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CS/CS/HB 449: Optometry

GENERAL BILL by Health & Human Services Committee ; Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee ; Rizo ; (CO-INTRODUCERS) Barnaby

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.

Effective Date: 7/1/2025
Last Action: 5/3/2025 Senate - Indefinitely postponed and withdrawn from consideration
Bill Text: PDF
Senate Committee References:
  1. Rules (RC)

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  • Bill History

    Date Chamber Action
    2/6/2025 House • Filed
    2/12/2025 House • Referred to Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee
    • Referred to Health & Human Services Committee
    • Now in Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee
    3/4/2025 House • 1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
    3/18/2025 House • Added to Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee agenda
    3/20/2025 House • Favorable with CS by Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee
    3/21/2025 House • Reported out of Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee
    • Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
    • CS Filed
    3/24/2025 House • 1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)
    3/25/2025 House • Referred to Health & Human Services Committee
    • Now in Health & Human Services Committee
    4/11/2025 House • Added to Health & Human Services Committee agenda
    4/15/2025 House • Favorable with CS by Health & Human Services Committee
    4/16/2025 House • Reported out of Health & Human Services Committee
    • Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
    • CS Filed
    • 1st Reading (Committee Substitute 2)
    4/17/2025 House • Bill referred to House Calendar
    • Added to Second Reading Calendar
    • Bill added to Special Order Calendar (4/24/2025)
    4/24/2025 House • Read 2nd time
    • Amendment 013801 adopted
    • Placed on 3rd reading
    • Added to Third Reading Calendar
    • Read 3rd time
    • CS passed as amended; YEAS 88, NAYS 24
    4/24/2025 Senate • In Messages
    4/25/2025 Senate • Referred to Rules
    • Received
    5/3/2025 Senate • Indefinitely postponed and withdrawn from consideration

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  • CS/CS/HB 449, Engrossed 1 (Current Bill Version) Posted 4/24/2025 at 6:25 PM

    Bill Text:   PDF
    Analyses:   None

    Citations - Statutes (13)

    Citation Catchline Location in Bill Location In Bill Help
    463.002 Definitions. Page 2 (pdf)
    463.003 Board of Optometry. Page 6 (pdf)
    463.005 Authority of the board. Page 7 (pdf)
    463.0055 Administration and prescription of ocular pharmaceutical agents. Page 9 (pdf)
    463.0056 Page 14 (pdf)
    463.006 Licensure and certification by examination. Page 17 (pdf)
    463.007 Renewal of license; continuing education. Page 19 (pdf)
    463.009 Supportive personnel. Page 23 (pdf)
    463.0135 Standards of practice. Page 20 (pdf)
    463.014 Certain acts prohibited. Page 21 (pdf)
    463.0185 Page 24 (pdf)
    463.0187 Page 24 (pdf)
    641.31 Health maintenance contracts. Page 26 (pdf)

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  • CS/CS/HB 449, Committee Substitute 2 Posted 4/16/2025 at 2:11 PM

    Bill Text:   PDF
    Analyses:   None

    Floor Amendments (1)

    Amendment Sponsor Filed Last Floor Action Format
    013801 - Amendment
    Remove lines 365-581 and insert:
    Rizo 4/18/2025
    1:03 PM
    House: Adopted
    4/24/2025
    PDF

    Floor Votes (1)

    Date Chamber Result
    4/24/2025 5:24 PM House 88 Yeas - 24 Nays

    Citations - Statutes (13)

    Citation Catchline Location in Bill Location In Bill Help
    463.002 Definitions. Page 2 (pdf)
    463.003 Board of Optometry. Page 6 (pdf)
    463.005 Authority of the board. Page 7 (pdf)
    463.0055 Administration and prescription of ocular pharmaceutical agents. Page 9 (pdf)
    463.0056 Page 14 (pdf)
    463.006 Licensure and certification by examination. Page 17 (pdf)
    463.007 Renewal of license; continuing education. Page 19 (pdf)
    463.009 Supportive personnel. Page 23 (pdf)
    463.0135 Standards of practice. Page 20 (pdf)
    463.014 Certain acts prohibited. Page 21 (pdf)
    463.0185 Page 24 (pdf)
    463.0187 Page 24 (pdf)
    641.31 Health maintenance contracts. Page 26 (pdf)

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  • CS/HB 449, Committee Substitute 1 Posted 3/21/2025 at 12:55 PM

    Bill Text:   PDF
    Analyses:   Health & Human Services Committee (Post-Meeting) 4/16/2025 (pdf)

    Committee Amendments (1)

    Amendment Sponsor Filed Last Committee Action Format
    696613 - Amendment
    Remove lines 53-626 and insert:
    Rizo 4/14/2025
    7:24 PM
    Adopted without Objection
    4/15/2025
    PDF

    Citations - Statutes (14)

    Citation Catchline Location in Bill Location In Bill Help
    463.002 Definitions. Page 3 (pdf)
    463.003 Board of Optometry. Page 7 (pdf)
    463.005 Authority of the board. Page 7 (pdf)
    463.0055 Administration and prescription of ocular pharmaceutical agents. Page 9 (pdf)
    463.0056 Page 15 (pdf)
    463.006 Licensure and certification by examination. Page 18 (pdf)
    463.007 Renewal of license; continuing education. Page 20 (pdf)
    463.009 Supportive personnel. Page 24 (pdf)
    463.0135 Standards of practice. Page 20 (pdf)
    463.014 Certain acts prohibited. Page 21 (pdf)
    463.0185 Page 24 (pdf)
    463.0186 Page 25 (pdf)
    463.0187 Page 26 (pdf)
    641.31 Health maintenance contracts. Page 28 (pdf)

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  • HB 449, Original Filed Version Posted 2/6/2025 at 11:21 AM

    Bill Text:   PDF
    Analyses:   Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee (Post-Meeting) 3/21/2025 (pdf)

    Committee Amendments (1)

    Amendment Sponsor Filed Last Committee Action Format
    642651 - Amendment
    Remove lines 63-595 and insert:
    Rizo 3/19/2025
    7:59 PM
    Adopted without Objection
    3/20/2025
    PDF

    Citations - Statutes (14)

    Citation Catchline Location in Bill Location In Bill Help
    463.002 Definitions. Page 3 (pdf)
    463.003 Board of Optometry. Page 6 (pdf)
    463.005 Authority of the board. Page 7 (pdf)
    463.0055 Administration and prescription of ocular pharmaceutical agents. Page 9 (pdf)
    463.0056 Page 15 (pdf)
    463.006 Licensure and certification by examination. Page 17 (pdf)
    463.007 Renewal of license; continuing education. Page 20 (pdf)
    463.009 Supportive personnel. Page 23 (pdf)
    463.0135 Standards of practice. Page 20 (pdf)
    463.014 Certain acts prohibited. Page 21 (pdf)
    463.0185 Page 24 (pdf)
    463.0186 Page 25 (pdf)
    463.0187 Page 25 (pdf)
    641.31 Health maintenance contracts. Page 27 (pdf)

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