Bias and driver circuits for modulated lasers are described. An example bias and driver circuit includes a laser, an electro-absorption optical modulator configured to modulate light output from the laser, a driver, and a power converter. The electro-absorption optical modulator is coupled between a float node and a ground node in the bias and driver circuit. The driver has an output coupled to the electro-absorption optical modulator, and the driver is configured to control the electro-absorption optical modulator to modulate the light output from the laser. The power converter is configured to maintain the float node at a potential greater than the ground node. The bias and driver circuits provide an alternative circuit arrangement for modulated lasers, including electro-absorption modulated lasers (EMLs), and are designed to operate without the use of ferrite beads or inductors in filter networks that would otherwise be coupled between the drivers and the modulators.