The New York State Dental Association (NYSDA) had a highly successful 2026 legislative session, securing passage of nine priority bills, two of which have already been signed into law, along with three key State Budget victories. These outcomes reflect sustained advocacy efforts in Albany, supported by coalition building, member engagement, and grassroots outreach. Across the session, NYSDA advanced policies focused on protecting dental practices, improving insurance transparency, strengthening workforce pathways, and supporting patient access to care throughout New York State.

State Budget Wins

In the State Budget, NYSDA successfully defended the Pass Through Entity Tax (PTET) credit at 100 percent, preventing proposed reductions that would have significantly impacted dental practices and other small businesses. This outcome was achieved through coordinated advocacy with allied health care organizations and direct engagement by members with their elected officials.

NYSDA also secured the restoration of $50,000 in funding for the New York State Dental Foundation specialty license plate program, which had been discontinued for several years. In addition, the Association ensured that Medicaid dental reimbursement levels were not reduced, protecting access to care for vulnerable populations while maintaining stability for participating providers.

Bills Signed Into Law in 2026

Two major bills were enacted into law this session. The Virtual Credit Cards law, effective June 17, 2026, prohibits insurers from requiring virtual credit card payments that impose fees on dentists unless the provider explicitly opts in. This change is intended to reduce administrative costs and improve payment flexibility for dental practices.

The Dental Hygiene Collaborative Practice Expansion law, effective June 19, 2027, expands the settings in which dental hygienists may collaborate with dentists under formal authorization. These include FQHCs, schools, veterans’ facilities, shelters, correctional facilities, group homes, and other designated care environments, in addition to Article 28 hospital settings.

Bills Passed by Both Houses and Awaiting Governor Action

Several priority bills passed both the Assembly and Senate and now await action by the Governor. These include legislation on dental loss ratio reporting, noncovered services disclosure requirements, PGY-1 dental residency licensure reform, codification of Medicaid coverage protections from the Ciaramella court decision, authorization for trained dental hygienists to administer block anesthesia, water fluoridation discontinuance notice requirements, and a new tax on vaping products.

Together, these measures address a broad range of issues including insurance transparency, workforce development, public health protections, and improved regulatory consistency across the dental care system.

Additional Legislative Priorities

Other key bills advanced through one legislative chamber but did not complete the process this year. These include the network leasing bill, which remains a top NYSDA priority heading into the 2027 session, as well as proposals related to a Monroe County dental pilot program, sales tax exemptions for oral hygiene products, and expanded authority for dentists to administer HPV vaccinations.

Additional measures that did not advance in either chamber included emergency vaccination authority, assignment of benefits reform, insurance coverage for bruxism and endodontic services, and expedited licensure pathways for foreign-trained dentists. While these bills were not enacted this session, they remain part of NYSDA’s ongoing advocacy agenda and will continue to be pursued in future sessions.

Regulatory Update and NYSDAPAC

The New York State Department of Health continues to review proposed updates to ionizing radiation regulations under Part 16, following NYSDA’s formal opposition to costly accreditation requirements for dental CBCT installations. The Department is required to act on the proposal by October 8, or the rulemaking process will need to restart.

NYSDAPAC concluded the 2026 cycle with a cash balance of $229,000 after expenditures of $343,000, continuing to serve as an important resource in supporting NYSDA’s legislative advocacy efforts in Albany.