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VermontS.642025-2026 SessionSenate

An act relating to amendments to the scope of practice for optometrists

Sponsored By: Rebecca "Becca" E White (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 1 mixed.

More eye procedures from trained optometrists

Beginning July 1, 2028, Vermont optometrists can prescribe and give therapeutic eye medicines. Those with the Advanced Therapeutic Procedures Specialty can also provide listed advanced treatments. These include corneal crosslinking, laser treatment for glaucoma, laser posterior capsulotomy, and certain eyelid and nearby lesion procedures. Authorized injections include eyelid injections, injections for fluorescein imaging, and epinephrine for severe allergic reactions. Specialty applicants must pass required national injection and laser/surgery exams, plus any additional Board-required exams. Training requires at least eight hours of in-person, supervised care with live patients. Applicants must perform at least two each of laser trabeculoplasty, posterior capsulotomy, laser peripheral iridotomy, chalazion removal, and chalazion injection. They must also perform two authorized lesion removals or drainages involving lesions at least 2 millimeters wide. Graduates before 2019 need an additional Board-approved course of at least 32 hours; later graduates do not. Supervisors must be ophthalmologists or optometrists with a substantially similar authorized scope and at least three years of U.S. licensure. The Board can also grant the specialty through endorsement after three years of expanded-scope practice elsewhere in the United States. Applicants using endorsement must hold a license in good standing with substantially equivalent or broader authority. Specialty holders can give vaccines for systemic health only during a declared public health emergency, with Vermont Health Commissioner authorization and statutory permission.

Optometrists must report advanced procedure harms

Beginning July 1, 2028, Vermont optometrists must report adverse events linked to advanced therapeutic procedures within 30 days. This reporting rule supports oversight of patient safety.

Limits on optometrists' surgery and prescriptions

Beginning July 1, 2028, Vermont optometrists cannot perform eye surgeries beyond those specifically authorized by law. Banned procedures include LASIK and other refractive surgery, retinal laser procedures, corneal transplants, lens removal, and lens implantation. They also cannot give general anesthesia, perform surgery requiring it, or give injections that penetrate the eyeball. Other bans cover specified orbital, tear-drainage, and eye-muscle surgeries, cosmetic eyelid surgery, and eyelid surgery involving suspected cancer. Eyelid repairs cannot exceed 2.5 centimeters or involve the eyelid edge or tear-drainage structures. Emergency paracentesis remains allowed when pressure inside the eye needs immediate relief. Optometrists also cannot prescribe or give Schedule I or II controlled drugs, except hydrocodone combined with pain relievers. Hydrocodone prescriptions are limited to a 72-hour supply, with no refills.

Extra ongoing training for specialty optometrists

Beginning July 1, 2028, Vermont optometrists need 40 hours of Board-approved continuing education every two years. Advanced specialty holders need five additional approved hours on advanced procedures during each two-year license period. License renewal also requires current CPR certification and payment of the required fee. The law does not specify the fee amount or training costs.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Rebecca "Becca" E White

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Alison Clarkson

    Democratic • Senate

  • Brian P Collamore

    Republican • Senate

  • Christopher P Mattos

    Republican • Senate

  • David H Weeks

    Republican • Senate

  • Joseph "Joe" D Major

    Democratic • Senate

  • Sen. Larry Hart

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Patrick "Pat" M Brennan

    Republican • Senate

  • Philip E Baruth

    Democrat/Progressive • Senate

  • Randy D Brock

    Republican • Senate

  • Robert W Norris

    Republican • Senate

  • Robert Plunkett

    Democratic • Senate

  • Ruth E Hardy

    Democratic • Senate

  • Sen. Samuel Douglass

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Scott L Beck

    Republican • Senate

  • Tanya C Vyhovsky

    Democrat/Progressive • Senate

  • Terry K Williams

    Republican • Senate

  • Thomas I Chittenden

    Democratic • Senate

  • Wendy K Harrison

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 93 • No: 38

House vote • 5/28/2026

Which was agreed to on a Roll Call Passed -- Needed 66 of 131 to Pass -- Yeas = 93, Nays = 38

Yes: 93 • No: 38 • Other: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Senate Message: Signed by Governor June 18, 2026

    5/29/2026Senate

  2. Signed by Governor on June 18, 2026

    5/29/2026Senate

  3. Delivered to Governor on June 12, 2026

    5/29/2026Senate

  4. Senate Message: House proposal of amendment concurred in

    5/28/2026Senate

  5. Rules suspended & messaged to House forthwith, on motion of Senator Baruth

    5/28/2026Senate

  6. As passed by Senate and House

    5/28/2026Senate

  7. House proposal of amendment concurred in

    5/28/2026Senate

  8. House proposal of amendment; text

    5/28/2026Senate

  9. Rules suspended & taken up for immediate consideration, on motion of Senator Baruth

    5/28/2026Senate

  10. House message: House passed bill in concurrence with proposal(s) of amendment

    5/28/2026House

  11. Rules suspended and bill messaged forthwith to the Senate as moved by Rep. McCoy of Poultney

    5/28/2026House

  12. Read third time and passed in concurrence with proposal of amendment

    5/28/2026House

  13. Rules suspended and bill placed in all remaining stages of passage as moved by Rep. McCoy of Poultney

    5/28/2026House

  14. Which was agreed to on a Roll Call Passed -- Needed 66 of 131 to Pass -- Yeas = 93, Nays = 38

    5/28/2026House

  15. Third Reading ordered

    5/28/2026House

  16. Rep. O'Brien of Tunbridge demanded yeas and nays

    5/28/2026House

  17. Pending the question, Shall the bill be read a third time?, division demanded by Rep. Boyden of Cambridge

    5/28/2026House

  18. Rep. Nugent of South Burlington moved that the House propose to the Senate to amend the bill, which was agreed to

    5/28/2026House

  19. Rep. Mrowicki of Putney recommended for the Committee on Appropriations

    5/28/2026House

  20. Rep. Waszazak of Barre City recommended for the Committee on Ways and Means

    5/28/2026House

  21. Rep. Birong of Vergennes reported for the Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs

    5/28/2026House

  22. Rep. Soucy of Barre Town reported for the Committee on Health Care

    5/28/2026House

  23. Read second time

    5/28/2026House

  24. Rules suspended and taken up for immediate consideration as moved by Rep. McCoy of Poultney

    5/28/2026House

  25. Notice Calendar: Favorable

    5/28/2026House

Bill Text

  • As Enacted (ACT 171)Opens in a new window

    6/19/2026

    PDF

  • As Passed by Both Chambers

    6/5/2026

    PDF

  • As Passed by Both Chambers (Unofficial)

    6/5/2026

    PDF

  • House Proposal of Amendment

    5/28/2026

    PDF

  • House Proposal of Amendment (Unofficial)

    5/28/2026

    PDF

  • As Passed by the Senate

    4/1/2026

    PDF

  • As Passed by the Senate (Unofficial)

    4/1/2026

    PDF

  • As Introduced

    2/10/2025

    PDF

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