Video & Transcript Research : 'eye exams'

Page 1 of 377
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

01/21/2026 - Senate Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency

Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency

Transcript Highlights:
  • Madam Chair and members, Senate Bill 1023 requires an optometrist to conduct an eye examination according
  • Several months, five or ten years ago, I guess I had my eyes checked and I got a new prescription, and
  • with certain eye conditions.
  • So I think this is a reasonable compromise and it promotes eye health.
  • Four eyes, three names are not voting. By your vote of four eyes, three knows.
Bills: SB1013, SB1023
Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 1023, which would require optometrists to conduct eye exams according to the standard of care in the community at a recommended one-year interval, while allowing eyeglass prescriptions to be extended up to two years or shortened based on risk factors. The sponsor described it as a compromise between a longer prescription period and existing practice, and the Arizona Optometric Association supported the bill as codifying best practice and clarifying the standard. The committee moved the bill and gave SB 1023 a do pass recommendation on a 7-0 vote. The committee then took up Senate Bill 1013, a merit-based public hiring bill that would prohibit state and local public employers from using policies or practices that base hiring on race, ethnicity, sex, or national origin, while preserving compliance with anti-discrimination laws. An amendment was offered to clarify that the bill would not limit voluntary veterans’ preference employment policies, and the committee adopted that amendment. Supporters argued the bill would ensure public jobs are awarded based on qualifications and protect taxpayers; opponents argued it could undermine diversity efforts and that the veterans language was unnecessary or awkwardly drafted. After testimony from supporters and debate over the amendment and the bill’s effect on diversity, veterans’ preferences, and prior criminal history in hiring, the committee voted on SB 1013 as amended. The bill received a due pass as amended recommendation on a 4-3 vote, and the committee then adjourned.
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

03/02/2026 - House Health & Human Services

Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:
  • Madam Chair, members, Senate Bill 1023 establishes standards for optometrists to conduct eye examinations
  • The origin of the bill is that Senator Kavanaugh had an eye exam several years ago and the prescriber
  • It provides that an eye exam by an optometrist includes patient eye health and vision, and the resulting
  • optometrists, not ophthalmologists, but optometrists probably do about 90% of what would be considered basic eye
Summary: The House Committee on Health and Human Services heard and advanced four Senate bills. SB 1242 would allow courts to conduct mental health evaluation and treatment hearings, or specified testimony in those hearings, virtually by telephone or video if the court finds no unfair prejudice; a speaker said it would codify existing practice and help avoid dismissals caused by technical issues. SB 1145 would transfer licensure and regulation of behavior analysts from the Arizona Board of Psychologist Examiners to the existing Behavior Analyst Committee, with supporters saying it would improve efficiency and eliminate unnecessary board ratification delays. Both bills received due pass recommendations on 11-0 votes, with one member absent. The committee also considered SB 1247, an emergency measure allowing a person who does not receive care services to live with a resident in an assisted living center or home if the facility permits it. Supporters said the bill would clarify a recent statutory interpretation and preserve longstanding arrangements, such as spouses or other companions living together; one member raised concerns about the bill’s broad wording and potential fraud or safety issues, while another noted facilities could still impose background checks or other conditions. SB 1247 passed with a 10-0 recommendation, with one member voting present and one absent. Finally, SB 1023 would set standards for optometrists’ eye examinations, including a recommended one-year exam interval and authority to extend eyeglass prescription validity up to two years depending on patient factors. The Arizona Optometric Association supported the bill as codifying best practices, and one member said a constituent from the blind community had helped bring the issue forward. The committee gave SB 1023 a due pass recommendation on an 11-0 vote, then adjourned.
AL

Alabama 2025 Regular Session

Alabama Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee Apr 30th, 2025

Finance and Taxation Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • A correlating benefit because we deal for eyes.
  • This bill exempts the Alabama Eye Bank from sales and use tax. All right.
  • Is there somebody from the Eye Bank here that can address the amendment?
  • it's not Alabama Eye Bank, it is the network.
  • Let's stay in the eye care realm here. HB176.
NM

