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

Georgia HB 1278, Professions and businesses; improve efficiencies in issuance of permits for dentists to administer conscious sedation and general anesthesia, is a 2025-2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Viola Davis (Democrat), Gerald Greene (Republican), Lee Hawkins (Republican) and 3 others; status signed, last action 2026-07-01 (Effective Date) (as of 2026-10-19).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HB1278-2025-2026
- As of: 2026-10-19
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Georgia HB 1278
- State: Georgia
- Session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
- Title: Professions and businesses; improve efficiencies in issuance of permits for dentists to administer conscious sedation and general anesthesia
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-02-11
- Last action: 2026-07-01, Effective Date
- Sponsors: Viola Davis (Democrat), Gerald Greene (Republican), Lee Hawkins (Republican), Mark Newton (Republican), Kim Schofield (Democrat), Ron Stephens (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Subjects: Health, Health and Human Services, General Bill
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 3 (237 yes, 22 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- More flexible anesthesia permits for dentists: benefit, low. Georgia dentists have more flexible reviews when seeking or renewing conscious-sedation and general-anesthesia permits. The Georgia Board of Dentistry or its designee can evaluate and certify facilities, replacing the specified on-site examination requirement. The board can assign qualified people…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Viola Davis (Democrat), House
- Sponsor: Gerald Greene (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Lee Hawkins (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Mark Newton (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Kim Schofield (Democrat), House
- Sponsor: Ron Stephens (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Chuck Hufstetler (Republican), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-27 | Senate | PASSAGE | pass | 46 | 0 | 5 |
| 2026-03-27 | Senate | MOTION TO TABLE REMAINING LEGISLATION ON THE RULES CALENDAR | pass | 26 | 22 | 5 |
| 2026-02-26 | House | PASSAGE | pass | 165 | 0 | 10 |

## Actions (17)

- 2026-07-01: Effective Date
- 2026-05-05: House Date Signed by Governor (House)
- 2026-05-05: Act 405
- 2026-04-06: House Sent to Governor (House)
- 2026-03-27: Senate Tabled (Senate)
- 2026-03-27: Senate Taken from Table (Senate)
- 2026-03-27: Senate Third Read (Senate)
- 2026-03-27: Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-03-19: Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
- 2026-03-18: Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
- 2026-03-03: Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- 2026-02-26: House Third Readers (House)
- 2026-02-26: House Passed/Adopted (House)
- 2026-02-24: House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
- 2026-02-17: House Second Readers (House)
- 2026-02-12: House First Readers (House)
- 2026-02-11: House Hopper (House)

## Bill text

- HB 1278/AP* (v3): [PDF](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/248118)

## Related bills

- SB 160: Reckless Stunt Driving; a motor vehicle involved in a second offense of reckless stunt driving; replace the forfeiture penalty (signed)
- SB 384: Motor Vehicle; optional five-year motor vehicle registration and revalidation for certain motor vehicles; provide (signed)
- SB 76: License Plates; specialty license plate benefitting the Georgia Veterans Service Foundation; establish (signed)
- SB 406: "Georgia Property Owners' Bill of Rights Act"; enact (signed)
- HB 1391: Specialty license plates; honor public safety officers; establish (signed)
- HB 1344: Georgia Insurance Affordability and Claims Integrity Act; enact (signed)

## Sources
- [HB 1278/AP* (v3) (PDF)](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/248118)

## Related
- [SB 160: Reckless Stunt Driving; a motor vehicle involved in a second offense of reckles…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB160-2025-2026)
- [SB 384: Motor Vehicle; optional five-year motor vehicle registration and revalidation f…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB384-2025-2026)
- [SB 76: License Plates; specialty license plate benefitting the Georgia Veterans Servic…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB76-2025-2026)
- [SB 406: "Georgia Property Owners' Bill of Rights Act"; enact](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB406-2025-2026)
- [HB 1391: Specialty license plates; honor public safety officers; establish](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HB1391-2025-2026)
- [HB 1344: Georgia Insurance Affordability and Claims Integrity Act; enact](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HB1344-2025-2026)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HB1278-2025-2026 (as of 2026-10-19).