# South Carolina H 4103: A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 40-37-35 SO AS TO PROVIDE THE STATE BOARD OF EXAMINERS IN OPTOMETRY MAY ISSUE RESTRICTED VOLUNTEER MEMBER LICENSES TO OPTOMETRISTS FROM OTHER STATES WHO MEET CERTAIN CRITERIA, AND TO PROVIDE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SUPERVISION, DURATION, AND REGULATION OF SUCH LICENSES, AMONG OTHER THINGS; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-37-10, RELATING TO MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SOUTH CAROLINA BOARD OF EXAMINERS IN OPTOMETRY, SO AS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-37-20, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS CONCERNING THE REGULATION OF OPTOMETRISTS, SO AS TO REVISE THE DEFINITIONS; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-37-30, RELATING TO LICENSING REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PRACTICE OF OPTOMETRY, SO AS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES THAT CONSTITUTE THE PRACTICE OF OPTOMETRY; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-37-40, RELATING TO POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE BOARD, SO AS TO PROVIDE THE BOARD SHALL REQUIRE LICENSED OPTOMETRISTS TO MEET EDUCATIONAL AND COMPETENCE REQUIREMENTS ESTABLISHED BY THE BOARD; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-37-245, RELATING TO EXAMINATION REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSURE BY ENDORSEMENT, SO AS TO ALLOW EXAMINATION EQUIVALENTS AS DETERMINED BY THE BOARD; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-37-290, RELATING TO THE PURCHASING, PRESCRIBING, AND ADMINISTERING PHARMACEUTICAL AGENTS BY OPTOMETRISTS, SO AS TO REVISE THE REQUIREMENTS AND LIMIT THE PERMISSIBLE USE OF SUCH MEDICATIONS, AMONG OTHER THINGS; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-37-310, RELATING TO REFERRALS FOR TREATMENT OF EYE DISEASES, SO AS TO REMOVE PROVISIONS CONCERNING THE TREATMENT OF GLAUCOMA AND PROVISION OF SURGERY; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-37-330, RELATING TO USE OF OPTOMETRISTS' SERVICES AUTHORIZED FOR AGENCY AND SCHOOL-REQUIRED EXAMINATIONS, SO AS TO PROVIDE OPTOMETRISTS MAY PROVIDE VISION OR EYE CARE SERVICES AT A SCHOOL IF APPROVED BY THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-37-420, RELATING TO PRACTICE REQUIREMENTS CONCERNING CERTAIN LICENSEES, SO AS TO DELETE THE EXISTING PROVISIONS, TO PROVIDE PERSONS LICENSED AS OPTOMETRISTS IN THIS STATE MAY CONTINUE PRACTICING UNDER CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS EXCEPT THAT SUCH PERSONS LICENSED BEFORE JANUARY 1, 2013, MUST FULFILL CREDENTIALING REQUIREMENTS TO PERFORM CERTAIN TREATMENTS; BY AMENDING SECTION 38-79-30, RELATING TO PROVISIONS LIMITING LIABILITY FOR VOLUNTEER HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS UNDER MEDICAL MALPRACTICE INSURANCE LAWS, SO AS TO REMOVE A PROVISION CONCERNING NOTICE REQUIREMENTS TO PATIENTS, AND TO INCLUDE OPTOMETRISTS AMONG THE VOLUNTEERS INCLUDED IN THESE PROVISIONS; BY AMENDING SECTION 44-30-310, RELATING TO IMMUNITY FROM LIABILITY FOR FREE HEALTHCARE SERVICES, SO AS TO INCLUDE VOLUNTEER OPTOMETRISTS; AND BY REPEALING SECTION 40-37-300 RELATING TO ESTABLISHING PHARMACIES OR SELLING PHARMACEUTICAL AGENTS, AND DISPENSING CONTACT LENSES. South Carolina H 4103, A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 40-37-35 SO AS TO PROVIDE THE STATE BOARD OF EXAMINERS IN OPTOMETRY MAY ISSUE RESTRICTED VOLUNTEER MEMBER LICENSES TO OPTOMETRISTS FROM OTHER STATES WHO MEET CERTAIN CRITERIA, AND TO PROVIDE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SUPERVISION, DURATION, AND REGULATION OF SUCH LICENSES, AMONG OTHER THINGS; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-37-10, RELATING TO MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SOUTH CAROLINA BOARD OF EXAMINERS IN OPTOMETRY, SO AS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-37-20, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS CONCERNING THE REGULATION OF