Bill > SF1325

This bill establishes a grant program administered by the Minnesota Commissioner of Employment and Economic Development to support dental assisting and dental hygiene higher education programs. The grants aim to expand student enrollment capacity through various eligible projects, including improving physical infrastructure (clinics and classrooms), creating scholarships, enhancing faculty and staff salaries, obtaining educational equipment, and addressing other identified needs. Programs must be accredited or in the process of accreditation by the Commission on Dental Accreditation. The commissioner will prioritize grants for programs with the highest potential to increase student capacity and grow the dental workforce pipeline, and will evaluate applications without showing preference between dental hygiene and dental assisting programs. Institutions with both program types may submit joint applications. The bill appropriates $15 million from the workforce development fund for these grants in fiscal year 2026, with funds available until June 30, 2027, as a one-time appropriation specifically designed to support expansion and improvement of dental education programs in Minnesota.

Labor and Employment

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=Senate&f=SF1325&ssn=0&y=2025