Video & Transcript Research : 'optometry'
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AL
Alabama 2026 1st Special Session
Alabama Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee Feb 25th, 2026
Finance and Taxation Education
Bills:
HB178, HB124, HB96, HB250, SB289, SB317, HB359, HB178, HB124, HB96, HB250, SB289, SB317, HB359
Keywords:
HB178, Ten Commandments, public schools, K-12 education, Alabama, school display, religious display, Bible, Judeo-Christian, Establishment Clause, church-state separation, religion in schools, founding documents, Mayflower Compact, Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, Northwest Ordinance, social studies, civics, history curriculum
AL
Bills:
SB191, HB84, HB79, SB132, HB108, HB109, HB110, HB114, HB118, HB120, HB122, HB124, HB126, HB128, HB129, HB131
Keywords:
postpartum depression, mental health, Medicaid, screening, education, maternal health, Chiropractic, Board of Chiropractic Examiners, license renewal, continuing education, election procedures, off-label, pharmacists, medical treatment, state board of pharmacy, employment protection, SB132, Alabama, controlled substances, Schedule I
OK
Transcript Highlights:
- You're saying maybe it would affect the consumers, but as far as the individuals seeking optometry care
Keywords:
licensure, criminal history, public safety, occupational certification, rehabilitation, state regulations, insurance, regulations, certification, long-term care, mergers, consumer protection, property safety, vision insurance, optometry, reimbursement, healthcare policy, ophthalmic materials, provider agreements, captive insurance
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Interim Joint Committee on Health Services (7-30-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- We have available for optometry.
- Board of Examiners and Optometry. Board of Examiners and Optometry.
- Olsen was just referring to. and not for US optometry. and not for US optometry.
- medicine, pharmacy, optometry, podiatry. medicine, pharmacy, optometry, podiatry.
- in optometry schools across the country. in optometry schools across the country.
Keywords:
00:00:00 - Call to Order/Roll Call
00:02:17 - Approval of June 18, 2025 Minutes
00:02:33 - Introductions and Discussion on Priorities
00:07:27 - Health Data Discussion-KY Health Information Exchange (KHIE)
00:34:02 - Health Data Discussion-Public Health Data
01:19:24 - Health Data Discussion-Other Health Data Platforms
01:42:40 - Consideration of Referred Administrative Regulations (Except 201 KAR 005:010)
01:44:48 - Discussion of Optometry Regulation 201 KAR 005:010
02:25:29 - Hearing on Unified Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant Application for FFY 2026 - 2027 Funds
02:33:40 - Administrative Regulation 201 KAR 005:010 Vote Clarification
02:34:03 - Adjournment, 958, all
Summary:
The Interim Joint Committee on Health Services met to approve the June 18 minutes and hear introductory remarks from new Cabinet Secretary for Health and Family Services Dr. Steven Stack and new Department for Public Health Commissioner Dr. John Langfeld. Both described their backgrounds and emphasized a shared focus on using health data to improve quality, coordination, and outcomes across Kentucky. They highlighted the Kentucky Health Information Exchange (KHI) as a central tool for connecting hospitals, labs, providers, public health systems, Medicaid, and other state and federal data sources, and said the system supports notifications, immunization records, surveillance, and care coordination. They also outlined priorities such as continued investment in KHI, stronger interoperability, privacy protections, and expanded analytic capacity to turn data into action.
Committee members then asked about COVID-19 vaccine recommendations and informed consent, particularly for pregnant women and children. Dr. Stack said informed consent should come through a licensed health care provider, that Kentucky did not mandate the COVID vaccine, and that the evidence still supports vaccination for high-risk groups, including pregnant women, citing professional medical guidance. A follow-up exchange focused on concerns about past vaccine policies and the need for patients to receive full information before making decisions.
