VirginiaHB9702026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Dental assistants; supragingival scaling and coronal polishing, certification.

Sponsored By: Marcia S. "Cia" Price (Democratic)

Became Law

Summary

Dental assistants; additional treatments; certification. Permits any dental assistant I or dental assistant II with a minimum of 1,800 hours of clinical experience to obtain certification pursuant to the requirements of the bill to perform supragingival scaling and coronal polishing. This bill is identical to SB 178.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

Dentists face new limits and paperwork

A dentist may not indirectly supervise more than two dental assistants at the same time when they perform supragingival scaling or coronal polishing. A dentist who provides or confirms training must certify under oath that the assistant completed the training and at least 20 supervised full‑mouth supragingival scaling procedures with patient consent. The dentist must keep the records and give them to the Board of Dentistry if asked. Later employers may rely on the same certification.

Certified dental assistants can scale and polish

The law lets certified Dental Assistant I or II perform supragingival scaling with hand and ultrasonic scalers and do coronal polishing under a dentist’s indirect supervision. To qualify, you must have at least 1,800 clinical hours. Your training must be from one of these: a licensed dentist or hygienist using a statewide dentists’ association curriculum; a federal program approved by or linked to the Indian Health Service or active‑duty military training; or an existing dental assistant education program.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Marcia S. "Cia" Price

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 200 • No: 21

Senate vote 2/23/2026

Passed Senate Block Vote

Yes: 38 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/20/2026

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading)

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/20/2026

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote 2/19/2026

Reported from Education and Health

Yes: 14 • No: 0

House vote 2/16/2026

Read third time and passed House

Yes: 78 • No: 20

House vote 2/10/2026

Reported from Health and Human Services with substitute

Yes: 21 • No: 1

House vote 2/5/2026

Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute

Yes: 9 • No: 0

House vote 1/22/2026

Referred from General Laws and referred to Health and Human Services (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0439)

    4/8/2026Governor
  2. Approved by Governor-Chapter 439 (effective 7/1/2026)

    4/8/2026Governor
  3. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

    3/10/2026Governor
  4. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026

    3/10/2026House
  5. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB970)

    2/26/2026House
  6. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB970ER)

    2/25/2026House
  7. Enrolled

    2/25/2026House
  8. Signed by President

    2/25/2026Senate
  9. Signed by Speaker

    2/25/2026House
  10. Passed Senate Block Vote (38-Y 0-N 0-A)

    2/23/2026Senate
  11. Read third time

    2/23/2026Senate
  12. Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

    2/20/2026Senate
  13. Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

    2/20/2026Senate
  14. Rules suspended

    2/20/2026Senate
  15. Reported from Education and Health (14-Y 0-N)

    2/19/2026Senate
  16. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB970)

    2/17/2026House
  17. Referred to Committee on Education and Health

    2/17/2026Senate
  18. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

    2/17/2026Senate
  19. Read third time and passed House (78-Y 20-N 0-A)

    2/16/2026House
  20. Engrossed by House - committee substitute

    2/13/2026House
  21. committee substitute agreed to

    2/13/2026House
  22. Read second time

    2/13/2026House
  23. Read first time

    2/12/2026House
  24. Committee substitute printed 26107302D-H1

    2/10/2026House
  25. Reported from Health and Human Services with substitute (21-Y 1-N)

    2/10/2026House

Bill Text

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