Grants for dental assisting and hygiene education programs made, and money appropriated.

HF 1111 provides $20 million in one-time funding to expand dental assisting and hygiene education programs in Minnesota. The bill authorizes grants and forgivable loans for accredited programs to improve physical infrastructure (like clinics and classrooms), create scholarships, boost faculty salaries, and acquire equipment. Eligible institutions can apply for funding to increase student enrollment capacity, with priority given to projects that directly expand student numbers. The funds are available until June 2028 and must be used for specific program improvements outlined in the bill. This directly affects accredited dental education programs at Minnesota colleges and universities seeking to grow their capacity.