Senator Heron asked how KIPRC/KIPR could be used to address firearm injuries. Dr. Langfeld said the key opportunity is to make data more real-time and usable for day-to-day response, while Dr. Stack said the department would continue its long-standing partnership with KIPRC and noted his view that gun violence is a public health emergency. He added, however, that because firearms are a deeply divided issue, the Department for Public Health’s current role is mainly to make data available for authorized research rather than to take a broader policy role. No votes or formal actions beyond approving the minutes were taken.
AL
Alabama 2025 Regular Session
Alabama House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee Feb 26th, 2025
Public Safety and Homeland Security
Keywords:
law enforcement, retirement benefits, Alabama Peace Officers, agency-issued badge, agency-issued pistol, resisting arrest, custody, public safety, Alabama law, traffic infractions, traffic ticket, disposition, criminal contempt, vessel registration, boating fees, state funds, regulatory changes, water safety, compliance, false information
AL
Alabama 2025 Regular Session
Alabama House Boards, Agencies and Commissions Committee Feb 5th, 2025
Boards, Agencies and Commissions
Transcript Highlights:
- All right, I am representing House Bill 124, the Alabama Board of Optometry.
- And just 'cause y'all might want... ...Optometry.
- All right, so we have recommended that... ...All right, so we have recommended that the Board of Optometry
- The Board of Optometry contacted me, and the board... ...The Board of Optometry contacted me, and the
Bills:
HB25, HB108, HB109, HB111, HB112, HB113, HB117, HB118, HB119, HB120, HB121, HB122, HB124, HB126, HB127, HB128, HB129, HB130, HB131, HB25
Keywords:
emergency services, 911, local districts, joint operations, contracting, HB108, Alabama Sunset Law, sunset reauthorization, board continuation, speech-language pathology, audiology, licensing board, professional regulation, healthcare regulation, occupational licensing, speech therapist, speech pathologist, audiologist, Sunset Committee, Code of Alabama 1975
OK
Transcript Highlights:
- Board of Examiners of Optometry, this is an extension of their sunset. Move for adoption.
Keywords:
cosmetology, barbering, massage therapy, State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering, Service Oklahoma, license renewal, license reinstatement, licensing fees, sunset extension, board membership, human trafficking, victim services, beauty school, barber school, esthetics, manicurist, eyelash extension, blow-dry styling, makeup artist, occupational licensing
NM
Transcript Highlights:
- What this bill does, Madam Chair, is it amends the Optometry Act.
- Optometry? Madam Chair, yes, the optometry board.
- Optometry doctoral studies include 10,000 hours of lab and...
- So what kinds of things in the optometry board do you keep track of?
- And I think we need to be looking at the optometry board.
Keywords:
medical malpractice, malpractice reform, patient's compensation fund, PCF, health care liability, tort reform, damage caps, punitive damages, hospital liability, physician liability, nurse practitioner, certified nurse-midwife, outpatient facility, ambulatory surgical center, urgent care, free-standing emergency room, insurance surcharge, superintendent of insurance, New Mexico hospitals, medical review process
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Administrative Rules REVISED: Links Added Apr 28th, 2026 at 09:00 am
Administrative Rules
Keywords:
administrative rules, rule approval, joint resolution, Oklahoma Register, Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry, Corporation Commission, Department of Environmental Quality, Liquified Petroleum Gas Board, water resources, wildlife conservation, tourism, zoning commission, energy regulation, agricultural regulation, agency rules, permanent rules, state agencies, Oklahoma Legislature, business and commerce, professional licensing
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
Administrative Regulation Review Subcommittee (5-12-26)
Transcript Highlights:
- Board of Optometry.
- Examiners in Optometry, or NBEO. I'm Examiners in Optometry, or NBEO.
- the West Virginia Board of Optometry. the West Virginia Board of Optometry.
- of Examiners in Optometry. of Examiners in Optometry.
- Optometry doesn't have that.
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.
