All Roll Calls
Yes: 198 • No: 70
ColoradoSB25-1942025 Regular SessionSenateWALLET
Sunset Dental Practice Act
Sponsored By: Anthony Hartsook (Republican), Dafna Michaelson Jenet (Democratic), Kyle Mullica (Democratic), Monica Duran (Democratic)
Signed by Governor
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
24 provisions identified: 16 benefits, 2 costs, 6 mixed.
More vaccine options at dental visits
Dentists can order and give respiratory and oral-health vaccines, including human papillomavirus vaccines, to patients age 6 or older. They can delegate shots to dental therapists or hygienists under Dental Board rules. Hygienists need direct dentist supervision or delegation from another licensed professional authorized to give vaccines and delegate tasks. Dentists and hygienists must follow training rules and disclose relevant pediatric training, including their ability to manage side effects, during consent. They must record shots in the Colorado Immunization Information System and share state educational materials and recommendations. Neither dentists nor hygienists can grant medical or nonmedical exemptions from required vaccines.
Dental applicants gain more education pathways
Dental programs can qualify through the Commission on Dental Accreditation or a specialty accreditor recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Dental therapist applicants can use programs developed before February 6, 2015, recognized by Minnesota's dental board or Alaska's Community Health Aide certification board. Another pathway accepts a dental therapy school accredited when the applicant graduated. These credentials do not guarantee a license. The board can recognize specialties defined by the National Commission on Recognition of Dental Specialties and Certifying Boards or the U.S. Department of Education.
Hygienists gain services but keep limits
The law replaces older hygiene duties while reserving dental diagnosis, dental treatment planning, and therapeutic prescribing to dentists, except separately authorized services. Hygienists can provide listed scans, charting, probing, X-rays, referrals, and health screenings without supervision within their training and experience. Patients must sign a statement that hygiene assessments only determine needed hygiene services. Hygienists no longer must recommend a full dentist exam twice yearly. Providers face discipline for working outside required written dental therapy or hygiene practice plans.
Dental patients get follow-up care safeguards
Before placing a temporary restoration, a hygienist must confirm a follow-up referral with the supervising dentist. The referral must be to a licensed dentist reasonably near the treatment site. Traveling surgery providers face discipline for failing to provide needed follow-up care, including a post-procedure care plan. If the original provider is unavailable, the plan must name a nearby facility or licensed surgical specialist.
Patients get records and ownership details
Dental licensees face discipline for refusing to make records available within seven calendar days after a legally authorized written request. Patients, their representatives, and previous or current treatment providers can make these requests. Dental and dental hygiene practices must make information about every owner immediately available to the public during business hours. This includes an unlicensed heir acting as a temporary owner, and the information must use a Dental Board-approved format.
Traveling surgeons must arrange nearby follow-up
Traveling dental surgery providers must maintain a written emergency follow-up plan and give it to every patient. The plan must arrange care at a permanent facility reasonably near the treatment site. The surgeon or an appropriately trained practitioner who agrees in writing must provide follow-up. That practitioner must be available when the surgeon is unavailable, and the plan must be immediately available to the board.
Dental teams can offer more procedures
Dentists can order and give neuromodulators and dermal fillers to their established dental patients for treatment or cosmetic purposes. Hygienists can give these injections under direct dentist supervision or authorized professional delegation. Board rules govern training, ongoing skill, records, and delegation. Hygienists can use lasers for hygiene work within board-defined limits. They can also perform assigned tasks not requiring a dentist's professional skill under indirect dentist supervision, unless another law allows otherwise.
Dental teams gain more repair flexibility
Dental therapists can repair prosthetic devices, not just defective ones, under a dentist's direct supervision. That dentist must hold an active license in good standing. Assistants can perform listed tasks under direct therapist or hygienist supervision, or indirect dentist supervision. They can record dental and gum charting dictated by a licensee, but still cannot scale teeth.
Hygienists can provide more dental medicines
Hygienists can prescribe, dispense, and administer specified fluoride products, topical cavity treatments, and local infection-fighting agents. Related emergency drugs and reversal agents are also authorized. Patient records must show the agent, date, and reason for treatment. Silver fluoride treatments require a qualifying course, and the board can approve safe alternatives by rule.