OPTOMETRISTS, SO AS TO REVISE THE DEFINITIONS; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-37-30, RELATING TO LICENSING REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PRACTICE OF OPTOMETRY, SO AS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES THAT CONSTITUTE THE PRACTICE OF OPTOMETRY; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-37-40, RELATING TO POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE BOARD, SO AS TO PROVIDE THE BOARD SHALL REQUIRE LICENSED OPTOMETRISTS TO MEET EDUCATIONAL AND COMPETENCE REQUIREMENTS ESTABLISHED BY THE BOARD; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-37-245, RELATING TO EXAMINATION REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSURE BY ENDORSEMENT, SO AS TO ALLOW EXAMINATION EQUIVALENTS AS DETERMINED BY THE BOARD; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-37-290, RELATING TO THE PURCHASING, PRESCRIBING, AND ADMINISTERING PHARMACEUTICAL AGENTS BY OPTOMETRISTS, SO AS TO REVISE THE REQUIREMENTS AND LIMIT THE PERMISSIBLE USE OF SUCH MEDICATIONS, AMONG OTHER THINGS; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-37-310, RELATING TO REFERRALS FOR TREATMENT OF EYE DISEASES, SO AS TO REMOVE PROVISIONS CONCERNING THE TREATMENT OF GLAUCOMA AND PROVISION OF SURGERY; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-37-330, RELATING TO USE OF OPTOMETRISTS' SERVICES AUTHORIZED FOR AGENCY AND SCHOOL-REQUIRED EXAMINATIONS, SO AS TO PROVIDE OPTOMETRISTS MAY PROVIDE VISION OR EYE CARE SERVICES AT A SCHOOL IF APPROVED BY THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-37-420, RELATING TO PRACTICE REQUIREMENTS CONCERNING CERTAIN LICENSEES, SO AS TO DELETE THE EXISTING PROVISIONS, TO PROVIDE PERSONS LICENSED AS OPTOMETRISTS IN THIS STATE MAY CONTINUE PRACTICING UNDER CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS EXCEPT THAT SUCH PERSONS LICENSED BEFORE JANUARY 1, 2013, MUST FULFILL CREDENTIALING REQUIREMENTS TO PERFORM CERTAIN TREATMENTS; BY AMENDING SECTION 38-79-30, RELATING TO PROVISIONS LIMITING LIABILITY FOR VOLUNTEER HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS UNDER MEDICAL MALPRACTICE INSURANCE LAWS, SO AS TO REMOVE A PROVISION CONCERNING NOTICE REQUIREMENTS TO PATIENTS, AND TO INCLUDE OPTOMETRISTS AMONG THE VOLUNTEERS INCLUDED IN THESE PROVISIONS; BY AMENDING SECTION 44-30-310, RELATING TO IMMUNITY FROM LIABILITY FOR FREE HEALTHCARE SERVICES, SO AS TO INCLUDE VOLUNTEER OPTOMETRISTS; AND BY REPEALING SECTION 40-37-300 RELATING TO ESTABLISHING PHARMACIES OR SELLING PHARMACEUTICAL AGENTS, AND DISPENSING CONTACT LENSES., is a 126th General Assembly (2025-2026) House bill sponsored by B.J. Cox; status failed, last action 2026-04-15 (Recommitted to Committee on Labor, Commerce and Industry) (as of 2026-10-11). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/SC-H4103-2025-2026 - As of: 2026-10-11 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: South Carolina H 4103 - State: South Carolina - Session: 126th General Assembly (2025-2026) - Title: A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 40-37-35 SO AS TO PROVIDE THE STATE BOARD OF EXAMINERS IN OPTOMETRY MAY ISSUE RESTRICTED VOLUNTEER MEMBER LICENSES TO OPTOMETRISTS FROM OTHER STATES WHO MEET CERTAIN CRITERIA, AND TO PROVIDE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SUPERVISION, DURATION, AND REGULATION OF SUCH LICENSES, AMONG OTHER THINGS; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-37-10, RELATING TO MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SOUTH CAROLINA BOARD OF EXAMINERS IN OPTOMETRY, SO AS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-37-20, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS CONCERNING THE REGULATION OF OPTOMETRISTS, SO AS TO REVISE THE DEFINITIONS; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-37-30, RELATING TO LICENSING REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PRACTICE OF OPTOMETRY, SO AS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES THAT CONSTITUTE THE PRACTICE OF