Skip to content
← Back to All Bills

HB349 Relative to the practice of optometry and authorization to perform ophthalmic laser procedures.

Other Dead Auto-scored

Relative to the practice of optometry and authorization to perform ophthalmic laser procedures.

Impact Score — How Does This Bill Affect You?

7

Overall Impact Score

Mixed

Scale: 1 (harmful) to 10 (beneficial)

7
💰

Your Wallet

Patients may pay less for laser eye procedures by accessing optometrists rather than ophthalmologists, though the bill imposes potential regulatory costs of $10,000-$100,000 annually on the state licensing fund.

7
🏘️

Your Community

Expanded access to ophthalmic laser services in communities may reduce wait times and travel burden for residents seeking these procedures.

7
⚖️

Your Freedom

The bill expands scope of practice for licensed optometrists who meet rigorous training standards, while protecting patients through mandatory informed consent and proctor supervision requirements.

Status

Veto Sustained 04/09/2026: Regular Calendar 145-206 Lacking Necessary Two-Thirds Vote House Journal 10 P. 4

Voted Yes

114 R + 31 D

Voted No

85 R + 121 D

R Yes D Yes R No D No

Sponsor

Jim Kofalt (R)

The Short Version

This bill allows optometrists in New Hampshire to perform three specific laser eye procedures (capsulotomy, trabeculoplasty, and iridotomy) after meeting training and certification requirements set by the state Board of Registration in Optometry. The change could expand access to these procedures and potentially lower costs for patients by allowing optometrists to perform them in addition to ophthalmologists.

Who's Behind This Bill?

Who Benefits

  • ▲ Patients needing laser eye procedures who may gain more local access and potentially lower costs
  • ▲ Optometrists who meet certification criteria and gain authorization to perform advanced procedures
  • ▲ Rural or underserved NH residents who may have limited access to ophthalmologists

Who Pays the Price

  • ▼ New Hampshire taxpayers funding the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (estimated $10,000-$100,000 annually in FY 2027-2028)
  • ▼ Potentially some ophthalmologists facing increased competition, though the bill does not state this

Roll Call Detail (4 votes)

Every recorded floor vote on this bill, with each legislator's individual vote. Click a name to see that rep's full record.

Who actually supports this bill?

Across the 4 recorded votes on this bill — counting each legislator's net direction and treating kill motions as opposing the bill — Republicans supported it ( 135 for , 59 against ) , and Democrats opposed it ( 57 for , 88 against ) .

"Supporting" means voting for passage OR voting against a kill motion. "Opposing" is the inverse. Concurs and amendment-only votes don't count.

Veto Override 2026-04-09
Failed

YES = Override the veto (keep the bill alive). NO = Let the veto stand (kill the bill).

114R + 31D
Voted to Override (145)
85R + 121D
Voted to Sustain Veto (206)
29
Absent
13
Not voting
Show all 393 individual votes

Voted Yea (145)

Republicans (114)
Democrats (31)

Voted Nay (206)

Republicans (85)
Democrats (121)
Absent (29)

Alice Wade (D) , Allison Knab (D) , Amy Malone (D) , Beth Richards (D) , Catherine Sofikitis (D) , Dale Girard (D) , Donald Selby (R) , Efstathia Booras (D) , Gaby Grossman (D) , Gregory Sargent (D) , Heath Howard (D) , Jean Jeudy (D) , Jeffrey Tenczar (R) , Jodi Nelson (R) , John Leavitt (R) , Lee Ann Kluger (D) , Linda Haskins (D) , Lisa Post (R) , Mark MacKenzie (D) , Mark Warden (R) , Matthew Coker (R) , Ned Raynolds (D) , Paige Beauchemin (D) , Peter Leishman (D) , Phyllis Katsakiores (R) , Scott Bryer (R) , Thomas Buco (D) , Thomas Oppel (D) , Tracy Bricchi (D)

Indefinitely Postpone 2026-01-07
Failed

YES = Kill the bill. NO = Keep the bill alive.

