A new bill filed by State Rep. Jarrod Lowery seeks to permit licensed optometrists to offer telemedicine services in North Carolina while maintaining regulatory oversight by the state board, according to the North Carolina State House.
The bill, filed as HB 658 on April 1 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Optometrists Telehealth Services.’
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill allows licensed optometrists in North Carolina to provide telehealth services, enabling them to treat patients within the state through telemedicine without needing to be physically located in North Carolina or possessing a license in the state where they are located. It maintains the jurisdiction of the Board of Examiners in Optometry over any violations during telemedicine practice and ensures that telemedicine does not change the scope of optometry practice. The North Carolina Board of Examiners in Optometry is instructed to adopt rules for implementing this act, covering aspects like the licensee-patient relationship, evaluation, diagnosis, record-keeping, and telemedicine standards. The bill is set to become effective Oct. 1, 2025.
Of the four sponsors of this bill, Grant L. Campbell, MD proposed the most bills (46) during the 2025 regular session.
Bills in North Carolina follow a multi-step process before becoming law. A lawmaker starts by filing a bill, which is assigned to a committee for review. The bill must be read three times in each chamber. If one chamber changes the bill after the other passes it, both must agree on the final version. Once both chambers approve the same bill, it goes to the governor, who has 10 days (or 30 if the legislature is not in session) to sign, veto, or let it become law without a signature.
You can read more about the bills and other measures here.
Lowery graduated from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke in 2012 with a BS.
Lowery, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2023 to represent the state’s 47th House district, replacing previous state representative Charles Graham.
| Authors | Bill Number | Date Filed | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jarrod Lowery, Cody Huneycutt, Grant L. Campbell, MD, and Jonathan L. Almond | HB 658 | 04/01/2025 | Optometrists Telehealth Services. |
| Jarrod Lowery | HB 655 | 04/01/2025 | Ending Offensive Indian Mascots. |
| Jarrod Lowery, Brian Echevarria, Donnie Loftis, and Jonathan L. Almond | HB 659 | 04/01/2025 | Local Government Spending Transparency. |
| Jarrod Lowery, Dennis Riddell, Mark Brody, and Steve Tyson | HB 605 | 03/31/2025 | Definitions for Advanced Recycling. |
| Jarrod Lowery | HB 508 | 03/25/2025 | Lower Cap on Credit Card Interest. |
| Jarrod Lowery, A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr., Carson Smith, and Charles W. Miller | HB 505 | 03/24/2025 | Kayla’s Act: Protecting Dom. Violence Victims. |
| Jarrod Lowery, Erin Paré, Matthew Winslow, and Mike Schietzelt | HB 465 | 03/19/2025 | Waive Renewal Fee/Military Drivers Licenses. |
| Jarrod Lowery | HB 383 | 03/12/2025 | Augment Subcontractor Protections. |
| Jarrod Lowery and Charles W. Miller | HB 331 | 03/06/2025 | Adopt Official State Rice Festival. |
| Jarrod Lowery, Allen Chesser, Bill Ward, and Brenden H. Jones | HB 224 | 02/26/2025 | Strengthen Our Tribal Communities Act. |
| Jarrod Lowery, Brian Biggs, and Charles Smith | HB 217 | 02/25/2025 | Driver Educ./18 Yrs & Older & Unlicensed. |
| Jarrod Lowery, Brenden H. Jones, Jake Johnson, and Matthew Winslow | HB 222 | 02/25/2025 | C.O.O.P.E.R. Accountability Act. |
| Jarrod Lowery, Cody Huneycutt, Heather H. Rhyne, and Hugh Blackwell | HB 163 | 02/21/2025 | Pharmacy Benefits Manager Provisions. |
| Jarrod Lowery, Blair Eddins, Brenden H. Jones, and Neal Jackson | HB 171 | 02/21/2025 | Equality in State Agencies/Prohibition on DEI. |
| Jarrod Lowery, Chris Humphrey, Jeffrey C. McNeely, and Kyle Hall | HB 135 | 02/17/2025 | Misbranding/Cell-Cultured Meat/WNC Donations. |
| Jarrod Lowery, Allen Buansi, Grant L. Campbell, MD, and Heather H. Rhyne | HB 145 | 02/17/2025 | Funds for Diabetes Research Institute/UNC-CH. |
| Jarrod Lowery and Grant L. Campbell, MD | HB 146 | 02/17/2025 | Remote License Renewal/Active Duty Military. |
| Jarrod Lowery, Allen Chesser, and Brian Biggs | HB 112 | 02/12/2025 | Increase Permissible Interstate Speed Limit. |
| Jarrod Lowery, Bill Ward, Mike Clampitt, and Rodney D. Pierce | HB 103 | 02/11/2025 | NC Am. Indian Hunting/Fishing Rights. |
| Jarrod Lowery, Diane Wheatley, Harry Warren, and Jeffrey C. McNeely | HB 79 | 02/10/2025 | North Carolina Work and Save. |
| Jarrod Lowery, Allen Buansi, Allen Chesser, and Terry M. Brown Jr. | HB 93 | 02/10/2025 | Constitutional Amendment/Repeal Literacy Test. |
