Delaware · 153rd General Assembly (2025-2026) · Bill
SB 131: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO ALLOWING DENTAL HYGIENISTS TO ADMINISTER LOCAL ANESTHESIA.
Enacted Official data
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed one chamber
- Passed both chambers
- Enacted
Last official action: ·Record last updated:
Plain-language summary
SB 131 is a bill introduced in the Delaware Senate on May 8, 2025. According to its official title, it concerns: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO ALLOWING DENTAL HYGIENISTS TO ADMINISTER LOCAL ANESTHESIA. Primary sponsor: Marie Pinkney (Democratic), Bryan Townsend (Democratic), Kerri Harris (Democratic). It lists 5 additional sponsors. Most recent recorded action (August 25, 2025): Signed by Governor.
Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written
Official summary
Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.
This Act expands the definition of the “practice of dental hygiene” under Title 24 (Professions and Occupations) to include the administration of local anesthesia under the direct supervision of a licensed dentist and directs the State Board of Dentistry and Dental Hygiene (“Board”) to establish the necessary requirements and standards. Currently, Delaware is the only state in the nation that does not allow dental hygienists to administer local anesthesia. Delaware also suffers from a shortage of dental care providers, leaving many Delawareans unable to access timely, quality, affordable dental care. Administering local anesthesia is a task that properly trained dental hygienists can do safely, as shown by the experiences of every other state. Expanding dental hygienists’ scope of practice to allow them to administer local anesthesia under the direct supervision of a licensed dentist will enable them to provide a broader range of services to patients and take some of the burden off the state’s limited supply of dentists. Section 4 of this Act requires the Board to adopt regulations setting the requirements and standards to allow dental hygienists to administer local anesthesia under direct supervision of a licensed dentist no later than January 1, 2026. Section 5 of this Act provides that Sections 1 through 3 of this Act are effective on either January 1, 2026, or when the State Board of Dentistry and Dental Hygiene publishes final regulations implementing the Act, whichever is earlier. This Act also makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.
Sponsors
Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 6 · Republican 2
| Name | Role | Party | Chamber | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marie Pinkney | Primary sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 13 |
| Bryan Townsend | Primary sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 11 |
| Kerri Harris | Primary sponsor | Democratic | House | 32 |
| Eric Buckson | Co-sponsor | Republican | Senate | 16 |
| Stephanie Hansen | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 10 |
| Nicole Poore | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 12 |
| Ray Seigfried | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 5 |
| Dave Wilson | Co-sponsor | Republican | Senate | 18 |
“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.
Recent official actions
- Signed by Governor
- Passed By House. Votes: 40 YES 1 VACANT
- Reported Out of Committee (Sunset Committee (Policy Analysis & Government Accountability)) in House with 5 On Its Merits
- Assigned to Sunset Committee (Policy Analysis & Government Accountability) Committee in House
- Passed By Senate. Votes: 18 YES 3 ABSENT
- Reported Out of Committee (Health & Social Services) in Senate with 7 Favorable
- Re-Assigned to Health & Social Services Committee in Senate
- Introduced and Assigned to Legislative Oversight & Sunset Committee in Senate