New Mexico 2026 Regular Session

House - Judiciary Feb 11th, 2026 at 05:05 pm

House Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:
  • Surgery in and around the human eye is not something to be taken lightly.
  • It basically opens up an opportunity for the eye to see through clear as opposed to opaque media.
  • I have a daughter who had retinoblastoma, and she lost her eye, and I...
  • eye, and I very much understand the difference between an ophthalmologist and an optometrist.
  • because she's got one fake eye and one real eye.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Health and Human Services Apr 30th, 2025

Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:
  • She would only treat him for sick visits, basically, and his annual exams.
  • She would only treat him for sick visits, basically, and his annual exams.
  • The lactation consultant exam was way harder than my in-plex examination.
  • For example, the state rate for a basic eye exam is $71.29, but the lowest reimbursement we've seen by
  • exams or glasses to Medicaid patients.
Summary: The committee met with a quorum and announced it would vote on pending bills at 10:30, with public testimony limited to two minutes. It first took up Senate Bill 905, a TDLR cleanup bill on licensing regulation of speech-language pathologists and audiologists. Senator Zafferini said the committee substitute would streamline advisory board consultation, remove obsolete provisional licenses, and allow any licensed physician to authorize hearing instruments for minors; the substitute was adopted and the bill left pending. The committee then heard House Bill 451, which would require universal screening for commercial sexual exploitation risk for children in DFPS conservatorship and youth under TJJD jurisdiction. The author and witnesses from Children at Risk, the Fort Bend Anti-Trafficking Collective, and Texas CASA supported the bill as a prevention tool with existing infrastructure and training; the committee adopted the substitute and left the bill pending. The committee next considered Senate Bill 466, which would clarify that families may request a fetal death certificate at any gestational age, while keeping existing filing requirements for physicians. A constituent father testified about losing his 11-week-old daughter and being told he could not obtain a certificate, which he said prevented funeral arrangements; the substitute was adopted and the bill left pending. Senate Bill 2311 followed, requiring residential treatment centers to have a written agreement with the school that will educate resident children before becoming operational. The author cited a local dispute where an RTC and school district lacked communication, and witnesses from Texas CASA and Disability Rights Texas supported clearer educational planning while suggesting the Education Code may need conforming changes; the bill was left pending. The committee then heard Senate Bill 2826, known as Alyssa’s Law, which would create a statewide education program on medical child abuse for medical students, health care professionals, and CPS caseworkers. The author and Sheriff Bill Weyburn described Alyssa’s case as involving repeated unnecessary surgeries and argued the bill would improve awareness and early identification, while several witnesses and members raised concerns about false accusations, impacts on medically fragile children, and the need for scientific, peer-reviewed training and safeguards. After extensive discussion, the chair left the bill pending. The committee also heard House Bill 136, which would add certified lactation consultants as Medicaid providers to expand breastfeeding support; witnesses from lactation and nutrition fields said the bill would improve access, maternal and infant health, and long-term savings, and the bill was left pending. Finally, the committee took up Senate Bill 2805, a surprise-billing/arbitration measure that would clarify provider identifiers and shift arbitration costs to the losing party. The author said the substitute was a legislative counsel draft with no substantive difference, and witnesses from the Texas Medical Association, Texas Society of Anesthesiologists, and U.S. Anesthesia Partners supported the bill as a modest improvement that would reduce administrative confusion and make arbitration fairer without weakening patient protections. Members discussed how arbitration costs affect settlement behavior and how to define the “winner” in close cases. The bill was heard but not voted out during this segment.
MN

Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session

House Transportation Finance and Policy Committee 2/17/25

Transportation Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • He said it was very eye-opening and that he appreciated the testifiers being there.
  • He said it was very eye-opening and that he appreciated the testifiers being there.
  • Representative Myers said it was very eye-opening and that he appreciated the testifiers being there.
  • plates to be used by DBS on driers exam plates to be used by DBS on driers exam Staffing<01:24:59.119
  • 25:01.239> costs Staffing exam stations and related costs Staffing exam stations and related costs
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • My eyes, and she is not my mother; Laura Weybourne is.
  • She would only treat him for sick visits, basically, and his annual exams.
  • The lactation consultant exam was way harder than my NCLEX examination.
  • For example, the state rate for the basic eye exam is $71.29, but the lowest reimbursement we've seen
  • exams or glasses to Medicaid patients.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
  • of the knowledge. >> [clears throat and cough] >> Once you pass that exam, then you can, depending on
  • once<00:37:38.240> you<00:37:38.320> pass<00:37:38.600> that<00:37:38.760> exam
  • , then you can >> once you pass that exam, then you can depending<00:37:41.240> on<00:37
  • That generation is going to come home missing arms, legs, eyes, and having those invisible injuries,
  • arms, legs, eyes, and having those<01:09:59.360> invisible<01:09:59.840> injuries,<01:
Summary: The committee heard testimony on SB 847, which would create a Kauai pilot program allowing qualified psychologists limited authority to prescribe psychotropic medications. The Board of Psychology supported the bill’s intent but asked for amendments to delay the effective date or extend the pilot so rules could be written first, and to clarify the education/training language. Supporters, including the Hawaii Psychological Association, Hawaii Mental Health Coalition, and several psychologists, argued that prescribing psychologists have long safety records in other jurisdictions and that the pilot could improve access to care on Kauai, especially amid ongoing mental health needs and storm-related stress. They cited studies and examples from New Mexico, Louisiana, the Department of Defense, and other places. Opponents, including the Hawaii Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, Queen’s Medical Center, and a Department of Health representative, said the bill needed substantial work, raised concerns about training, liability, and workforce impacts, and urged a team-based model with psychiatrist oversight rather than independent prescribing. Some testimony also referenced a GAO report, with witnesses disagreeing over its meaning and cost-effectiveness. No vote was taken during the discussion, and members asked questions about how the bill would address the workforce shortage and whether a psychiatrist on Kauai could already meet the need. The committee then moved to SB 2271 on hospital licensing and SB 2272 on home health care licensing. The Department of Health, the Healthcare Association of Hawaii, and the Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities supported both measures, which were described as streamlining and clarifying licensing oversight by relying on accreditation or certification reports. A member asked whether the bill language on hospital accreditation reports was duplicative, and the response was that the second provision was intended to strengthen enforcement by requiring hospitals to provide the actual report to DOH. The committee did not take final action in the portion of the hearing provided, and the chair noted that all bills on the agenda would later be considered for decision-making.
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

State Affairs Mar 19th, 2025

State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • A quick question, can you talk about the effect of sunlight on rhodopsin in your, in your eyes and how
  • previous point about these large electrical cables, the nerves that go from our head to the, from our eyes
  • This res resolution recognizes an iconic part of Texas culture, culture, the Tomahawk rib eye steak,
  • By designating the tomahawk rib eye as the official steak of Texas, we're honoring generations of Texans
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • The Canadian exam has not.
  • Canadian exam.
  • The Canadian exam has not.
  • The Canadian exam has not.
  • The Canadian exam has not.
Summary: The subcommittee approved the minutes from the previous meeting and then took up several regulations. The first was a Department of Veterans Affairs regulation, with a staff amendment, to allow nurse practitioners to apply for the Veterans Affairs nurse loan repayment program year-round and to make technical drafting changes. The committee heard from the Office of Kentucky Veteran Centers, then adopted the staff amendment and approved the regulation without objection. The main item of the meeting was the Board of Optometric Examiners’ proposed amendment to 201 KAR 5:010, which would allow applicants to use the Optometry Examining Board of Canada written exam in place of part one of the National Board of Examiners in Optometry exam for licensure. The board said the change would improve access to care, provide an additional pathway for Canadian-trained candidates, and still require applicants to pass the remaining national board parts. Opponents, including NBEO officials, ARBO, Pearson VUE, and several optometrists, argued the Canadian exam is not equivalent, does not test the same biomedical science content, is not validated for U.S. scope of practice, and raises concerns about test security, transparency, and portability across states. They urged the committee to find the amendment deficient or vote no. Committee members questioned both sides about prior communication with the board, whether Kentucky would be the first state to adopt such a change, the rationale for the proposal, and the cost difference between the exams. Supporters said the board had received some written comments and one phone call, and that the proposal was driven by access concerns and the presence of Canadian students. Opponents said they had not had direct discussions with the Kentucky board before the hearing. No final vote on the optometry regulation is reflected in the transcript excerpt, but the committee heard extensive testimony and rebuttal before moving on.
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm

Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities

Transcript Highlights:
  • I recall a teenage patient with cerebral palsy who, at 16, received his first comprehensive eye exam.
  • However, the exams are set that they don't pass the licensing exam, and they're told that you can no
  • Insurance did not cover my eye exam. The problem is we're missing them. I was missed.
  • Insurance did not cover my eye exam.
  • Equally important, the bill requires insurance coverage for an eye exam, when a child fails a vision
Keywords: 995, all
Summary: The committee held a hybrid hearing on a range of bills affecting children, families, disability rights, homelessness, and social services. Early testimony focused on H.215, which would support children experiencing homelessness by speeding access to child care vouchers and early intervention screenings. Boston officials, Horizons for Homeless Children, Head Start, pediatric and early education advocates, and families described delays in child care and early intervention, the developmental risks of homelessness, and the need for automatic referrals and faster access to services. Testimony also supported H.216, which would improve emergency housing assistance by restoring presumptive eligibility, reducing documentation barriers, extending shelter stays from six to nine months, and creating an ombudsperson; providers and legal advocates said current rules leave families sleeping in cars or outside and create unnecessary administrative hurdles. The committee also heard strong support for H.210, which would repeal the “Learn Fair” school attendance sanction that cuts cash assistance to families when children miss school. Advocates from legal aid, education, and anti-poverty organizations argued the policy is punitive, burdensome, and ineffective, disproportionately affecting low-income, disabled, and Hispanic/Latino families. Several speakers said chronic absenteeism should be addressed through supports such as family outreach, wraparound services, and school engagement rather than benefit cuts. Legislators and school officials from Salem also testified that their districts reduced absenteeism through supportive strategies, not sanctions. Additional testimony addressed children’s vision bills H.202 and H.166, with optometrists and researchers urging better screening, data systems, and treatment access to close achievement gaps caused by untreated vision problems. Senator Lovely also presented S.2714, proposing a study of discrimination in public accommodations for people with service animals. Later, testimony on H.279 supported changing social work licensure rules to remove exam requirements that speakers said disproportionately exclude multilingual candidates and candidates of color. The hearing also included testimony on bills related to the Judge Rotenberg Center and electric shock devices, with disability rights advocates opposing continued use of the devices and urging the committee to reject licensing or authorization for them. No votes or committee actions were taken during the hearing.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
  • exam we even know that with the LSW exam exam we even know that with the LSW exam there<00:07:58.199
  • the LSW exam.
  • , I'm not a fan of exams.
  • , I'm not a fan of exams.
  • I'm not a fan of exams.
Keywords: 928, house, all
Summary: The subcommittee heard House Bill 2712, which would remove the exam requirement for licensure as a Licensed Social Work Associate (LSWA). Members expressed concern that the exam requirement was only added in 2021 and has not been in place long enough to evaluate, but they also questioned whether licensure should be granted without a meaningful measure of competency. Testimony was split: supporters argued the exam is a barrier for applicants without formal social work education, while opponents said licensure should still require some standard of competency, especially because the title carries public expectations and insurance reimbursement implications. Karina Bonia, speaking for NASW New Hampshire, said there is very limited data because only one person in New Hampshire currently holds an LSWA. She explained that LSWA applicants may have degrees outside social work, unlike licensed social workers, and that the current exam is the same national social work exam used for higher levels of licensure. She argued that this creates a significant barrier for LSWA applicants and noted that LSWA holders are already required to complete 30 hours