- Minnesota passes long-awaited scope expansion bill
- Texas unanimously passes groundbreaking VBM access bill
- Study: ‘Unprecedented’ optometry scope of practice expansion benefits patients
- Major victory for West Virginia patients, optometrists
- North Dakota secures telemedicine provisions, ignites grassroots advocacy
- How to build productive relationships with legislators
- Why you should fight for scope expansion
- Committee spotlight: AOA’s State Government Relations Committee
- How Arkansas’ major VBM law delivers on calls to promote fairness, doctor-patient relationships
- Texas optometrists mount defense in court and legislature of landmark law on vision plan abuses
- The case for expanding scope of optometry
- In rural America, opportunity for optometry amid shortfall of ophthalmologists
- Destination: Scope expansion
- Double duty: Doctors of optometry bring their vision to state legislatures
- 'High value' strategy sessions prep states’ advocacy
- VBM abuses scrutinized by state policy think tank, U.S. Senate opens new investigation
- AOA, affiliates’ foundational advocacy work advancing optometry
- South Carolina judge overrules Visibly challenge to consumer protection law
- Oklahoma secures optometry’s latest win over vision plan abuses
- What kind of impact is optometry making on the nation’s eye health?
- ‘Profits over patients cannot continue’ with VBMs; Texas testifies at health insurance hearing
- Kentucky attorney general holds Warby Parker accountable for its online vision test
- New York assembly bill potentially sows division in health care
- California warily watches ‘not-a-doctor’ wording in Senate bill
- Latest: Texas defends landmark vision plan law
- West Virginia adds optometric surgical procedures
- Florida optometrists quash effort—again—to pass ‘not-a-doctor’ bill
- South Dakota secures scope expansion for injections, optometric laser procedures
- Affiliates, AOA preparing for fresh attacks on optometry: 'Not-a-doctor' bills are back
- Texas vision plan law, now in effect, sees favorable development in federal lawsuit
- Proposal in Utah would restrict contact lens patient choice, disrupt doctor-patient relationship
- Affiliates, AOA share forward-thinking strategies for optometry’s advocates
- Texas’ vision plan law takes effect, court challenge continues
- Doctors of optometry in New Hampshire earn authorization to provide vaccines to public
- New Texas law halts vision plans’ anti-competitive, monopolistic behaviors
- YAG procedures by doctors of optometry, after cataract surgery, better for patients’ care and convenience, AOA survey says
- Affiliates’ advocacy teams prepare to convene for meeting of the minds
- Doctors of optometry in Texas and Nevada build bulwark against vision plan abuses
- DeSantis decision delivers historic win for Florida optometrists and patients
- AOA and state affiliates rally to decry and defeat discriminatory ‘not-a-doctor’ bills
- Optometry’s scope wins draw new attacks from medical and ophthalmology groups
- Regional Advocacy Meetings prime states’ advocates for 2023 battles and beyond
- Hubble Contacts fined for deceptive trade practices in Texas
- Scope victory for Colorado
- Regional Advocacy Meetings strengthen states advocacy
- Virginia scope advancement
- 1-800 Contacts’ attempt to undermine law thwarted by Georgia doctors yet again
- MOA rebuff insurers reprisals against Mississippi eye care providers
- New York gains oral medication prescribing authority
- California amends optometry’s approved treatments, medications and testing
- Kansas Insurance Department puts vision plans on notice
- State advocates fighting to defend and advance our profession
- The scope of success
- State Advocacy Summit amplifies lessons from year of historic scope victories
- Texas scope expansion gains doctors oral meds, glaucoma authority
- Wyoming expands scope to include contemporary laser-excision procedures
- Mississippi scope progresses, other states seeing early successes
- 7 states authorize doctors of optometry for COVID-19 vaccinations
- Massachusetts scope win adds glaucoma authority
- Going further-expanding advocacy efforts and educational and professional development efforts
- Pennsylvania and Iowa earn big victories to expand scope of practice
- Optometry patients win in Arkansas as ballot challenge to expanded practice law is invalidated
