DENTIST & DENTAL HYGIENIST COMPACT

HB 441 establishes the "Dentist and Dental Hygienist Interstate Compact" to allow licensed dentists and dental hygienists from New Mexico (a participating state) to practice in other participating states without obtaining full new licenses. It creates a "compact privilege" that requires practitioners to follow the host state's scope of practice rules and share disciplinary records, while letting states maintain their own licensing standards. The bill aims to improve access to dental care, especially for military families needing to relocate, by reducing duplicate licensing hurdles. This compact does not change existing state licensure requirements but enables streamlined practice across participating states.