Subcommittee advances bill to create pathway for foreign-trained dentists amid heated debate over safety and workforce needs

A Virginia House health professions subcommittee voted to report House Bill 1036, a measure to create pathways for foreign-trained dentists to pursue licensure or workforce roles in dental hygiene, after extended debate and public testimony.

The bill’s patron, Delegate Tran, said the measure would give qualified foreign-trained dentists living in Virginia a route to practice by meeting board standards, exam requirements and clinical evaluations rather than creating automatic licensure. "This bill does not create automatic licensure, it does not expand scope of practice, and it does not bypass the board," Tran said, adding that the bill aims to address a persistent shortage of dental workforce and provide economic opportunity for immigrants and refugees.

Supporters including the Virginia Dental Association, free clinics and several practicing dentists urged the committee to act. Scott Johnson, general counsel for the Virginia Dental Association, said workforce data show shortages and many licensed hygienists are not practicing in-state; he told the committee the association supports pathways that use existing guardrails. "We have a severe shortage of hygienists in the state," Johnson said.

Practicing dentist Neil Turnage said lengthy waits for routine care are widespread in his Richmond practices: "Most of our patients are waiting 8 to 12 months to get their six‑month recall," he said, and characterized the bill as a practical way to increase capacity.

Opponents, including the Virginia Dental Hygienists Association and dental-education faculty, warned the measure risks patient safety because dental and hygiene education differ. Jessica Sudbeck, a dental-hygiene educator, cited graduates’ experiences and argued internationally trained dentists still needed full CODA‑accredited hygiene training to practice safely in the United States. Brenda Bradshaw, a hygienist and educator, pointed to Florida and Missouri experiences and said workforce substitution has not reliably solved access problems.

Committee members heard detailed technical and ethical concerns about training standards, clinical hours and regulation writing. The subcommittee amended the bill and voted to report it to the next stage by a vote of 8–1.

The committee’s action does not enact the bill; it advances to the next committee where additional amendments and testimony are likely. The record shows substantial stakeholder disagreement that will be debated further on the floor or in subsequent committees.