Hygienists can provide more dental medicines
Dental hygienists can prescribe, dispense, and give nonnarcotic pain medicines, anti-inflammatory drugs, and antibiotics under a written care plan. A supervising dentist must authorize this work. Hygienists must complete a qualifying postsecondary or continuing education course that meets Dental Board requirements.
Out-of-state dental volunteers can serve briefly
Out-of-state dental therapists and hygienists licensed in good standing can volunteer in Colorado under a limited practice exemption. Practice is limited to five consecutive days in any 12-month period. A qualifying group of Colorado-licensed professionals in good standing must invite them and submit their names at least 10 days ahead. A licensed dentist must directly supervise patient care, and therapists must follow state dental therapy rules.
Dental professionals gain business structure options
Dentists, dental therapists, and hygienists can practice through professional service corporations, limited liability companies of licensees, or limited liability partnerships of licensees. These businesses remain subject to the applicable state-law requirements. The law does not set patient prices.
Hygienists gain more business rental options
Hygienists can own or lease equipment, materials, and supplies needed for supervised or unsupervised hygiene care. Hygienist owners and eligible professional entities can rent space or equipment from a dentist at the same location. The dentist remains responsible for the dentist’s services, including records, medicines, and patient payment. Hygienists must tell patients whether a dentist supervises them. The rental arrangement alone is not employment or grounds for discipline.
Colorado extends dental oversight, reshapes board
The law moves the Dental Practice Act's scheduled repeal from September 1, 2025, to September 1, 2034, with review beforehand. Beginning July 1, 2031, the board has seven dentists, one dental therapist, three hygienists, and two public members. The therapist seat stays vacant until at least 100 therapists actively practice clinically in Colorado. One dentist must be an oral and maxillofacial surgeon unless none is available. Board witnesses and expert consultants receive the legal immunity and conditions provided by state law.
Faster dental licensing during worker shortages
The Dental Board must create faster temporary licensing rules for public health emergencies or acute workforce shortages. The pathway covers dentists, hygienists, and dental therapists returning from inactive status. Applicants must have held a license in good standing, with no past discipline, before becoming inactive. Rules must address supervision or monitoring, liability coverage, practice limits, license terms, approvals, timelines, and renewal options.
Hygienists and therapists can direct assistants
Dental hygienists can direct assistants on tasks within the hygienist’s legal scope, with direct supervision. Dental therapists can also direct assistants within the therapist’s scope, with direct or indirect supervision as applicable. Assistants still cannot perform tasks barred by law. Written care plans between therapists and dentists must cover assistant supervision and coordination with hygienists and other dental staff.
Inactive dental professionals get disaster pathway
The board must create expedited temporary licenses for dentists, hygienists, and therapists during a declared disaster emergency. Applicants must have held licenses in good standing with no past discipline before moving to inactive status. Board rules must address supervision or monitoring, liability coverage, practice limits, license terms, approval timelines, and renewal options.
Dentists pay annual health assistance fee
Dentist license applicants and dentists renewing or reinstating licenses must pay an annual peer health assistance fee. The fee is paid to the selected administering entity when they apply. Its $59 annual cap can rise with the specified Denver-area consumer price index, but never above $100 per licensee yearly. The money supports help for dentists whose physical, emotional, or psychological problems may impair practice.
Dental licensees face training, contact rules
The board must set rules for education about dental law before initial licensure. It can also define “in good standing” and “patient representative.” Licensees changing their business location or contact information must provide updated mailing and email addresses within 30 days.
Dentists gain confidential help with oversight
Dentists can confidentially self-refer to peer health assistance without directly notifying the board, satisfying specified notification duties. Programs must report known legal or board-rule violations, except the two statutory exceptions in section 12-220-201(1)(e) and (f). Completing a voluntary board-designated health exam and its requirements also satisfies specified reporting duties, unless the examiner directs notification. For serious conditions treated as an inpatient, reporting duties begin at discharge. Designated programs must track referred dentists and train practice monitors; selecting a program requires public notice and a chance to comment.
Temporary tooth repairs require trained providers
Hygienists can obtain a permit to place temporary tooth-stabilizing restorations by applying, paying a director-set fee, and completing required training. The board-compliant course requires faculty supervision through an accredited Colorado dental or hygiene school, with dentist faculty evaluating clinical work. A dentist or dental therapist can assess whether further treatment is needed. Dentists can supervise at most five full-time-equivalent hygienists and therapists combined for covered procedures; the separate three-therapist cap still applies. Indirect supervisors need active Colorado dentist licenses in good standing, and treating providers must refer patients for needed follow-up care.
