Every new year brings regulatory changes and new employment laws in California — some big, some small. Some impact dental practices of every size, while others impact only larger practices. CDA typically publishes an article each fall summarizing the upcoming changes, but changes in law and regulation can also happen throughout the year.
California dentists — and practice owners especially — may want to review more recent laws and take steps to bring their practice into compliance if needed.
Most of the following are summaries of changes that took effect in the second half of 2025.
No federal income tax on qualified overtime
Employers need to adjust their payroll systems to comply with a provision of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that exempts qualifying overtime compensation from federal income tax.
Beginning with tax year 2025 and continuing through tax year 2028 unless extended by Congress, nonexempt employees who receive overtime pay as defined by Section 7 of the Fair Labor Standards Act may deduct a portion of their overtime earnings from their federal taxable income.
Dental team members may not frequently qualify for the overtime exemption, but employers must know and be prepared to follow the law. Get the details on tracking and reporting qualified overtime in the article CDA published in August.
Protections against AI-related employment discrimination
The California Civil Rights Department’s Civil Rights Council issued regulations that aim “to protect against potential employment discrimination as a result of the use of artificial intelligence, algorithms, and other automated-decision systems.”
The new rule makes it unlawful for an employer to use an automated-decision system or selection criteria that discriminates against an applicant or employee based on any one of California’s protected characteristics. It also strengthens employers’ record-keeping requirements.
Read more about California’s AI regulations, including when employers might need to provide reasonable accommodation and how employers should test AI for bias prior to implementation. It also provides member-only resources to assist compliance.
The new rules take effect Oct. 1, 2025.
New timeline for completing infection control course
As of January, in a legislative change supported unanimously by the Dental Board of California, unlicensed dental assistants, regardless of their hiring date, must complete the required eight-hour infection control course prior to exposure to blood and saliva.
Although the legislation allows board-approved course providers to offer the course in a virtual and asynchronous format, the board has not yet approved the format. Until that course format is available, employers are responsible for ensuring their unlicensed dental assistants complete the required infection control course before potential exposure to blood or saliva.
Find IC course-compliance guidance in the article CDA published in February.
Workplace violence prevention: Annual plan review, training
California’s workplace violence prevention law has been in effect for over a year, but bears a reminder, especially with employers’ ongoing compliance obligations.
Dental practice owners, like other employers, are responsible for following requirements in four main areas:
- Ensure all employees participate in developing the practice’s violence prevention plan, which must contain specific information, procedures and methods.
- Maintain a violent-incident log containing specific information.
- Provide employees with initial and annual training.
- Create and maintain records for designated periods.
CDA members can log in to use CDA’s sample workplace violence prevention plan, incident log and other resources.
Revocable meal period waivers enforceable
A California Court of Appeal ruled in April that signed blanket/prospective meal period waivers are permitted and enforceable in California but only if they are freely revocable and without the risk of retaliation.
The CDA article explains more, including how employers should document the use of waivers and any revocations of them. CDA members also have access to a sample policy and meal break waiver and other resources.
New fingerprinting process for licensed dental professionals
California-licensed dentists, permitted dental assistants, registered dental assistants and RDAEFs who do not have a fingerprint on record in the dental board’s section of the Department of Consumer Affairs’ online licensing and enforcement system BreEZe are required to submit their fingerprint before renewing their license.
Effective March 2025, applicants now also must obtain the board’s approval before they complete and submit their fingerprints per the Dental Board of California’s alert.
Required workplace postings: New posters released in May-July
CDA mailed in April one required 2025-26 workplace poster set to each member who confirmed in advance their practice-owner status.
State regulatory offices have released several notices since the poster set printing date. Practice owners should print and display the following posters next to the poster set.
- Health care worker minimum wage supplement (Department of Labor, updated July 2025)
- Safety and Health Protection on the Job (Cal/OSHA, updated July 2025)
- Survivors of violence: Right to leave and accommodations (Civil Rights Department, updated May 2025)
California’s health care worker minimum age does not generally apply to dentists, but employers must display the poster regardless.
More new posters will likely be released before CDA produces and distributes the next poster set in spring of 2027. CDA will notify members about the changes, but practice owners are encouraged to periodically check for poster set updates.
Employment laws that took effect in January 2025
CDA also summarized nearly a dozen employment laws that took effect earlier this year, most of them on Jan. 1, 2025. Consider reviewing that article and find related resources to help you comply.
CDA will explain new laws and regulations that will affect dental practices in 2026. Members are encouraged to watch for this news in the weekly member newsletter, Inside California Dentistry, sent every Friday morning. Members can sign in to My Account to review their current email subscriptions and resubscribe.