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South Carolina · 2025-2026 Regular Session · Bill

H 4103: Optometrists

In committee Official data

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed one chamber
  4. Passed both chambers
  5. Enacted

Last official action: ·Record last updated:

Plain-language summary

H 4103 is a bill introduced in the South Carolina House on February 26, 2025. According to its official title, it concerns: Optometrists. Primary sponsor: B.J. Cox, Brandon Newton (Republican), Lucas Atkinson (Republican), Nathan Ballentine (Republican), Heather Bauer (Democratic), Neal Collins (Republican), Cal Forrest (Republican), Stephen Frank (Republican), Craig Gagnon (Republican), Kambrell Garvin (Democratic), Gil Gatch (Republican), Jerry Govan (Democratic), Val Guest (Republican), Brandon Guffey (Republican), Bill Hager (Republican), Kevin Hardee (Republican), Bill Herbkersman (Republican), Harriet Holman (Republican), Lonnie Hosey (Democratic), Leon Howard (Democratic), Jeff Johnson (Republican), Jay Kilmartin (Republican), Roger Kirby (Democratic), Brian Lawson (Republican), Josiah Magnuson (Republican), Ryan McCabe (Republican), Tim McGinnis (Republican), Cody Mitchell (Republican), Scott Montgomery (Republican), J.A. Moore (Democratic), Travis Moore (Republican), Alan Morgan (Republican), Melissa Oremus (Republican), Michael Rivers (Democratic), Seth Rose (Democratic), Blake Sanders (Republican), Carla Schuessler (Republican), Mark Smith (Republican), Bill Taylor (Republican), Joe White (Republican), Chris Wooten (Republican), William Bailey (Republican), Doug Gilliam (Republican), Tiffany Spann-Wilder (Democratic), Paula Calhoon (Republican), Spencer Wetmore (Democratic), Phillip Bowers (Republican), Kathy Landing (Republican), David Weeks (Democratic), Bill Hixon (Republican), Beth Bernstein (Democratic), Thomas Beach (Republican), Shannon Erickson (Republican), David Vaughan (Republican), Don Chapman (Republican), Richie Yow (Republican), Micah Caskey (Republican), Joe Bustos (Republican), Randy Ligon (Republican), Paul Wickensimer (Republican), Annie McDaniel (Democratic), Luke Rankin (Republican), Courtney Waters (Democratic), John Lastinger (Republican), Hamilton Grant (Democratic), Gary Brewer (Republican), Wendell Gilliard (Democratic). Most recent recorded action (April 15, 2026): Recommitted to Committee on Labor, Commerce and Industry.

Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written

Official summary

Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.

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.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 17 · Republican 49

NameRolePartyChamberDistrict
B.J. CoxPrimary sponsorNot applicable (committee)——
Brandon NewtonPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse45
Lucas AtkinsonPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse57
Nathan BallentinePrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse71
Heather BauerPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse75
Neal CollinsPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse5
Cal ForrestPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse39
Stephen FrankPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse20
Craig GagnonPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse11
Kambrell GarvinPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse77
Gil GatchPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse94
Jerry GovanPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse93
Val GuestPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse106
Brandon GuffeyPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse48
Bill HagerPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse122
Kevin HardeePrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse105
Bill HerbkersmanPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse118
Harriet HolmanPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse102
Lonnie HoseyPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse91
Leon HowardPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse76
Jeff JohnsonPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse58
Jay KilmartinPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse85
Roger KirbyPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse101
Brian LawsonPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse30
Josiah MagnusonPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse38
Ryan McCabePrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse96
Tim McGinnisPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse56
Cody MitchellPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse65
Scott MontgomeryPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse32
J.A. MoorePrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse15
Travis MoorePrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse33
Alan MorganPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse18
Melissa OremusPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse84
Michael RiversPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse121
Seth RosePrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse72
Blake SandersPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse9
Carla SchuesslerPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse61
Mark SmithPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse99
Bill TaylorPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse86
Joe WhitePrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse40
Chris WootenPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse69
William BaileyPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse104
Doug GilliamPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse42
Tiffany Spann-WilderPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse109
Paula CalhoonPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse87
Spencer WetmorePrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse115
Phillip BowersPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse3
Kathy LandingPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse80
David WeeksPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse51
Bill HixonPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse83
Beth BernsteinPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse78
Thomas BeachPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse10
Shannon EricksonPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse124
David VaughanPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse27
Don ChapmanPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse8
Richie YowPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse53
Micah CaskeyPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse89
Joe BustosPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse112
Randy LigonPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse43
Paul WickensimerPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse22
Annie McDanielPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse41
Luke RankinPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse14
Courtney WatersPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse113
John LastingerPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse88
Hamilton GrantPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse79
Gary BrewerPrimary sponsorRepublicanHouse114
Wendell GilliardPrimary sponsorDemocraticHouse111

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

  1. Recommitted to Committee on Labor, Commerce and Industry
  2. Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Gilliard
  3. Scrivener's error corrected
  4. Committee report: Favorable with amendment Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs
  5. Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Brewer
  6. Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Grant
  7. Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Lastinger
  8. Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Waters
  9. Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Rankin
  10. Committed to Committee on Labor, Commerce and Industry
  11. Recalled from Committee on Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs
  12. Scrivener's error corrected

Showing 12 most recent of 26 actions. Full history

Sources

  1. Open States / Plural (data from the official legislature website)
  2. Official legislature source