# Maryland SB 0186: State Board of Examiners in Optometry - Examination Requirements and Time Period for Inactive Status Maryland SB 0186, State Board of Examiners in Optometry - Examination Requirements and Time Period for Inactive Status, is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Malcolm Augustine (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-14 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 27); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-11). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0186-2026RS - As of: 2026-10-11 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Maryland SB 0186 - State: Maryland - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: State Board of Examiners in Optometry - Examination Requirements and Time Period for Inactive Status - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2025-09-18 - Last action: 2026-04-14, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 27 - Sponsor: Malcolm Augustine (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 0 - Subjects: Health Occupations, Applicants and Applications, Committees and Commissions, Fees -see also- Attys' Fees; Devt Fees & Taxes, Health Occupations -see also- (specific health occupations), Licenses -see also- AB Lic; Certifications; DrLic; Permits, Optometrists, Ophthalmologists, and Opticians, School Testing, Time - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 2 (176 yes, 0 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 3 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Easier Maryland entry for out-of-state optometrists: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, the Board can waive Maryland’s exam for optometrists licensed in another state. You must pay the application fee and submit a certified copy of your out-of-state license. You must show 3 years of continuing education, or the Maryland equivalent in Board-approved courses. You… - Limits on inactive licenses and reinstatement: mixed, medium. Beginning July 1, 2026, you can place your license on inactive status by filing the Board form and paying the inactive fee. You cannot stay inactive for more than 6 straight years. To return from inactive status, you must meet continuing education and pay the reinstatement fee. If your license expi… - New exam rules for optometry applicants: mixed, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, applicants must pass every section of each part of any exam the Board requires. The Board sets the exam subjects, format, and passing scores. Within one year of getting your application, the Board can require you to take an exam. If you fail, you can take the next regularly… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Malcolm Augustine (Democratic), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-04-02 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 133 | 0 | 2 | | 2026-02-12 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 43 | 0 | 2 | ## Actions (15) - 2026-04-14: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 27 - 2026-04-03: Returned Passed (Senate) - 2026-04-02: Third Reading Passed (133-0) (House) - 2026-04-01: Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed (House) - 2026-04-01: Favorable Report by Health (House) - 2026-03-17: Hearing 3/25 at 1:00 p.m. (House) - 2026-02-13: Referred Health (House) - 2026-02-12: Third Reading Passed (43-0) (Senate) - 2026-02-10: Second Reading Passed (Senate) - 2026-02-10: Favorable Adopted (Senate) - 2026-02-09: Favorable Report by Finance (Senate) - 2026-01-21: Hearing 2/03 at 2:00 p.m. (Senate) - 2026-01-16: Reassigned to Finance (Senate) - 2026-01-14: First Reading Education, Energy, and the Environment (Senate) - 2025-09-18: Pre-filed (Senate) ## Bill text - Enacted, 2026-04-14: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_27_sb0186t.pdf) - Third Reading, 2026-02-10: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0186t.pdf) - First Reading, 2026-01-14: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0186f.pdf) ## Related bills - SB 0496: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Coverage for the Treatment of Obesity - Authorization (became law) - SB 0366: Motor Vehicles - Intelligent Speed Assistance System Pilot Program - Establishment (became law) - SB 0244: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program (became law) - SB 0148: Income Tax - Credit for 9-1-1 Specialist Retirement Income (Supporting Our 9-1-1 Specialists Act) (became law) - SB 0016: Child Support - Earnings Withholdings Limits (became law) - HB 0529: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program (became law) ## Sources - [Enacted (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_27_sb0186t.pdf) - [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0186t.pdf) - [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0186f.pdf) ## Related - [SB 0496: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Coverage for the Treatment of Obesity - A…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0496-2026RS) - [SB 0366: Motor Vehicles - Intelligent Speed Assistance System Pilot Program - Establishm…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0366-2026RS) - [SB 0244: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0244-2026RS) - [SB 0148: Income Tax - Credit for 9-1-1 Specialist Retirement Income (Supporting Our 9-1-…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0148-2026RS) - [SB 0016: Child Support - Earnings Withholdings Limits](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0016-2026RS) - [HB 0529: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0529-2026RS) - [Maryland bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/maryland/bills) - [Maryland state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/maryland) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0186-2026RS (as of 2026-10-11).