Legislative Advocacy

Montana Legislature and Governor

Your MDA actively engages in the Montana Legislature - not only during the 90-day-maximum biennial session but also in the interim.  That includes the Governor, who has the power to propose budgets, suggest legislation, and pass/amend/veto bills.  And we need your help!  To participate in Advocacy efforts, please contact Executive Director Webb Brown.

2025 Legislative Session

The 69th Legislative Session was a very successful session for the MDA . This included the passing of several bills that the MDA sponsored, along with playing defense on bills that would have negatively affected Montana dental practices. Following a highly-successful strategic planning session in the Fall of 2023, the MDA established our priorities for the 69th Legislative Session beginning January 6, 2025, and it paid off.  MDA's legislative initiative will protect dental practices, improve practice efficiency, and improve access to care. MDA sponsored bills to:

  • Require insurance companies to provide value in dental insurance by requiring at least 80% of premiums go toward payment of claims.  This is similar to existing requirement for major medical insurance.
  • Pursue increased funding for Medicaid reimbursement for dental coverage to ensure continued access to care.
  • Gradually increase the cap on medical malpractice non-economic damages.
  • Resist efforts by the Montana Department of Labor & Industry to remove control from the Montana Board of Dentistry to its bureaucracy.
  • Work with Montana dental hygienists to find a solution for Limited Access Permit (LAP) regulation.

Grassroots Dental Advocate

MDA would like to thank those who participated this Legislative Session. It's because of you that we had the success we had. The work is not done yet, there is always advocacy to be done in the Interim (the time between sessions). MDA staff will continue to monitor issues and push our agenda, and we ask you to continue being involved in advocacy. The voice legislators hear most clearly is yours, as a dentist serving patients in your community. Here's how you can help through the Sessions and the Interim:

  • GET TO KNOW YOUR LEGISLATORS – Every Montanan has a state Senator and a state Representative. If you don't already know them, click here and use the dropdown menu under "Legislators".  Don't forget to check your practice address as well as home - you may have other legislators and it is just as important they know you have a small business in their district!
  • CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS - You can quickly and easily contact legislators on your own or in response to an MDA "Call to Action!" electronic alert. Click here to go the Montana Legislature site and use the dropdown menu under "Legislators".  Click here to register for MDA's online advocacy program (VoterVoice) to get the latest updates on issues, and actively participate.
  • TESTIFY ON BILLS DURING THE SESSION - With the development and acceptance of Zoom, you don't have to appear in person in the committee room.  Contact Webb Brown for all the details on testifying.
  • (COMPLETED) DENTAL DAYS AT THE CAPITOL - Thank you to those who joined MDA in Helena for the "Tooth & Nail" legislative reception and dinner Jan. 9 and the "Hill Climb" Jan. 10 during Dental Days at the Capitol. 

Thank you for becoming an MDA Advocate for Dentistry!