HB1278: HB1278 Professions and businesses; improve efficiencies in issuance of permits for dentists to administer conscious sedation and general anesthesia

Georgia dentists who want to administer conscious sedation or general anesthesia in their offices must get a permit from the state dental board, which involves confirming their training, certifying that their facility is properly equipped, and demonstrating they can safely use these techniques on patients. Current law says these facility checks must happen through an 'on-site examination' by the board. This bill removes the specific 'on-site' requirement for facility evaluations and instead lets the board or its designees certify facilities more broadly. It also confirms that the board can appoint qualified people to handle any of the required evaluations, certifications, and exams for both conscious sedation (O.C.G.A. § 43-11-21) and general anesthesia (O.C.G.A. § 43-11-21.1) permits, rather than requiring the board to do everything itself.

• Removes the requirement that facility evaluations for conscious sedation permits happen through an 'on-site examination,' allowing other evaluation methods.
• Makes the same change for general anesthesia permits, removing the mandatory on-site facility inspection language.
• Confirms the board can designate qualified personnel to perform any evaluations, certifications, and examinations needed for these permits, not just on-site ones.
• Keeps the board's authority to set rules on training hours, facility standards, and equipment standards for both types of permits.

Dentists in Georgia who seek or renew permits to administer conscious sedation or general anesthesia in their offices, and the Georgia Board of Dentistry, which oversees the evaluation, certification, and examination process for those permits.

By dropping the strict on-site examination requirement and confirming the board can use designated qualified personnel for these checks, the permitting process could move faster for dentists seeking to offer sedation or anesthesia services, potentially shortening wait times for approval.

• Section 1 amends O.C.G.A. § 43-11-21 on conscious sedation permits, removing 'on-site' from the facility evaluation requirement in subsection (b)(2).
• Section 1 also revises subsection (c) to authorize the board to designate qualified persons for any required evaluations, certifications, and examinations, not limited to on-site ones.
• Section 2 makes matching changes to O.C.G.A. § 43-11-21.1 on general anesthesia permits, removing the on-site facility inspection requirement.
• Section 2 similarly revises subsection (c) to let the board designate qualified personnel for any evaluations, certifications, and examinations related to general anesthesia permits.
• Section 3 repeals any conflicting laws.

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
• healthcare licensing