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POA's Legislative Priorities

Current Priorities

Children's Vision

Urgent: Contact Your State Senator Today to Support SB 720

Momentum is building, but we need your voice now.

Senate Bill 720, introduced by Senator Chris Gebhard, passed the Senate Education Committee on June 9, 2026, and is now advancing in the legislative process.

This is a critical moment for grassroots advocacy.

What SB 720 Does

SB 720 ensures that Pennsylvania students receive comprehensive eye examinations at key stages of their education:

Upon entering a Pennsylvania school (kindergarten)
Upon initial entry into an IEP or 504 plan

Why This Matters

School vision screenings often miss significant issues that impact learning
Comprehensive exams detect problems early—before they affect academic performance
Early detection helps children succeed in school and beyond

Take Action Now

Please contact your State Senator immediately and ask them to:

Support Senate Bill 720
Vote YES when the bill comes to the Senate floor

If your Senator is already a co-sponsor, take a moment to thank them for their leadership.

Your Outreach Is Critical

As SB 720 continues to move forward, legislators need to hear directly from you—a trusted healthcare provider and constituent. This is a bipartisan issue, but continued education and engagement are essential to securing passage.

A quick email or phone call today can make the difference.

Legislation supported by the Pennsylvania Optometric Association has been introduced in both the Pennsylvania House and Senate. This legislation will require all children of school age to receive a comprehensive eye health examination upon admission to school, fourth grade, and eighth grade.Senator Chris Gebhard and Representative Johanna Cepeda-Freytiz are the primary sponsors of the bills.

Senate Bill 720 was introduced by Sen. Gebhard on May 2, 2025.
House Bill 1078 was introduced by Rep. Cepeda-Freytiz on April 1, 2025.

Please contact your state legislators NOW and ask them to support these important bills. If they are a co-sponsor, thank them. This is a bipartisan issue, so every legislator needs to be educated on the importance of children's vision exams.

Scope Expansion

Want expanded scope in PA?

We need your help!

There are now 12 states with expanded optometric scope of practice. The POA and our members would love to be the thirteenth state, but we need a strong foundation before introducing a bill.

Pennsylvania optometrists MUST do the following to help increase the chance of passing advanced scope legislation in the Commonwealth.

Give to POPAC - A strong PAC helps support legislators who support optometry! If all optometrists give a little, it will go a long way towards success!
Get to know your legislators - Building a relationship with your state legislators now is critical. You don't want the first time you meet them to be when you are asking for scope expansion. Introduce yourself as a constituent. Invite them to your office and offer to be a resource on eye health-related issues.

Find your legislators and start building a relationship NOW!

Donate to POPAC/POI

The POI is a new effort by the POA to combine POPAC with a grassroots optometry network to encourage members' involvement with future legislation.

Donate to POPAC/POI

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POA's Legislative Priorities

Current Priorities

Children's Vision