Optometry
Summary
Optometry; Revises membership requirements for Board of Optometry; revises & provides rules to be implemented by board; revises requirements for administration & prescription of ocular pharmaceutical agents & provisions related to topical & oral ocular pharmaceutical agent formularies established by board; authorizes optometrist certified in ophthalmic procedures to perform certain procedures; requires board to determine required content, grading criteria, & passing score for such examination; authorizes certain procedures certified optometrist may perform; prohibits commercial or mercantile establishment from having any control over manner in which licensee practices optometry; removes provision prohibiting surgery of any kind; authorizes specified titles & abbreviations for certified optometrists; provides requirements for demonstration of financial responsibility as condition of licensure.
Bill status
died
3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Feb 6, 2025
Last action Jun 16, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons
What changed between versions
H 449 c2
→
H 449 e1
·
3 edits
MINOR
This bill was amended to shift responsibility for developing the optometrist licensure course and examination from the Board of Optometry to a joint committee of physician and optometrist associations. The bill also expanded the scope of duties that nonlicensed supportive personnel can perform and added a new definition for indirect supervision.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded to include provisions for nonlicensed supportive personnel duties and indirect supervision definitions.
REQUIREMENT
Changed who develops the optometrist licensure course and examination from the Board of Optometry to a joint committee of the statewide professional associations of physicians and licensed optometrists.
Added provisions expanding the duties that nonlicensed supportive personnel may perform under certain circumstances.
DEFINITION
Added a new definition for 'indirect supervision' to clarify supervision standards.
Floor votes · House Apr 24, 2025
How they voted
87–24
Passed · 7 other
Total votes 118
Apr 24, 2025
D
Democratic34
50% Yea
R
Republican84
83% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
33
Key actions
10
Committee
13
Apr 25, 2025
Committee
Referred to Rules
upper
Apr 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
CS passed as amended; YEAS 88, NAYS 24
lower
Apr 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
Amendment 013801 adopted
lower
Apr 17, 2025
Committee
Bill referred to House Calendar
lower
Apr 16, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported out of Health & Human Services Committee
lower
Apr 15, 2025
Lower · Passed
Favorable with CS by Health & Human Services Committee
lower
Apr 11, 2025
Lower · Passed
Added to Health & Human Services Committee agenda
lower
Mar 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
Now in Health & Human Services Committee
lower
Mar 25, 2025
Committee
Referred to Health & Human Services Committee
lower
Mar 21, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported out of Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee
lower
Mar 20, 2025
Lower · Passed
Favorable with CS by Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee
lower
Mar 18, 2025
Lower · Passed
Added to Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee agenda
lower
Feb 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
Now in Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee
lower
Feb 12, 2025
Committee
Referred to Health & Human Services Committee
lower
Feb 12, 2025
Committee
Referred to Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee
lower
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor
Sponsors
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