# Montana HB 218: Revising the practice of optometry to include certain laser procedures and in-office surgical procedures

Montana HB 218, Revising the practice of optometry to include certain laser procedures and in-office surgical procedures, is a 69th Legislature, Regular Session (2025) House bill sponsored by Ed Buttrey (Republican); status signed, last action 2025-04-17 (Chapter Number Assigned) (as of 2026-10-19).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-HB218-2025
- As of: 2026-10-19
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Montana HB 218
- State: Montana
- Session: 69th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)
- Title: Revising the practice of optometry to include certain laser procedures and in-office surgical procedures
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-01-15
- Last action: 2025-04-17, Chapter Number Assigned
- Sponsor: Ed Buttrey (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 2
- Subjects: Professions and Occupations Generally, Health Care Services
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 4 (230 yes, 70 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 2

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Optometrists can do more eye procedures: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2025, licensed optometrists can do more in office eye procedures. They may perform surgical and laser procedures on the front of the eye and nearby tissues. Laser work is allowed only if the optometrist is certified by the state board. The law does not allow deep eye surgery, inje…
- Laser certification path for optometrists: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2025, the Montana Board of Optometry sets rules for optometrist licenses and laser certification. To be certified for laser procedures, an optometrist must complete the required classroom and clinical training at an accredited optometry school that covers medical laser use for the…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Ed Buttrey (Republican), House
- Cosponsor: Daniel Zolnikov (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Greg Hertz (Republican), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-04-01 | Senate | Do Concur | pass | 38 | 12 |   |
| 2025-03-31 | Senate | Do Concur | pass | 40 | 10 |   |
| 2025-01-29 | House | Do Pass | pass | 76 | 24 |   |
| 2025-01-28 | House | Do Pass | pass | 76 | 24 |   |

## Actions (24)

- 2025-04-17: Chapter Number Assigned (House)
- 2025-04-16: Signed by Governor (House)
- 2025-04-09: Transmitted to Governor (House)
- 2025-04-09: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2025-04-07: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2025-04-02: Returned from Enrolling (House)
- 2025-04-01: Sent to Enrolling (House)
- 2025-04-01: 3rd Reading (Senate)
- 2025-03-31: 2nd Reading (Senate)
- 2025-03-25: Committee Report (Senate)
- 2025-03-25: Committee Executive Action (Senate)
- 2025-02-18: Hearing (Senate)
- 2025-02-17: Referred to Committee (Senate)
- 2025-01-30: 1st Reading (Senate)
- 2025-01-29: Transmitted to Senate (House)
- 2025-01-29: 3rd Reading (House)
- 2025-01-28: 2nd Reading (House)
- 2025-01-27: 2nd Reading Pass Consideration (House)
- 2025-01-22: Committee Report (House)
- 2025-01-22: Committee Executive Action (House)
- 2025-01-20: Hearing (House)
- 2025-01-16: 1st Reading (House)
- 2025-01-16: Referred to Committee (House)
- 2025-01-15: Introduced (House)

## Bill text

- Enrolled, 2025-04-15: [PDF](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=760c4477-f8c7-47cb-a39c-e7e4346d5439)
- Introduced, 2025-01-15: [PDF](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=66d7d578-d332-40bf-97c3-0f8d26643502)

## Related bills

- SB 437: Revise definition of sex in Montana law (signed)
- HB 831: Increase elderly homeowner and renter income tax credit (vetoed)
- HB 628: Revise early literacy targeted intervention laws (vetoed)
- SB 410: Provide for Montana genomic security act (vetoed)
- SB 424: Revising the disabled veteran property tax assistance program (vetoed)
- SB 422: Generally revise laws relating to insurance coverage relating to cancer (vetoed)

## Sources
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=760c4477-f8c7-47cb-a39c-e7e4346d5439)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://docs.legmt.gov/download-ticket?ticketId=66d7d578-d332-40bf-97c3-0f8d26643502)

## Related
- [SB 437: Revise definition of sex in Montana law](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-SB437-2025)
- [HB 831: Increase elderly homeowner and renter income tax credit](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-HB831-2025)
- [HB 628: Revise early literacy targeted intervention laws](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-HB628-2025)
- [SB 410: Provide for Montana genomic security act](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-SB410-2025)
- [SB 424: Revising the disabled veteran property tax assistance program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-SB424-2025)
- [SB 422: Generally revise laws relating to insurance coverage relating to cancer](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-SB422-2025)
- [Montana bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/montana/bills)
- [Montana state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/montana)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MT-HB218-2025 (as of 2026-10-19).