This article describes and discusses the passage of legislation that established and funded the Alabama Board of Optometric Scholarship Awards. This board awards two types of scholarships: merit scholarships that do not require repayment and loan scholarships that must be repaid if certain criteria are not met. This unique scholarship is funded by the State of Alabama and awarded on an annual basis to Alabama residents who have been admitted or are students at the UAB School of Optometry. The awardees are selected by the board during its annual July meeting. Several changes have been enacted over the years by the legislature that have, among other changes, resulted in the board’s ability to retain loan funds repaid and have increased the amount of funding contributed by the state.