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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?

6

Overall Impact Score

Mixed

Scale: 1 (harmful) to 10 (beneficial)

6
💰

Your Wallet

Could lower eye care costs by increasing competition for laser procedures.

5
🏘️

Your Community

Expands access to laser procedures in underserved areas, but raises patient safety concerns.

6
⚖️

Your Freedom

Expands patient choice and optometrist scope of practice.

Status

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

Voted Yes

0 R

Voted No

0 R

R Yes D Yes R No D No

Sponsor

Jim Kofalt (R)

The Short Version

Would allow optometrists to perform laser eye procedures currently restricted to ophthalmologists. Vetoed by Governor Ayotte despite passing both chambers. Raises concerns about patient safety with less-trained providers performing surgical procedures.

Who's Behind This Bill?

Who Benefits

  • ▲ Optometrists seeking expanded scope
  • ▲ Patients in areas without ophthalmologists

Who Pays the Price

  • ▼ Patients if safety is compromised
  • ▼ Ophthalmologists facing increased competition

Roll Call Detail (3 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 3 recorded votes on this bill — counting each legislator's net direction and treating kill motions as opposing the bill — Republicans supported it ( 134 for , 50 against ) , and Democrats opposed it ( 76 for , 78 against ) .

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

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 May 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.