- State champs
- Minnesota passes long-awaited scope expansion bill
- Texas unanimously passes groundbreaking VBM access bill
- 650+ reasons why these powerhouse state sessions are advancing optometry
- 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
- '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
Double duty: Doctors of optometry bring their vision to state legislatures
January 5, 2025
A wave of doctors of optometry with decades of clinical experience are serving their communities in two ways—as health care professionals and state lawmakers. Get to know those who won reelection Nov. 5 and are being sworn in for legislation sessions in their respective states.
Tag(s): Advocacy, State Advocacy
Last November’s general election saw doctors of optometry in seven states reelected or elected for the first time, which bodes well for optometric advocacy in their states.
Optometry’s advocates work to bolster their communities’ access to the full-scope, eye health and vision care services that doctors of optometry are trained, educated and certified to provide
“It’s awesome to have someone on the ‘inside,’ with all their knowledge of their state’s legislature and them having optometry's best interest at heart,” says Johndra McNeely, O.D., former chair of the AOA State Government Relations Committee.
“It helps so much to have someone who knows the process, knows all the players and state agencies,” Dr. McNeely adds. “I hope that more doctors of optometry will consider running in the future.”
Optometrists reelected and elected in November:
Illinois
Rep. Paul Jacobs, O.D., represents House District 118, which includes Alexander, Pulaski and Union counties and portions of Jackson and Williamson counties.
Doctor of Optometry degree: Southern College of Optometry
First elected: 2020
2025 committee assignments: Pending
2023-2024 committee assignments
Member, Appropriations-Higher Education Committee
Member, Cybersecurity, Data Analytics & IT
Member, Health Care Licenses
Member, Higher Education
Member, Veterans' Affairs
Member, Higher Education Committee, Degree Conferral Subcommittee
Kentucky
Rep. Robert Duvall, O.D., represents House District 17, which includes part of Warren County.
Doctor of Optometry degree: University of Alabama at Birmingham
First elected: 2022
2025 committee assignments:
Vice chair, Health Services Committee
Member, Banking and Insurance Committee
Member, Economic Development and Workforce Investment Committee
Member, Public Pension Oversight Board
Member, Families and Children Committee
Member, Budget subcommittee on health and family
Minnesota
Rep. Steve Gander, O.D., represents District 01B, which includes Clay, Norman, Polk and Red Lake counties.
Doctor of Optometry degree: Illinois College of Optometry
First elected: 2024
2025 committee assignments:
Member, Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee
Member, Human Services Finance and Policy Committee
Nevada
Assembly member Greg Koenig, O.D., represents District 38, which includes Churchill, Esmeralda and Mineral counties and parts of Lyon and Nye counties.
Doctor of Optometry degree: Pacific University
First elected: 2022
Committee assignments:
Member, Education
Member, Health and Human Services
Member, Ways and Means
Oklahoma
Rep. Carl Newton, O.D., represents House District 58, which includes Alfalfa, Garfield, Major, Woods and Woodward counties.
Doctor of Optometry degree: Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry
First elected: 2016
2025 committee assignments:
Chair, Health and Human Services Oversight Committee
Vice chair, Appropriations and Budget Natural Resources
Subcommittee
Member, Appropriations and Budget Committee
Member, Public Health Committee
Member, Transportation Committee
Oregon
Rep. Thuy Tran, O.D., represents House District 45, which includes northeast and southeast Portland, Maywood Park, Parkrose, Argay Terrace, Montarville and Cully.
Doctor of Optometry degree: Pacific University
First elected: 2022
2025 committee assignments:
Chair, Emergency Management, General Government and Veterans Committee
Member, Judiciary Committee
Member, Ways and Means–General Government Subcommittee
Member, Interstate 5 Bridge Committee
Rhode Island
Rep. Arthur Corvese, O.D., represents House District 55, which includes North Providence.
Doctor of Optometry degree: New England College of Optometry
First elected:1998
2025 committee assignments:
Deputy Majority Leader, General Assembly
Chair, House Labor Committee
Second vice chair, House State Government and Elections Committee
Member, House Judiciary Committee
Member, House Rules Committee
Learn about the AOA’s support of state advocacy.
Save the date!
If AOA state affiliates are interested in elevating advocacy in their states, save these dates for the AOA State Government Relations Center (SGRC) Regional Advocacy Meetings in 2025.
- Aug 15-16 in Chicago, Illinois
- Oct. 24-25 in Phoenix, Arizona
Registration will open soon, and additional details will come.