- VSP policy change may violate states patient protection laws
- Court-appointed official deems signatures at heart of Arkansas scope saga invalid
- Arkansas scope saga necessitates urgent action
- Scope expansion to save Americans billions annually
- State Government Relations Center presenting at Republican Attorneys General Association
- Arkansas secures expanded scope of practice
- Maryland expands scope of practice
- AOA state affiliates blaze path for optometry’s future
- Optometry can contribute high-quality health care at affordable prices
- AOA president Driving change
- NJ Vision Plan Bill 2018
- Massachusetts seeks glaucoma care expansion
- Alaska-Georgia legislative victories
- South Carolina legislators override veto safeguard patients vision health
- Georgia Nebraska advance patient centered legislation
- Indiana navigates telehealth bill exempts ophthalmic devices
- FTC DOJ weigh in on Massachusetts glaucoma care expansion
- Arizona No on contact lens prescription extension
- Kentucky heralds third party triumph in new law
- State association challenges mobile refractive service
- Texas doctor successfully challenges Aetna’s policy on panels
- Proposed state legislation doesnt address patient safety
- AOA steps up fight against 1 800 Contacts anti patient legislation
- Louisiana Governor Jindal signs expanded scope of practice bill
650+ reasons why these powerhouse state sessions are advancing optometry
June 11, 2025
Prepare your advocacy team to create a winning legislative strategy by attending one of the AOA State Government Relations Committee Regional Advocacy Meetings this August or October.
Tag(s): Advocacy, State Advocacy
Key Takeaways
- Since 2022, a combined 653 advocates have participated in an AOA SGRC Regional Advocacy Meeting. Affiliate advocacy teams have had the opportunity to hear about recent wins, losses, how to prepare, create winning strategies and the fundamentals of grassroots advocacy with 98% of attendees saying these meetings were valuable enough to recommend to their colleagues or other volunteers.
- Registration is open for the 2025 Regional Advocacy Meetings in Chicago, Aug. 15-16, and Phoenix, Oct. 24-25. Deadlines are upcoming, so register your team today.
- Topics discussed at this year's Regional Advocacy Meetings include building a successful team, countering opposition attacks, PAC fundraising, media training and an all-new advocacy 101 session for new advocates.
A cornerstone of the AOA’s state-level support returns in 2025 having already equipped a combined 653 doctors to champion the profession’s advocacy back home.
The AOA State Government Relations Committee (SGRC) Regional Advocacy Meetings return in 2025 with all-new sessions to prepare optometry’s leaders, grassroots advocates, and volunteers for effective state-level advocacy that advances optometric eye health and vision care. Designed to impart firsthand experiences and insight from optometry's most recent advocacy developments, these sessions are equal parts primer and frontline briefing for affiliates to remain nimble in an ever-evolving advocacy landscape. Additionally, these forums provide an opportunity for advocates to hear how opposition attempts to undermine doctors and their doctor-patient relationship in other states were addressed in order to anticipate future challenges.
John Whitlow, O.D., AOA SGRC chair, says Regional Advocacy Meetings are the place to learn from some of optometry’s foremost advocates “in the trenches” and that the open-forum format of these meetings ensure attendees can collectively develop strategies to apply those lessons in real-time.
“No matter if your state is just getting started or approaching the ‘goal line,’ these meetings are truly for you,” Dr. Whitlow says. “It’s truly wonderful to see how these meetings continue to create momentum for our profession on the front line of advocacy.”
Where are this year’s Regional Advocacy Meetings?
State advocacy teams are encouraged to join either of this year’s Regional Advocacy Meetings, including:
- 2025 SGRC Regional Advocacy Meeting Chicago
Aug. 15-16 | Hotel Chicago
Housing and registration are open and will close July 17.
- 2025 SGRC Regional Advocacy Meeting Phoenix
Oct. 24-25 | Kimpton Hotel Palomar Phoenix
Housing and registration are open and will close Sept. 16.