Dental lab work needs documented orders
The law treats physical or digital dental impressions, scans, and listed device work as regulated dental practice. Listed laboratory device work has an exception when ordered by a licensed, practicing dentist. Dentists using unlicensed technicians for covered devices must sign dated work orders, keep them permanently, and directly supervise intraoral treatment. Technicians must keep copies for at least two years; one order can cover several devices needed together. Colorado-licensed hygienists can document orders for others to make or repair carriers used to hold oral medicine.
Dentists face controlled drug prescribing safeguards
Licensed dentists can send prescription orders electronically. Dentists can prescribe, give, or distribute controlled or habit-forming drugs only during legitimate dental practice, including prescriptions to themselves. They must follow board recordkeeping rules and state electronic-prescribing requirements.
Dental anesthesia gets faster permits, safeguards
Dentists need the required permit and must follow board rules to provide covered anesthesia, pain relief, or sedation. They can delegate inhaled anesthesia administration and monitoring to hygienists and properly trained unlicensed staff under law and board rules. The board must speed permitting for dentists with qualifying accredited anesthesia residency or comprehensive postdoctoral training. Inspectors need more than five years of anesthesia experience, an active permit, and board calibration training every five years. Moderate-sedation inspectors can inspect only that level; deep-sedation or general-anesthesia inspectors can inspect any sedation level.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
Anthony Hartsook
Republican • House
Dafna Michaelson Jenet
Democratic • Senate
Kyle Mullica
Democratic • Senate
Monica Duran
Democratic • House
Cosponsors
Andrew Boesenecker
Democratic • House
Brianna Titone
Democratic • House
Chad Clifford
Democratic • House
Eliza Hamrick
Democratic • House
Emily Sirota
Democratic • House
Gretchen Rydin
Democratic • House
Julie McCluskie
Democratic • House
Kyle Brown
Democratic • House
Karen McCormick
Democratic • House
Katie Stewart
Democratic • House
Meghan Lukens
Democratic • House
Naquetta Ricks
Democratic • House
Rep. S. Bird
Affiliation unavailable
Yara Zokaie
Democratic • House
Dylan Roberts
Democratic • Senate
Jeff Bridges
Democratic • Senate
Julie Gonzales
Democratic • Senate
Tony Exum
Democratic • Senate
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 4/25/2025
Third reading: Bill
Yes: 54 • No: 8
House vote • 4/25/2025
Third reading: Perm
Yes: 19 • No: 43
House vote • 4/24/2025
Refer Senate Bill 25-194 to the Committee of the Whole.
Yes: 10 • No: 1
House vote • 4/22/2025
Refer Senate Bill 25-194 to the Committee on Appropriations.
Yes: 12 • No: 0
Senate vote • 4/17/2025
Third reading: Bill
Yes: 28 • No: 7
Senate vote • 4/17/2025
Third reading: Bill
Yes: 25 • No: 10
Senate vote • 4/17/2025
Third reading: Amend (l.018)
Yes: 35 • No: 0
Senate vote • 4/11/2025
Refer Senate Bill 25-194, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.
Yes: 6 • No: 1
Senate vote • 3/27/2025
Refer Senate Bill 25-194, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations.
Yes: 9 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Governor Signed
5/5/2025HouseHouse Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
4/25/2025HouseSigned by the President of the Senate
4/25/2025SenateSent to the Governor
4/25/2025HouseSigned by the Speaker of the House
4/25/2025HouseHouse Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole
4/24/2025HouseHouse Second Reading Special Order - Passed - No Amendments
4/24/2025HouseHouse Committee on Health & Human Services Refer Unamended to Appropriations
4/22/2025HouseSenate Third Reading Passed with Amendments - Floor
4/17/2025SenateIntroduced In House - Assigned to Health & Human Services
4/17/2025HouseSenate Third Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments
4/16/2025SenateSenate Second Reading Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor
4/15/2025SenateSenate Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole
4/11/2025SenateSenate Committee on Health & Human Services Refer Amended to Appropriations
3/27/2025SenateIntroduced In Senate - Assigned to Health & Human Services
3/5/2025Senate
Bill Text
Engrossed
Final Act
Introduced
Reengrossed
Rerevised
Revised
Signed Act