CAO 2026 Legislative Priorities

The California Association of Orthodontists (CAO) is actively engaged in legislation that protects patient access to care, improves transparency in the dental system, supports the orthodontic workforce, and ensures that emerging technologies are implemented responsibly. Below are the key bills CAO is supporting and engaging on during the 2026 legislative session.

Priority Support Bills

AB 1629 (Haney) – Dental Coverage & Assignment of Benefits

AB 1629 helps improve patient access to dental care by addressing problems with inadequate dental insurance networks. The bill would require dental plans to honor assignment-of-benefits requests, allowing insurance payments to go directly to dental providers even when they are out-of-network.

The bill also strengthens oversight of dental provider networks and improves transparency around network adequacy.

California Legislature Bill Page: AB 1629 – Dental Coverage

AB 2029 (Sharp-Collins) – Dental Insurance Transparency

AB 2029 creates new transparency standards for dental insurance provider portals. The bill would require dental plans to provide accurate, real-time benefit information to providers, including eligibility, co-pays, deductibles, annual maximums, and coverage limitations.

This legislation is intended to reduce confusion for patients and providers and help ensure patients receive accurate cost estimates before treatment begins.

California Legislature Bill Page: AB 2029 – Dental Plan Portal Transparency

SB 1311 (Wahab) – Dental Workforce & Infection Control Modernization

SB 1311 modernizes infection-control certification pathways for dental assistants. The bill allows dental assistants to satisfy infection-control requirements through updated training methods and nationally recognized examinations.

CAO supports this effort to modernize workforce pathways while maintaining patient safety standards and supporting access to care.

California Legislature Bill Page: SB 1311 – Licensed Professions

Support Bills

AB 1717 (Castillo) – Medi-Cal Dental Reimbursement

AB 1717 increases Medi-Cal reimbursement rates for dental providers delivering care in patients’ homes or extended care facilities. The bill is intended to improve access to care for vulnerable and mobility-limited populations.

California Legislature Bill Page: AB 1717 – Medi-Cal Dental Reimbursement

AJR 25 (Bonta) – Affordable Care Act Premium Assistance

AJR 25 urges Congress and the President to restore and expand enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits to help patients maintain affordable healthcare coverage.

California Legislature Bill Page: AJR 25 – Affordable Care Act Premium Tax Credits

SB 1137 (Valladares) – Medical & Dental Expense Tax Deduction

SB 1137 creates a new state tax deduction for certain unreimbursed medical and dental expenses for lower-income Californians. The bill is intended to help reduce out-of-pocket healthcare costs and improve access to needed care.

California Legislature Bill Page: SB 1137 – Medical Expense Deduction

SR 82 (Pérez) – Children’s Dental Health Month

SR 82 designates February 2026 as Children’s Dental Health Month in California and highlights the importance of pediatric oral health and preventive dental care.

California Legislature Bill Page: SR 82 – Children’s Dental Health Month

Priority Engagement

AB 2575 (Ortega) – Artificial Intelligence in Health Care

AB 2575 establishes new transparency and accountability standards for the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare settings. The bill would require disclosures when clinical decision-support tools are used and affirm that healthcare providers retain independent professional judgment when caring for patients.

CAO is actively engaging on this bill to ensure that the language works appropriately for orthodontic practices and protects both providers and patients as AI becomes more integrated into healthcare delivery.

California Legislature Bill Page: AB 2575 – Artificial Intelligence in Health Care