SB 988 Missouri Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Establishes the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact

SB 988 would create the Dental and Dental Hygienist Compact, an agreement between participating states. This compact would allow licensed dentists and dental hygienists to practice in multiple states without obtaining separate licenses in each state. It directly affects dental professionals seeking to work across state lines and patients in states participating in the compact. The key mechanism is establishing a standardized licensing framework that recognizes credentials across member states.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Dec 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Dec 1, 2025 Last action Feb 3, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

4727S.01I - Introduced → Senate Committee Substitute - Committee Version · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was updated from its original introduction to a Senate Committee Substitute version, primarily involving reformatting, renumbering, and the addition of two new definitions. The most significant substantive change is the addition of definitions for 'Jurisprudence Requirement' and 'License,' which clarify the legal standards for knowledge testing and the distinction between a standard state license and a Compact Privilege.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on establishing a compact for interstate practice of dentistry and dental hygiene in Missouri, but the added definitions provide clearer boundaries for how the compact interacts with existing state licensure and testing requirements.

DEFINITION

Added the definition of 'Jurisprudence Requirement' to specify that it involves assessing an individual's knowledge of state laws and rules governing dentistry or dental hygiene.

Added the definition of 'License' to distinguish it from a 'Compact Privilege,' clarifying that a License is a standard state authorization while a Compact Privilege is a specific type of authorization under the new compact.

TECHNICAL

The document structure was updated to reflect a committee substitute version, including changes to header text, page numbering, and line numbers to align with legislative processing standards.

Floor votes

How they voted

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

SCS Voted Do Pass S Emerging Issues and Professional Registration Committee (4727S.02C)

upper

Jan 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

Hearing Conducted S Emerging Issues and Professional Registration Committee

upper

Dec 1, 2025

Introduced

Prefiled

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors