The following testimony was submitted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii for consideration by the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services on Feb. 13, 2026.
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Feb. 13, 2026 1 p.m.
Hawaii State Capitol
Conference Room 225 and Videoconference
To: Senate Committee on Health and Human Services
Sen. Joy A. San Buenaventura, Chair
Sen. Angus L.K. McKelvey, Vice Chair
From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
Ted Kefalas, Director of Strategic Campaigns
TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT OF SB2854 — RELATING TO HEALTH
Aloha Chair, Vice Chair and other Committee members,
The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii supports SB2854, which would allow licensed dental hygienists to place interim therapeutic restorations under the general supervision of a licensed dentist.
Hawaii continues to suffer from healthcare shortages and lack of access to care, especially for vulnerable populations. This bill would help address that issue by expanding the scope of practice for dental hygienists.
Research shows that strict state scope-of-practice restrictions for dental hygienists are associated with higher preventable dental emergency visits.[1]
Increasing the scope of practice for dental hygienists could improve outcomes and alleviate the burdens caused by lack of access to care.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify.
Ted Kefalas
Director of Strategic Campaigns
Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
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[1] Marvellous A. Akinlotan, Alva O. Ferdinand, Hannah L. Maxey, et al., “Dental hygienists’ scope of practice regulations and preventable non-traumatic dental emergency department visits: A cross-sectional study of 10 U.S. states,” Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology, Vol. 51, Iss. 2, April 2023.