OPTOMETRY; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-37-40, RELATING TO POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE BOARD, SO AS TO PROVIDE THE BOARD SHALL REQUIRE LICENSED OPTOMETRISTS TO MEET EDUCATIONAL AND COMPETENCE REQUIREMENTS ESTABLISHED BY THE BOARD; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-37-245, RELATING TO EXAMINATION REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSURE BY ENDORSEMENT, SO AS TO ALLOW EXAMINATION EQUIVALENTS AS DETERMINED BY THE BOARD; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-37-290, RELATING TO THE PURCHASING, PRESCRIBING, AND ADMINISTERING PHARMACEUTICAL AGENTS BY OPTOMETRISTS, SO AS TO REVISE THE REQUIREMENTS AND LIMIT THE PERMISSIBLE USE OF SUCH MEDICATIONS, AMONG OTHER THINGS; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-37-310, RELATING TO REFERRALS FOR TREATMENT OF EYE DISEASES, SO AS TO REMOVE PROVISIONS CONCERNING THE TREATMENT OF GLAUCOMA AND PROVISION OF SURGERY; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-37-330, RELATING TO USE OF OPTOMETRISTS' SERVICES AUTHORIZED FOR AGENCY AND SCHOOL-REQUIRED EXAMINATIONS, SO AS TO PROVIDE OPTOMETRISTS MAY PROVIDE VISION OR EYE CARE SERVICES AT A SCHOOL IF APPROVED BY THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL; BY AMENDING SECTION 40-37-420, RELATING TO PRACTICE REQUIREMENTS CONCERNING CERTAIN LICENSEES, SO AS TO DELETE THE EXISTING PROVISIONS, TO PROVIDE PERSONS LICENSED AS OPTOMETRISTS IN THIS STATE MAY CONTINUE PRACTICING UNDER CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS EXCEPT THAT SUCH PERSONS LICENSED BEFORE JANUARY 1, 2013, MUST FULFILL CREDENTIALING REQUIREMENTS TO PERFORM CERTAIN TREATMENTS; BY AMENDING SECTION 38-79-30, RELATING TO PROVISIONS LIMITING LIABILITY FOR VOLUNTEER HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS UNDER MEDICAL MALPRACTICE INSURANCE LAWS, SO AS TO REMOVE A PROVISION CONCERNING NOTICE REQUIREMENTS TO PATIENTS, AND TO INCLUDE OPTOMETRISTS AMONG THE VOLUNTEERS INCLUDED IN THESE PROVISIONS; BY AMENDING SECTION 44-30-310, RELATING TO IMMUNITY FROM LIABILITY FOR FREE HEALTHCARE SERVICES, SO AS TO INCLUDE VOLUNTEER OPTOMETRISTS; AND BY REPEALING SECTION 40-37-300 RELATING TO ESTABLISHING PHARMACIES OR SELLING PHARMACEUTICAL AGENTS, AND DISPENSING CONTACT LENSES. - Status: failed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2025-02-26 - Last action: 2026-04-15, Recommitted to Committee on Labor, Commerce and Industry - Sponsor: B.J. Cox - Cosponsors: 66 - Touches household money: no - Economic provisions PRIA read: 0 ## Summary Optometrists ## Bill overview No economic impacts identified for this bill. ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: B.J. Cox - Cosponsor: Lucas Atkinson (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Brandon Newton (Republican), House - Cosponsor: William H. Bailey (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Nathan Ballentine (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Heather Bauer (Democrat), House - Cosponsor: Thomas Beach (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Beth E. Bernstein (Democrat), House - Cosponsor: Phillip Bowers (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Gary S. Brewer, Jr. (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Joseph M. "Joe" Bustos (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Cody T. Mitchell (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Paula Rawl Calhoon (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Micajah P. "Micah" Caskey IV (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Donald G. "Don" Chapman (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Neal A. Collins (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Shannon S. Erickson (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Cally R. "Cal" Forrest, Jr. (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Stephen D. Frank (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Craig A. Gagnon (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Kambrell