All Roll Calls
Yes: 63 • No: 0
NevadaAB18383rd Regular Session (2025)HouseWALLET
AN ACT relating to optometry; providing that a license to practice optometry issued by the Nevada State Board of Optometry is a revocable privilege; establishing procedures by which the Board may summarily suspend a license to practice optometry; specifying the substances which may be prescribed by an optometrist who holds a certificate to administer and prescribe pharmaceutical agents; increasing the number of members which constitute the Board; revising the requirements for the issuance of a license by endorsement; revising provisions governing the issuance of certain certificates by the Board; revising the circumstances under which certain optometrists are authorized to prescribe controlled substances; revising provisions relating to investigations conducted by the Board; clarifying that the practice of optometry includes optometric telemedicine; establishing certain circumstances under which a licensee is not required to report certain events to the Board; establishing certain provisions governing the temporary ownership of an optometry practice of a licensee who is permanently incapacitated; revising provisions governing the issuance of citations; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.
Sponsored By: Gregory S.Assistant Minority Floor Leader North Koenig (Republican)
Signed by Governor
BDR 54-151
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
7 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 3 mixed.
Higher fines and new reporting rules
The Board can fine up to $5,000 per violation after notice and a hearing. For rule violations that do not involve patient care or unprofessional conduct, the Board may issue a citation with up to $1,000 per violation, or up to $5,000 for specified violations. You can request a hearing within 30 days to appeal a citation. A citation is not formal discipline and is not reported to the NPDB. If another state revokes, suspends, accepts a surrender of, or disciplines your license, you must report it to the Nevada Board within 30 days. You do not need to report an administrative fine if the NPDB has no report and the other board issued no formal disciplinary order.
Faster Nevada licenses by endorsement
Nevada offers a license by endorsement for optometrists. You must hold a valid, active, unrestricted license in another U.S. state or D.C. You must have passed each part of the NBEO, practiced actively for the past 5 years, and have no NPDB adverse actions in 5 years. You also must not have held a Nevada license in the prior year, be under investigation or discipline, or have malpractice liability. The Board asks for missing info within 15 business days and must issue the license within 45 days unless it denies for good cause. The Board President can issue licenses between meetings.
Stronger discipline and fairer suspensions
An optometry license in Nevada is a revocable privilege. After an investigation, the Board can summarily suspend a license if it reasonably finds imminent or continued risk to the public, including care by telemedicine. A hearing must occur within 60 days unless both sides agree to more time, and the Board must reinstate the license if no formal complaint is pending on the hearing date. Only the Board, its President, an investigative committee presiding officer, or the investigating Board member may issue a summary suspension, and that issuer must then recuse. The Board must investigate non‑frivolous complaints that allege grounds for discipline, may order a licensee to appear, and must keep complaints for at least 10 years.
Telemedicine allowed and assistants can do more
Optometry practice in Nevada includes telemedicine. Assistants, under direct optometrist supervision and in any setting including telemedicine, may fit lenses, take histories, collect data, perform simple noninvasive tests, use ophthalmic devices, oversee exercises, and give certain non‑controlled eye drops. The licensed optometrist must perform the final eye exam.
One-year temporary practice ownership
After a licensee’s death, a surviving family member may own a sole‑owner optometry practice for up to 1 year. They must transfer ownership to a licensed optometrist or close the practice within 1 year. If a licensee is permanently incapacitated, a guardian may own the practice for up to 1 year after submitting a written opinion from a board‑certified physician in neurology, neurological surgery, critical care, or intensive care medicine. These rules do not allow unlicensed practice or change who holds the health records.
Updated drug prescribing rules for optometrists
To get the prescribing certificate, you must hold a Nevada optometry license and pass the Treatment and Management of Ocular Disease exam. The old 40‑hour ophthalmologist‑run clinical training requirement is removed. A "pharmaceutical agent" includes topical or oral drugs for the eye, including those in Schedules III–V, but not Schedules I–II. Before prescribing any controlled substance, you must examine the patient. For opioids, you may not exceed 90 morphine milligram equivalents per day or prescribe for more than 72 hours, and no refills without another exam. For a glaucoma certificate, you must hold the prescribing certificate and show proof you treated at least 15 patients diagnosed by a licensed ophthalmologist, in consultation, for at least 12 straight months.
Larger Board and tighter appointment rules
The State Board of Optometry now has five members instead of four. The Governor appoints four licensed optometrists and one public member who is not licensed and not an immediate family member of a licensee. Appointees cannot be tied to optometry schools or have financial interests in optical supply manufacturing or wholesaling. Anyone convicted of a felony or a gross misdemeanor involving moral turpitude cannot be appointed.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Gregory S.Assistant Minority Floor Leader North Koenig
Republican • House
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 5/23/2025
Final Passage - Senate (1st Reprint)
Yes: 21 • No: 0
House vote • 4/22/2025
Final Passage - Assembly (1st Reprint)
Yes: 42 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Chapter 111.
5/29/2025legislatureApproved by the Governor.
5/29/2025legislatureEnrolled and delivered to Governor.
5/27/2025legislatureIn Assembly. To enrollment.
5/26/2025HouseRead third time. Passed. Title approved. (Yeas: 21, Nays: None.) To Assembly.
5/23/2025SenateTaken from General File. Placed on General File for next legislative day.
5/22/2025SenateTaken from General File. Placed on General File for next legislative day.
5/21/2025SenateTaken from General File. Placed on General File for next legislative day.
5/20/2025SenateRead second time.
5/19/2025SenateFrom committee: Do pass.
5/16/2025SenateRead first time. Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor. To committee.
4/28/2025SenateIn Senate.
4/28/2025SenateTo Senate.
4/25/2025HouseFrom printer. To engrossment. Engrossed. First reprint.
4/25/2025HouseTo printer.
4/22/2025HouseRead third time. Passed, as amended. Title approved, as amended. (Yeas: 42, Nays: None.)
4/22/2025HouseDispensed with reprinting.
4/21/2025HouseRead second time. Amended. (Amend. No. 67.)
4/21/2025HousePlaced on Second Reading File.
4/21/2025HouseFrom committee: Amend, and do pass as amended.
4/21/2025HouseFrom printer. To committee.
2/5/2025HouseTo printer.
2/4/2025HouseRead first time.
2/4/2025HouseReferred to Committee on Commerce and Labor.
2/3/2025HousePrefiled.
2/3/2025House
Bill Text
As Enrolled
As Introduced
Reprint 1
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