Sponsors (7)
The bill expands free, school-based vision screening and care—particularly helping low-income students and enabling nonprofit outreach via multi-year authorization—but increases federal spending and may leave gaps in coverage and follow-up due to grantee limits and non-binding parental follow-up guidance.
Public K–12 students (especially younger children) gain free on-site vision screenings, eye exams, and access to optical services, improving detection and treatment of vision problems.
Low-income students gain easier access to vision care and eyewear, which can reduce unmet vision needs and help improve school performance and learning outcomes.
Nonprofit providers receive support to purchase mobile equipment and cover operational costs, enabling sustained outreach and delivery of school-based vision services.
Taxpayers could face increased federal spending to support the program without a specified appropriation amount or identified offsets.
Limiting eligible grantees to nonprofits may exclude school districts or for-profit providers that might otherwise expand service reach and coordination with schools.
Actual service coverage will depend on competitive grant awards and program capacity, so some students and districts may remain unserved despite the authorization.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Establishes an HHS grant program to fund nonprofit mobile/portable eye-care services that provide free vision screenings, exams, and on-site optical services to public K–12 students, authorized FY2026–FY2031.
Official title: To provide for a grant program to support access to free eye care services for students attending public elementary schools and secondary schools.
Introduced May 21, 2025 by Jahana Hayes · Last progress May 21, 2025
Creates a new HHS grant program to fund nonprofit mobile and portable eye-care programs that provide free vision screenings, exams, and on-site optical services to students in public elementary and secondary schools. Grants may cover purchase of portable/mobile eye-care equipment and operating costs; HHS must set up the program within 180 days and the law authorizes funding as needed for FY2026–FY2031.