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Bill

S 6813

Enacts the optometry freedom act

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jamaal Bailey

Enacts the Optometry Freedom Act, reshaping optometry scope of practice, licensing rules, and insurance/billing for patients, providers, and payers.

REFERRED TO INSURANCE
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 6813

Summary of S 6813 — Enacts the Optometry Freedom Act

Executive snapshot

  • Bill number: S 6813
  • Title: Enacts the Optometry Freedom Act
  • Status: REFERRED TO INSURANCE
  • Introduced: March 24, 2025
  • Sponsor (primary): Jamaal Bailey
  • Related companion: A 6615 (listed as companion in related bills)
  • Legislative actions: Referred to INSURANCE (dated March 24, 2025; duplicate entry also shown)

Purpose and intent

The bill’s title indicates an aim to enact the “Optometry Freedom Act.” Based on the limited information provided, the specific legislative intent and substantive changes are not detailed in the summary. The relevant text would clarify the intended scope, protections, and regulatory changes affecting optometric practice, licensing, and related activities.

Key provisions (availability and specificity)

The exact provisions are not included in the provided materials. To understand the bill’s impact, the full text would need to be consulted. When available, readers should review:
- Scope of practice: Whether the act expands or restricts services optometrists may perform and under what conditions.
- Licensing and credentialing: Any changes to requirements, certifications, supervision rules, or collaboration with other eye-care professionals.
- Reimbursement and insurance: Provisions related to how optometry services are billed and reimbursed by private insurers and public programs.
- Patient protections: Any consumer safeguards, consent, or disclosure requirements.
- Enforcement and penalties: Penalties for violations and the oversight mechanism.
- Effective date: When the new rules would take effect if enacted.

Affected parties (conceptual)

  • Optometrists and optometry practices
  • Patients receiving eye care services
  • Insurance providers and payer policies
  • State or regulatory boards overseeing optometry (and possibly interprofessional scopes of practice)

Note: Specific impact depends on the bill’s enacted text.

Procedural and timeline considerations

  • Current status shows referral to the Insurance committee, a common step for bills dealing with health services and payer interactions.
  • The presence of a companion bill in the Assembly (A 6615) suggests parallel consideration across chambers, which can influence timeline and amendments.
  • Next steps typically include committee debate, potential amendments, floor votes, and passage in the originating chamber before moving to the other chamber.

Additional guidance

If you’d like a more precise summary, please share the bill text or a link to the official legislative page. I can extract the exact provisions, summarize them, and provide a line-by-line impact analysis.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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