HB 1278: Professions and businesses; improve efficiencies in issuance of permits for dentists to administer conscious sedation and general anesthesia

Under current Georgia law, dentists who want to administer conscious sedation or general anesthesia must have their office facilities evaluated and certified through an on-site examination before the state dental board issues a permit. House Bill 1278 changes the process by removing the specific requirement of an on-site examination and instead allowing the Georgia Board of Dentistry, or any designee it names, to evaluate and certify a dentist's facility and equipment. The bill also broadens the board's authority to designate qualified people to perform any evaluations, certifications, and examinations required for these permits, not just on-site exams. It removes language requiring proficiency demonstrations to occur specifically 'in the dentist's office,' allowing that testing to happen elsewhere. These changes apply to both the conscious sedation permit law (O.C.G.A. § 43-11-21) and the general anesthesia permit law (O.C.G.A. § 43-11-21.1). The bill repeals conflicting laws and does not state a delayed effective date beyond the standard process.

• Removes the requirement that facility evaluation and certification happen through an 'on-site examination,' letting the board or its designee certify facilities another way.
• Expands the board's authority to designate qualified people to perform any evaluations, certifications, and examinations tied to sedation and anesthesia permits, not just on-site checks.
• Removes the requirement that dentists demonstrate proficiency in sedation or anesthesia techniques specifically 'in the dentist's office,' allowing testing elsewhere.
• Applies the same procedural changes in parallel to both the conscious sedation permit law and the general anesthesia permit law.
• Repeals any existing state laws that conflict with these changes.

Dentists in Georgia who seek or renew permits to administer conscious sedation or general anesthesia, the Georgia Board of Dentistry and any personnel it designates to conduct evaluations, and dental patients who receive sedation or anesthesia in dental offices.

By dropping the strict on-site examination requirement and letting the board designate other qualified evaluators, the permitting process for sedation and anesthesia certification could become more flexible and potentially faster for dentists, while the board retains authority to set physical plant, equipment, and personnel standards.

• Section 1 amends O.C.G.A. § 43-11-21(b) so facility evaluation and certification can be done by 'the board or any designee thereof' instead of requiring 'an on-site examination.'
• Section 1 amends O.C.G.A. § 43-11-21(c) to let the board designate people to perform 'any evaluations, certifications, and examinations required or authorized' by the section, replacing the narrower 'on-site' examination language.
• Section 1 removes the requirement that proficiency in sedative techniques be demonstrated 'in the dentist's office.'
• Section 2 makes the same changes to O.C.G.A. § 43-11-21.1, the general anesthesia permit law, including removing the 'on-site examination' and 'in the dentist's office' requirements.
• Section 3 repeals all laws and parts of laws that conflict with the Act.

1. 2026-05-05Effective Date 2026-07-01
2. 2026-05-05Act 405
3. 2026-05-05House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2026-04-06House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2026-03-27Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2026-03-27Senate Third Read (Senate)
7. 2026-03-27Senate Taken from Table (Senate)
8. 2026-03-27Senate Tabled (Senate)

• Lee Hawkins (R, HD-027)Primary sponsor
• Ron Stephens (R, HD-164)
• Gerald Greene (R, HD-154)
• Mark Newton (R, HD-127)
• Kim Schofield (D, HD-063)
• Viola Davis (D, HD-087)
• Chuck Hufstetler (R, SD-052)

1. PassedHouse voteFebruary 26, 2026

   165 yea, 0 nay (7 not voting, 5 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #576

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 27, 2026

   26 yea, 22 nay (3 not voting, 3 absent)

   Motion To Table Remaining Legislation On The Rules Calendar: Senate Vote #835

3. PassedSenate voteMarch 27, 2026

   46 yea, 0 nay (3 not voting, 5 absent)

   Passage: Senate Vote #852

• dental licensing
• conscious sedation permits
• general anesthesia permits
• professional regulation
• Georgia Board of Dentistry