55R + 78D
Voted to Kill the Bill (133)
129R + 76D
Voted to Keep It Alive (205)
40
Absent
17
Not voting
Show all 395 individual votes

Voted Yea (133)

Republicans (55)
Democrats (78)

Voted Nay (205)

Republicans (129)
Democrats (76)
Absent (40)

Adam Presa (R) , Allison Knab (D) , Beth Richards (D) , Bill Boyd (R) , Cassandra Levesque (D) , Charles Foote (R) , Charlie St. Clair (D) , David Fracht (D) , David Lundgren (R) , Deborah Aylward (R) , Denise DeDe-Poulin (R) , Douglas Trottier (R) , Fred Davis (D) , Gaby Grossman (D) , Gary Daniels (R) , Jeffrey Tenczar (R) , Jim Creighton (R) , Jodi Nelson (R) , Karel Crawford (R) , Larry Gagne (R) , Laurence Miner (R) , Louise Andrus (R) , Mark Vallone (D) , Mary Ford (R) , Mary Murphy (R) , Merryl Gibbs (D) , Michael Cahill (D) , Michael Harrington (R) , Michael Murphy (R) , Mike Bordes (R) , Myles England (D) , Peter Varney (R) , Sallie Fellows (D) , Sandra Panek (R) , Sayra Devito (R) , Shane Sirois (R) , Thomas Schamberg (D) , Tim Mannion (R) , Tom Dolan (R) , Travis Toner (R)

Table 2026-01-07
Failed

YES = Kill the bill. NO = Keep the bill alive.

42R + 52D
Voted to Kill the Bill (94)
141R + 101D
Voted to Keep It Alive (242)
40
Absent
19
Not voting
Show all 395 individual votes

Voted Yea (94)

Republicans (42)
Democrats (52)

Voted Nay (242)

Republicans (141)
Democrats (101)
Absent (40)

Adam Presa (R) , Allison Knab (D) , Beth Richards (D) , Bill Boyd (R) , Cassandra Levesque (D) , Charles Foote (R) , Charlie St. Clair (D) , David Fracht (D) , David Lundgren (R) , Deborah Aylward (R) , Denise DeDe-Poulin (R) , Douglas Trottier (R) , Fred Davis (D) , Gaby Grossman (D) , Gary Daniels (R) , Jeffrey Tenczar (R) , Jim Creighton (R) , Jodi Nelson (R) , Karel Crawford (R) , Larry Gagne (R) , Laurence Miner (R) , Louise Andrus (R) , Mark Vallone (D) , Mary Ford (R) , Mary Murphy (R) , Merryl Gibbs (D) , Michael Cahill (D) , Michael Harrington (R) , Michael Murphy (R) , Mike Bordes (R) , Myles England (D) , Peter Varney (R) , Sallie Fellows (D) , Sandra Panek (R) , Sayra Devito (R) , Shane Sirois (R) , Thomas Schamberg (D) , Tim Mannion (R) , Tom Dolan (R) , Travis Toner (R)

Ought to Pass with Amendment 2026-01-07
Passed

YES = Pass the bill with the attached amendment. NO = Reject the bill (as amended).

132R + 61D
Voted to Pass (193)
51R + 92D
Voted Against (143)
40
Absent
19
Not voting
Show all 395 individual votes

Voted Yea (193)

Republicans (132)
Democrats (61)

Voted Nay (143)

Republicans (51)
Democrats (92)
Absent (40)

Adam Presa (R) , Allison Knab (D) , Beth Richards (D) , Bill Boyd (R) , Cassandra Levesque (D) , Charles Foote (R) , Charlie St. Clair (D) , David Fracht (D) , David Lundgren (R) , Deborah Aylward (R) , Denise DeDe-Poulin (R) , Douglas Trottier (R) , Fred Davis (D) , Gaby Grossman (D) , Gary Daniels (R) , Jeffrey Tenczar (R) , Jim Creighton (R) , Jodi Nelson (R) , Karel Crawford (R) , Larry Gagne (R) , Laurence Miner (R) , Louise Andrus (R) , Mark Vallone (D) , Mary Ford (R) , Mary Murphy (R) , Merryl Gibbs (D) , Michael Cahill (D) , Michael Harrington (R) , Michael Murphy (R) , Mike Bordes (R) , Myles England (D) , Peter Varney (R) , Sallie Fellows (D) , Sandra Panek (R) , Sayra Devito (R) , Shane Sirois (R) , Thomas Schamberg (D) , Tim Mannion (R) , Tom Dolan (R) , Travis Toner (R)

Read the Actual Bill → See All Bills

Bill statuses as of October 7, 2026. Check LegiScan or NH General Court for the latest.

This bill was auto-scored using AI analysis of the bill text and legislative data. Scores may be refined as we review more bills.