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Administrative Regulation Review Subcommittee (4-14-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- ,<00:05:15.280>
the the Kentucky College of Optometry, the the Kentucky College of Optometry - Thank you of Examiners and Optometry.
- I am a graduate from optometry school at the University of Pikeville Kentucky College of Optometry in
- And integrate the future of optometry.
- <00:35:30.920>
organizations I said most or optometry organizations I said most or optometry
Keywords:
0:22 – Roll Call
0:30 – Approval of minutes
1:04 – Department of Veterans Affairs
2:06 – Board of Pharmacy
3:20 – Board of Optometric Examiners
39:26 – Board of Nursing
40:07 – Board of Emergency Medical Services
41:52 – Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources
44:36 – Transportation Cabinet: Department of Vehicle Registration
45:36 – Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control
47:00 – Cabinet for Health & Family Services: Department for Medicaid Services
49:59 – Cabinet for Health & Family Services: Department for Community-Based Services, 958, all
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.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
March 20, 2025 - 02:00 PM
Transcript Highlights:
- Florida has some of the top optometry schools in the nation.
- But then it's four years of optometry school on top of that.
- All optometry students at NOVA and every optometry student in the United States have to pass an ophthalmic
- I currently serve on the Florida Board of Optometry.
- Five of these southern states have an optometry school.
Summary:
The subcommittee met with a quorum present and took up five health-related bills. HB 1089, which would add Duchenne muscular dystrophy to Florida’s newborn screening panel, was presented as a way to enable earlier diagnosis and treatment; a pediatric neurologist from Nemours testified in support, noting existing FDA-approved therapies and ongoing clinical trials. After supportive debate, the bill passed 17-0 and was reported favorably.
HB 1083 would standardize patient access to medical records by setting deadlines for providers to produce or allow inspection of records and requiring electronic delivery when available. Supporters said it would reduce delays in care and costs, while two industry groups appeared in opposition. Members from both parties spoke in favor, and the bill passed 17-0 and was reported favorably. HB 1297, which aligns Florida’s electronic prescribing rules more closely with federal law and removes some state exceptions, drew opposition from physicians who argued paper prescriptions are still needed for emergencies, shortages, and price shopping. The sponsor said the bill’s goals were patient safety, fraud prevention, and efficiency; despite concerns, it passed 18-0 and was reported favorably.
The committee then considered PCS for HB 1421, the Emily Adkins Family Protection Act, which would create a statewide blood clot and pulmonary embolism registry, require hospital reporting and risk-assessment policies, and expand training requirements in hospitals, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities. The bill was presented with emotional testimony from Emily Adkins’ parents, who urged support and co-sponsorship in her memory. Members from both parties praised the family’s advocacy, and the PCS passed 18-0 and was reported favorably.
Finally, HB 449 on optometry would expand optometrists’ authority to prescribe certain medications and perform specified laser and non-laser eye procedures after certification. The bill and amendment drew strong opposition from ophthalmologists and their association, who raised patient-safety, training, and delegation concerns, while optometrists argued the bill would improve access, especially in rural areas and counties without ophthalmologists. The amendment was adopted, and the bill as amended passed on a recorded vote and was reported favorably.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Minnesota House passes omnibus health policy bill, HF2464 5/15/25
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Uh, in optometry, we should not be hesitant to make these improvements whenever we can.
- the board of optometry in Minnesota. the board of optometry in Minnesota.
- 06.080>
years <00:10:06.560>and practiced optometry for 38 years and practiced optometry - <00:10:34.880>
Optometry <00:10:35.600>students and advanced imaging. - Optometry students and advanced imaging.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
Health committee approves HF2464, the omnibus health policy bill 4/2/25
Transcript Highlights:
- The State Optometry Board has an extensive review process before doctors of optometry could expand scope
- The State Optometry Board has an extensive review process before doctors of optometry could expand scope
- The State Optometry Board has an extensive review process before doctors of optometry could expand scope
- The State Optometry Board has an extensive review process before doctors of optometry could expand scope
- The State Optometry Board has an extensive review process before doctors of optometry could expand scope
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
Committee on Health and Human Services - 02/25/25
Health and Human Services
Transcript Highlights:
- Minnesota's optometry scope in line with almost every other state.
