During the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2026, AAO advocacy continued to deliver results on Capitol Hill and in the states and provinces. Coming off an all-time fundraising record with $483,069 raised in FY25, the AAO Political Action Committee Board of Directors set new goals for FY26.

At the federal level, the AAO Advocacy worked with the Organized Dentistry Coalition on the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” helping secure small-business tax benefits while continuing to fight against severe federal student loan caps that can have unintended consequences for future residents and the specialty.

AAO leaders also connected directly with 14 U.S. Senators and 15 Members of Congress to advance our evidence-based policy priorities, while joining coalition letters in support of the TEETH Act and the Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act.

Grassroots momentum is stronger than ever, with 1,481 member actions in Q1 on state and federal issues and a growing National Advocacy Network of 78 volunteer leaders in the NAN’s second term.

On the state level, advocacy efforts secured $6 million in Florida’s budget for a dental student loan repayment program (orthodontists are eligible), helped make Texas the 8th state to require in-person exams before orthodontic treatment, and continued to defend patient protections in Michigan, Ohio, and beyond. The dashboard also spotlights key workforce initiatives in California and Ontario, progress on teledentistry in South Carolina and Nevada, and the AAO’s growing presence at national policy conferences.

You can view the full dashboard here:
(Coming soon)

AAO’s new fiscal year began June 1 and helps to build our important relationships on Capitol Hill related to AAO priorities. You can make your AAOPAC contribution for fiscal year 2025-2026 now! The bipartisan AAOPAC helps fuel our advocacy success in Washington, D.C. and in states throughout the country.

Contributions can be made online via credit card at AAOPAC.org. It only takes a few minutes to complete your contribution, using your e-mail address associated with your AAO membership. You can also view your giving history and profile.

Our AAOPAC Pillars of Giving help build our success, and the AAO’s bipartisan advocacy influence continues to grow through member grassroots engagement. Your grassroots voice and AAOPAC support make all the difference!