Congress passes stopgap spending bill, averts shutdown

Corporate Transparency Act filing delay not in legislation

Congress approved a short-term spending bill that funds the government through March 14, 2025. The Corporate Transparency Act filing delay was not included in the package, meaning dentists should still prepare to file beneficial ownership reports by Jan. 1, 2025.  

The continuing resolution passed early Dec. 21, narrowly averting a government shutdown. Its approval comes after a previous bipartisan compromise bill fell apart due to opposition from President-elect Donald Trump and Elon Musk. The House rejected a Trump-supported bill Dec. 19 before approving a revised bill the next day in a vote of 366-34-1. The Senate then voted 85-11 to pass the stopgap bill. 

The final bill, which President Joe Biden signed Dec. 21, contains disaster aid, funding for farmers and a one-year extension of agricultural programs. It reauthorizes several health care workforce programs, including $1 billion for community health centers, $85 million for the National Health Service Corps, and up to $43 million for the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education program through March 31, 2025.  

It also maintains current funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of Oral Health; the Health Resources and Services Administration’s oral health training and residency programs including Action for Dental Health and various other oral health-related programs; the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research; the Indian Health Service dental program; and Department of Defense military dental research. 
 
The ADA sent a grassroots Action Alert on Dec. 19 encouraging dentists to urge their members of Congress to retain funding for oral health workforce programs and support small business protections in the government funding bill. Due to quick action by advocates, more than 2,663 letters were sent to Capitol Hill.  

Not included in the legislation, however, was a one-year delay of the Corporate Transparency Act filing deadline. The Corporate Transparency Act requires small businesses, including many dental practices, to report their beneficial ownership information to the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network by Jan. 1, 2025. Although court appeals on a nationwide injunction are ongoing — with an expected decision on or around Dec. 27 — the future of the act’s filing deadline is still uncertain.  

The ADA is therefore encouraging dental professionals to prepare to file or voluntarily file their beneficial ownership reports by Jan. 1, 2025.  

For more information or to file a report, visit fincen.gov/boi.