The 2025 Regional Advocacy Meetings are supported by Johnson & Johnson, SightSciences and Lumenis.
Why should you attend a Regional Advocacy Meeting?
Whether a seasoned advocate, a new volunteer or emerging leader, attendees walk away with actionable insights and critical resources for realizing advocacy opportunities or adapting to challenges as they emerge. This year’s lineup will feature panel discussions with experienced SGRC doctors, affiliate executive directors and key guest speakers on all-new topics, including:
- PAC-Peer to Peer Fundraising
- How to Empower Your Advocacy Team
- Media Training
- Creating a Strategic Plan
- Opposition Attacks
- Advocacy 101
New to Advocacy? Join Advocacy 101, a new addition to the Regional Advocacy Meetings designed to equip new advocates with the skills and confidence to engage with candidates and legislators effectively. Gain practical insights to position yourself for meaningful involvement in the next campaign season and legislative sessions and understand how individual voices come together to create a powerful, unified message. Be sure and sign up for Advocacy 101 on the registration form.
Yet where Regional Advocacy Meetings truly shine is their inherent goal of creating a collaborative environment for advocacy teams to learn from one another. Case in point: North Dakota.
What do attendees say about Regional Advocacy Meetings?
In 2023, the North Dakota Optometric Association (NDOA) identified a need to introduce and implement guardrails for telemedicine services. The challenge? North Dakota’s grassroots network was in need of reinvigorating.
Kim Hacker, NDOA executive director, says the state formed a new legislative committee, then leaned on the expertise of the AOA’s SGRC members and fellow affiliates for support, including attending a Regional Advocacy Meeting in 2024. Participating as a group was instrumental and afforded the NDOA an invaluable opportunity to plan a strategy for their bill’s introduction in early 2025.
But when the NDOA’s bill encountered an eleventh-hour hangup in the state legislature, advocates felt confident approaching their membership in driving support of the legislation. And those members stepped up in a big way.
“We created an absolute uproar in the state’s ophthalmology community—it was absolutely incredible what your membership can do,” Hacker said in April, celebrating Gov. Kelly Armstrong’s recent signature on their law.
“We built lasting relationships at the Capitol and walked away from session with a positive reputation, and as many of you know, that’s half the battle.”
Hacker attributed the success, in part, to the preparation afforded by the strategic engagement and support of optometry’s advocates.
“We leaned on SGRC in a significant way, as well as our fellow affiliates, and for that we couldn’t be more grateful,” Hacker said.
But it’s not only North Dakota’s experience that vouches for the efficacy of Regional Advocacy Meetings. Those are the sentiments echoed by other past attendees:
- “I left the SGRC meeting more fired up than ever about how to continue our amazing position as optometrists to help our patients. I am really optimistic about our profession’s future.” -Lee Dodge, O.D., 2024 Regional Advocacy Meeting attendee
- “Every time I attend an SGRC meeting, I leave inspired and motivated. Optometry has so many exceptional people fighting for our profession and our patients. It’s an honor to be able to learn from them and stand up to fight along with them.” -Clint Taylor, 2024 Regional Advocacy Meeting attendee
- “Excellent meeting. Underscores the importance of and provides the roadmap for individuals to contribute to the health and success of our profession.” -Rich Castillo, O.D., D.O., 2024 Regional Advocacy Meeting attendee
What is the AOA SGRC?
The SGRC provides information, guidance, advice and resource assistance in all areas of state legislation and regulation affecting the profession of optometry to individual AOA members and affiliate associations, as well as to state legislators, regulators, third-party payers and more. As a comprehensive resource for state affiliates’ political activities, the SGRC also:
- Serves as both a political and legislative resource for state affiliates.
- Monitors state laws and regulations relating to the practice of optometry.
- Monitors the impact that federal laws and regulations may have on state activities.
- Maintains a database of state laws and regulations, as well as other comparative and analytical optometric legislative and regulatory databases.