- <00:33:24.760>
scope would bring Minnesota's Optometry scope would bring Minnesota's Optometry - <00:37:54.160>
there practice for Doctors of Optometry there practice for Doctors of Optometry - We do this through effective ... also been practicing Optometry for 24 also been practicing Optometry
- and keep talented Doctors of Optometry and keep talented Doctors of Optometry here<00:43:35.119>
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
House Health Finance and Policy Committee 3/26/25
Health Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:02:52.000>
This new to optometry. Nothing scary. This new to optometry. - Optometry agreed to include year.
- If expanding scope had optometry.
- professor for multiple optometry professor for multiple optometry schools,<00:15:23.199>
I school of optometry in Minnesota. school of optometry in Minnesota.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Executive Departments and Administration (01/23/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- taught optometry and medical students and residents from six colleges of optometry for over two and
- Board of Optometry and I'm here American Board of Optometry and I'm here to<04:31:48.880>
assure< - <04:32:46.960>
school years earlier in optometry school years earlier in optometry school - <04:49:15.680>
school Oklahoma is there an optometry school Oklahoma is there an optometry - lasers on live humans so Optometry lasers on live humans so Optometry students<04:49:21.520>
Summary:
The committee held public hearings on House Bill 144 and House Bill 145, both related to professional licensing for dietitians and dental hygienists. HB 144 was described as a technical fix to align statute with existing Board of Dental Examiners rules allowing dental hygienists to administer nitrous oxide and local anesthesia, with supporters saying the bill would add needed training and examination requirements to statute. A dentist and dental society representative testified that the practice is already being done safely within scope, and committee members discussed whether nitrous oxide is still used and whether the bill was mainly to keep the paperwork and law consistent. The committee moved HB 144 forward on a 12-0 vote and placed it on consent.
HB 145 would join New Hampshire to a dietitian licensure compact and add a criminal history check for initial licensure to match compact language. The sponsor and board witnesses said the compact would improve portability, support telehealth, help military families and spouses, and maintain public safety by ensuring qualified practitioners and information-sharing among member states. Committee members asked about withdrawal from the compact, the difference between single-state and compact licensure, and why a background check was included; the witness said the compact is not yet active, with four states enacted and seven needed, and that the background check is required by the compact language. Additional testimony from a private-practice dietitian supported the bill, citing continuity of care, rural access, and workforce mobility, while some members raised concerns about telehealth across state lines and the practical effect of the background check.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
House Floor Session 5/15/25 - Part 2
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:04:45.199>
We the optometry um part of the bill. - We the optometry um part of the bill.
- > practice with optometry and practice with optometry and ophthalmology<00:11:37.440>
is <00:11 - the guidance of the board of optometry the guidance of the board of optometry in<00:12:02.480>
- 30.160>
years <00:12:30.720>and practiced optometry for 38 years and practiced optometry - 30.160>
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- Nothing in this bill is new to optometry. Nothing's scary.
- The last revision to the scope of practice for optometry was 22 years ago.
- Other states and 22 optometry schools have updated their optometry scope, teaching these procedures along
- Let's be clear: Optometry is a doctoral-level profession.
- These same models are used in optometry schools.
NM
Transcript Highlights:
- So, House Bill 213 is a combination of the Optometry Act, which expands it to include two additional
- For graduates from 2026 on who have this advanced procedures and laser training in optometry school,
- Chairman, that required the Optometry Board to have the addition of someone serving who is certified
- I'm a former clinical attending at the College of Optometry at Ohio State University.
- For the last 15 years, I have done primary care optometry from anywhere from the Mescalero Reservation