for those
24 dependent upon the state for dental care; and
Req. No. 11752 Page 2
1 2. Ensure that dental care and services are accessible
2 throughout the state, and specifically, that quality dental care and
3 services be accessible to underserved dental areas in rural and
4 metropolitan areas of the state, and to those dependent upon the
5 state for dental care.
6 SECTION 3. AMENDATORY 63 O.S. 2021, Section 1-2712, is
7 amended to read as follows:
8 Section 1-2712. A. 1. The State Department of Health shall
9 administer the Oklahoma Dental Loan Repayment Program.
10 2. The Program, depending upon available funding, shall provide
11 educational loan repayment assistance for up to a total of twenty-
12 five thirty full-time equivalent Oklahoma licensed dentists per year
13 including new and continuing contract renewable participants.
14 3. Each award shall be for a contracted period and shall be
15 distributed to the participant by drafts made payable to the
16 participant for deposit to an appropriate loan agency in equal
17 monthly disbursements, not to exceed Fifty Thousand Dollars
18 ($50,000.00) Sixty Thousand Dollars ($60,000.00) per year for a
19 maximum five-year period. Prior to any disbursement, the Department
20 shall certify and properly review monthly reports submitted by the
21 participating dentist detailing performance of activities in
22 accordance with the Oklahoma Dental Loan Repayment Act.
23 4. At the conclusion of the minimum service obligation, the
24 Department shall review the performance in the Program of the
Req. No. 11752 Page 3
1 participating dentist and determine whether an award may be granted
2 for an additional period not to exceed a total participation in the
3 Program of five (5) years pursuant to rules promulgated by the
4 Department.
5 B. Any dentist entering the Program each year as a nonfaculty
6 participant shall agree to provide dental care and services to
7 Medicaid recipients as authorized by the Oklahoma Health Care
8 Authority. The Department shall be responsible for ensuring that at
9 least thirty percent (30%) of the patients treated by the dentist
10 will be Medicaid recipients.
11 1. Any general practice dentist entering the Program each year
12 as a nonfaculty participant shall agree to provide dental care and
13 services in a designated Dental Health Professional Shortage Area
14 (DHPSA) of this state.
15 2. Any dentist licensed to practice as a Pediatric Dentistry
16 Specialist as defined by the State Dental Act or any dentist
17 practicing in a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), FQHC look-
18 alike, county health department, Oklahoma Board of Dentistry-
19 registered dental facilities, or city-county health department may
20 be exempt from the requirement to practice in a Dental Health
21 Professional Shortage Area (DHPSA).
22 C. A dentist entering the Program as a faculty participant
23 shall agree to teach at the University of Oklahoma College of
24
Req. No. 11752 Page 4
1 Dentistry. In the event there are no appropriate faculty
2 applicants, the Program may award additional nonfaculty dentists.
3 D. A dentist shall be eligible to participate in the Program if
4 the dentist:
5 1. Is a new dental school graduate. Preference will be given
6 to graduates of the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry;
7 2. Is licensed to practice dentistry in Oklahoma; and
8 3. Has demonstrated financial need.
9 E. The dentist shall execute a contract with the Department to
10 provide dental services pursuant to the terms of the contract and in
11 accordance with rules promulgated by the Department.
12 F. If the dentist does not fulfill the service obligation, the
13 Department may collect from the participant the entire amount of
14 loan payments made under the Program plus interest.
15 G. The Department shall present a report on the operation of
16 the Program to the Governor, the Speaker of the Oklahoma House of
17 Representatives, and the President Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma State
18 Senate within one (1) month of the beginning of each regular session
19 of the Legislature including but not limited to the progress made in
20 accomplishing the goal of the Program.
21 SECTION 4. This act shall become effective November 1, 2025.
22
23 60-1-11752 TJ 01/05/25
24
Req. No. 11752 Page 5Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.