of training and substantial supervised hours. Members asked for data on pass/fail rates and whether a different exam or practical skills test would be more appropriate. Committee members and OPLC representatives discussed whether the current statute and board rules already provide enough authority for the board to set other criteria, and whether the exam requirement is tied to the social work compact. OPLC indicated that the current rule requires passage of a national proctored exam approved by the board, but that no national exam exists specifically for this level, and that the board may need legislative authority to develop different criteria. The discussion ended with interest in obtaining the existing rule language and possibly revisiting the issue through amendment or future legislation rather than immediately removing the exam requirement.
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • Kentucky clinical competency exam. Kentucky clinical competency exam.
  • or the NBEO Part 3 Exam.
  • pass NBE's part three exam. pass NBE's part three exam.
  • of the NBO exam. of the NBO exam.
  • order to be able to take those exams. order to be able to take those exams.
Keywords: 958, all
Summary: The subcommittee considered an emergency regulation from the Kentucky Board of Optometric Examiners, 201 KAR 5021E, along with a staff amendment to conform the text to KRS Chapter 13A. The regulation was described as implementing an Attorney General opinion and a review of optometrists licensed during the 2020–2023 period when alternative testing and waivers were used during the COVID-19 era. The board explained that the rule requires affected licensees to complete specified examinations or an alternative certification before renewing in 2027, and that it now removes the OEBC Canadian exam as a future pathway while preserving recognition of OEBC results submitted during the period when that option was in effect. The staff amendment was approved without objection. Testimony was sharply divided. Board representatives and the Attorney General’s office said the regulation is needed to protect public health and to bring the licensure review into the formal administrative process. They said the NBEO Part 3 exam is the nationally recognized hands-on clinical licensure test, while the American Board of Optometry certification is a post-licensure credential for already licensed practitioners and is not a substitute for initial licensure testing. They also said no other state uses the ABOC certification for licensure, and that the board’s approach balances fairness, due process, and public protection. Opponents argued the regulation would allow individuals who were improperly licensed to continue practicing without meeting the same standards as other Kentucky optometrists. A representative from the Kentucky School for the Blind Charitable Foundation described cases of alleged inadequate care and urged the committee to require full national board passage before independent practice. Representatives from ARBO and NBEO said the emergency regulation is not justified as an emergency, does not adequately address public safety or fiscal impacts, and exceeds the board’s authority by creating a renewal path for licensees whose initial licensure was challenged. They emphasized that NBEO Part 3 is a practical, hands-on exam and that the ABOC certification is not designed or validated for initial licensure. The committee asked several questions about the differences between the exams, and no final vote on the regulation itself was described in the transcript beyond approval of the staff amendment.
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

Public Education Apr 15th, 2025

Public Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • exam.
  • Any child that doesn't connect to an exam with their family, the Alconn Foundation provides the exam
  • I am thankful that his brain still recognizes input from both of his eyes.
  • One resource that I often use, VSP Eyes of Hope, is currently on hold.
  • exams and, and have the ability to get, uh, eyewear.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Public Education Apr 15th, 2025

Public Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • exam.
  • Any child that doesn't connect to an exam with their family, the Alcon Foundation provides the exam and
  • Checking for depth perception, can your eyes work?
  • I am thankful that his brain still recognizes input from both of his eyes.
  • exams and have the ability to get eyewear.