H. Garvin (Democrat), House - Cosponsor: Gil Gatch (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Leon D. "Doug" Gilliam (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Wendell G. Gilliard (Democrat), House - Cosponsor: Jerry N. Govan, Jr. (Democrat), House - Cosponsor: Hamilton R. Grant (Democrat), House - Cosponsor: Thomas Duval "Val" Guest, Jr. (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Brandon Guffey (Republican), House - Cosponsor: William "Bill" Hager (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Kevin Hardee (Republican), House - Cosponsor: William G. "Bill" Herbkersman (Republican), House - Cosponsor: William M. "Bill" Hixon (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Harriet A. Holman (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Lonnie Hosey (Democrat), House - Cosponsor: Leon Howard (Democrat), House - Cosponsor: JA Moore (Democrat), House - Cosponsor: Jeffrey E. "Jeff" Johnson (Republican), House - Cosponsor: John Gregory "Jay" Kilmartin (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Roger K. Kirby (Democrat), House - Cosponsor: Kathy Landing (Republican), House - Cosponsor: John T. Lastinger, Jr. (Republican), House - Cosponsor: M. Brian Lawson (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Thomas R. "Randy" Ligon (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Marvin "Mark" Smith (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Josiah Magnuson (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Donald Ryan McCabe, Jr. (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Annie E. McDaniel (Democrat), House - Cosponsor: Timothy A. "Tim" McGinnis (Republican), House - Cosponsor: W. Scott Montgomery IV (Republican), House - Cosponsor: T. Alan Morgan, Jr. (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Melissa Lackey Oremus (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Luke S. Rankin (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Michael F. Rivers, Sr. (Democrat), House - Cosponsor: Seth Rose (Democrat), House - Cosponsor: Richard Blake Sanders (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Carla M. Schuessler (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Tiffany R. Spann-Wilder (Democrat), House - Cosponsor: Travis A. Moore (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Bill Taylor (Republican), House - Cosponsor: David Vaughan (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Courtney S. Waters (Democrat), House - Cosponsor: J. David Weeks (Democrat), House - Cosponsor: Elizabeth "Spencer" Wetmore (Democrat), House - Cosponsor: Joseph S. "Joe" White (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Paul B. Wickensimer (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Chris Wooten (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Richard L. "Richie" Yow (Republican), House ## Actions (26) - 2026-04-15: Recommitted to Committee on Labor, Commerce and Industry (House) - 2026-04-14: Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Gilliard (House) - 2026-04-13: Scrivener's error corrected (legislature) - 2026-04-02: Committee report: Favorable with amendment Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs (House) - 2026-03-10: Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Brewer (House) - 2026-02-25: Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Grant (House) - 2026-02-24: Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Lastinger (House) - 2026-02-04: Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Waters (House) - 2026-01-20: Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Rankin (House) - 2026-01-14: Committed to Committee on Labor, Commerce and Industry (House) - 2026-01-14: Recalled from Committee on Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs (House) - 2025-06-04: Scrivener's error corrected (legislature) - 2025-05-06: Member(s) request name added as sponsor: McDaniel (House) - 2025-04-09: Member(s) request name removed as sponsor: Burns (House) - 2025-04-01: Member(s) request name removed as sponsor: Huff (House) - 2025-03-26: Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Ligon, Wickensimer (House) - 2025-03-25: Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Bustos (House) - 2025-03-11: Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Caskey (House) - 2025-03-10: Member(s) request name removed as sponsor: Moss (House) - 2025-03-10: Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Yow (House) - 2025-03-06: Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Chapman (House) - 2025-03-05: Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Hixon, Bernstein, Beach, Erickson, Vaughan (House) - 2025-03-04: Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Weeks (House) - 2025-02-27: Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Bowers, Landing (House) - 2025-02-26: Referred to Committee on Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs (House) - 2025-02-26: Introduced and read first time (House) ## Bill text - Introduced: [HTML](https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess126_2025-2026/bills/4103.htm) ## Related bills - S 0623: AN ACT TO EXEMPT GEORGETOWN COUNTY FROM CERTAIN BUILDING REQUIREMENTS AND TO ALLOW THE COUNTY TO INSTEAD ENFORCE AE STANDARDS IN GEORGETOWN COUNTY'S FLOOD DAMA… (became law) - S 0586: AN ACT TO AMEND ACT 172 OF 1995, RELATING TO THE KERSHAW COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT EACH MEMBER OF THE KERSHAW COUNTY TRANSPORTATIO… (signed) - H 5653: AN ACT TO AMEND ACT 843 OF 1952, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE LEE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION, SO AS TO CLARIFY THE METHOD BY WHICH PERSONS FILE TO BECOME A CANDI… (signed) - S 1062: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO APPROVE REGULATIONS OF THE STATE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION, RELATING TO DETERMINATION OF RATES OF TUITION AND FEES, DESIGNATED AS RE… (signed) - S 0779: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO PROVIDE THAT EACH MEMBER OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SHALL RECEIVE A MONTHLY LEGISLATIVE EXPENSE ALLOWANCE OF ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS; TO PROVID… (signed) - H 5261: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO EXTEND THE DEADLINE FOR RECEIVING ALCOHOL SERVER TRAINING AS PROVIDED FOR IN CHAPTER 3, TITLE 61 TO MAY 1, 2026. (signed) ## Sources - [Introduced (HTML)](https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess126_2025-2026/bills/4103.htm) ## Related - [S 0623: AN ACT TO EXEMPT GEORGETOWN COUNTY FROM CERTAIN BUILDING REQUIREMENTS AND TO AL…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/SC-S0623-2025-2026) - [S 0586: AN ACT TO AMEND ACT 172 OF 1995, RELATING TO THE KERSHAW COUNTY TRANSPORTATION…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/SC-S0586-2025-2026) - [H 5653: AN ACT TO AMEND ACT 843 OF 1952, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE LEE COUNTY BOARD O…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/SC-H5653-2025-2026) - [S 1062: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO APPROVE REGULATIONS OF THE STATE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDU…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/SC-S1062-2025-2026) - [S 0779: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO PROVIDE THAT EACH MEMBER OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SHALL RE…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/SC-S0779-2025-2026) - [H 5261: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO EXTEND THE DEADLINE FOR RECEIVING ALCOHOL SERVER TRAINING…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/SC-H5261-2025-2026) - [South Carolina bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/south-carolina/bills) - [South Carolina state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/south-carolina) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/SC-H4103-2025-2026 (as of 2026-10-11).