# Colorado SB25-194: Sunset Dental Practice Act Colorado SB25-194, Sunset Dental Practice Act, is a 2025 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Anthony Hartsook (Republican), Dafna Michaelson Jenet (Democratic), Kyle Mullica (Democratic) and 1 others; status signed, last action 2025-05-05 (Governor Signed); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-16). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CO-SB25-194-2025A - As of: 2026-10-16 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Colorado SB25-194 - State: Colorado - Session: 2025 Regular Session - Title: Sunset Dental Practice Act - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2025-03-05 - Last action: 2025-05-05, Governor Signed - Sponsors: Anthony Hartsook (Republican), Dafna Michaelson Jenet (Democratic), Kyle Mullica (Democratic), Monica Duran (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 18 - Subjects: Professions & Occupations - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 9 (198 yes, 70 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 24 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - More vaccine options at dental visits: benefit, medium. 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… - Dental applicants gain more education pathways: benefit, medium. 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 Ai… - Dental patients get follow-up care safeguards: benefit, low. 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 po… - Patients get records and ownership details: benefit, low. 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 informat… - Traveling surgeons must arrange nearby follow-up: benefit, low. 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.… - Dental teams can offer more procedures: benefit, low. 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, a… - Dental teams gain more repair flexibility: benefit, low. 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 r… - Hygienists can provide more dental medicines: benefit, low. 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 treat… - Hygienists can provide more dental medicines: benefit, low. 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 Bo… - Out-of-state dental volunteers can serve briefly: benefit, low. 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 subm… - Dental professionals gain business structure options: benefit, low. 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: benefit, low. 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, includi… - Colorado extends dental oversight, reshapes board: benefit, low. 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 the… - Faster dental licensing during worker shortages: benefit, low. 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, bef… - Hygienists and therapists can direct assistants: benefit, low. 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 ca… - Inactive dental professionals get disaster pathway: benefit, low. 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, liabili… - Dentists pay annual health assistance fee: cost, low. 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 lic… - Dental licensees face training, contact rules: cost, low. 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. - Hygienists gain services but keep limits: mixed, medium. 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 wit… - Dentists gain confidential help with oversight: mixed, low. 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… - Temporary tooth repairs require trained providers: mixed, low. 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… - Dental lab work needs documented orders: mixed, low. 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, ke… - Dentists face controlled drug prescribing safeguards: mixed, low. 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 req… - Dental anesthesia gets faster permits, safeguards: mixed, low. 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 fo… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Anthony Hartsook (Republican), House - Sponsor: Dafna Michaelson Jenet (Democratic), Senate - Sponsor: Kyle Mullica (Democratic), Senate - Sponsor: Monica Duran (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Andrew Boesenecker (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Brianna Titone (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Chad Clifford (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Eliza Hamrick (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Emily Sirota (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Gretchen Rydin (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Julie McCluskie (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Kyle Brown (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Karen McCormick (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Katie Stewart (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Meghan Lukens (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Naquetta Ricks (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Rep. S. Bird - Cosponsor: Yara Zokaie (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Dylan Roberts (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Jeff Bridges (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Julie Gonzales (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Tony Exum (Democratic), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-04-25 | House | Third reading: Bill | pass | 54 | 8 | | | 2025-04-25 | House | Third reading: Perm | fail | 19 | 43 | | | 2025-04-24 | House | Refer Senate Bill 25-194 to the Committee of the Whole. | pass | 10 | 1 | | | 2025-04-22 | House | Refer Senate Bill 25-194 to the Committee on Appropriations. | pass | 12 | 0 | | | 2025-04-17 | Senate | Third reading: Bill | pass | 28 | 7 | | | 2025-04-17 | Senate | Third reading: Bill | pass | 25 | 10 | | | 2025-04-17 | Senate | Third reading: Amend (l.018) | pass | 35 | 0 | | | 2025-04-11 | Senate | Refer Senate Bill 25-194, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. | pass | 6 | 1 | | | 2025-03-27 | Senate | Refer Senate Bill 25-194, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. | pass | 9 | 0 | | ## Actions (15) - 2025-05-05: Governor Signed (House) - 2025-04-25: House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments (House) - 2025-04-25: Signed by the President of the Senate (Senate) - 2025-04-25: Sent to the Governor (House) - 2025-04-25: Signed by the Speaker of the House (House) - 2025-04-24: House Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole (House) - 2025-04-24: House Second Reading Special Order - Passed - No Amendments (House) - 2025-04-22: House Committee on Health & Human Services Refer Unamended to Appropriations (House) - 2025-04-17: Senate Third Reading Passed with Amendments - Floor (Senate) - 2025-04-17: Introduced In House - Assigned to Health & Human Services (House) - 2025-04-16: Senate Third Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments (Senate) - 2025-04-15: Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor (Senate) - 2025-04-11: Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole (Senate) - 2025-03-27: Senate Committee on Health & Human Services Refer Amended to Appropriations (Senate) - 2025-03-05: Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Health & Human Services (Senate) ## Bill text - Engrossed: [PDF](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/83299/download) - Final Act: [PDF](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/83283/download) - Introduced: [PDF](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/83303/download) - Reengrossed: [PDF](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/83295/download) - Rerevised: [PDF](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/83287/download) - Revised: [PDF](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/83291/download) - Signed Act: [PDF](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/40738/download) ## Related bills - SB25-279: Colorado Code of Military Justice Updates (signed) - HB25-1307: Updating Technical References in Education Law (signed) - HB25-1234: Utility Consumer Protection (signed) - SB25-167: Invest State Funds to Benefit Communities (signed) - SB25-163: Battery Stewardship Programs (signed) - SB25-261: Property Tax Deferral Program Administration (signed) ## Sources - [Engrossed (PDF)](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/83299/download) - [Final Act (PDF)](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/83283/download) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/83303/download) - [Reengrossed (PDF)](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/83295/download) - [Rerevised (PDF)](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/83287/download) - [Revised (PDF)](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/83291/download) - [Signed Act (PDF)](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/40738/download) ## Related - [SB25-279: Colorado Code of Military Justice Updates](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CO-SB25-279-2025A) - [HB25-1307: Updating Technical References in Education Law](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CO-HB25-1307-2025A) - [HB25-1234: Utility Consumer Protection](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CO-HB25-1234-2025A) - [SB25-167: Invest State Funds to Benefit Communities](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CO-SB25-167-2025A) - [SB25-163: Battery Stewardship Programs](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CO-SB25-163-2025A) - [SB25-261: Property Tax Deferral Program Administration](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CO-SB25-261-2025A) - [Colorado bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/colorado/bills) - [Colorado state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/colorado) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CO-SB25-194-2025A (as of 2026-10-16).