An Act To Address The Dental Professional Workforce Shortage By Establishing Scholarship And Loan Programs And Updating The Dental Care Access Tax Credit

This bill establishes the "Dentists for Maine's Future" scholarship program to address dental workforce shortages in underserved areas. It provides eligible Maine dental students with a 50% tuition subsidy (up to $25,000 annually) if they commit to practicing in designated "extreme shortage areas" (including counties like Aroostook, Penobscot, and Washington). To qualify, students must have Maine connections, such as graduating from a Maine high school, earning a Maine bachelor's degree, or having a parent residing in Maine. The program requires dental schools to raise matching funds to secure their allocated scholarships, with unused funds reallocated to other schools.