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- 2026 LEGISLATURE LRBs0325/1 MED:cjs SENATE SUBSTITUTE AMENDMENT 1, TO SENATE BILL 860 January 29, 2026 - Offered by Senator C ABRAL -G UEVARA .
- 2026 LEGISLATURE LRB-5700/1 JPC&MED:cdc&skw SENATE BILL 860 January 23, 2026 - Introduced by Senators C ABRAL-GUEVARA and R ATCLIFF, cosponsored by Representatives D UCHOW , SUBECK , BILLINGS, D ESMIDT, DITTRICH, DONOVAN , OYLE , OEBEN , GOODWIN , IRSCH , NODL , O'ONNOR , PALMERI, SINICK, TUBBS and U DELL.
Referred to Committee on Health.
to amend 459.20 (3g), 459.24 (6) (b) 1.
to amend 15.405 (6m) (a), 15.405 (6m) (e), 459.24 (6) (b) 1.
and (c), 459.28 (1) (b) 1.
and (c) and 459.28 (1) (b) 1.;
and 459.34 (2) (ce);
the practice of audiology, licensure of audiologists, and repealing an administrative rule related to the practical examination of audiologists.
the practice of audiology, licensure of audiologists, the composition of the Hearing and Speech Examining Board, and repealing an administrative rule related to the practical examination of audiologists.
This substitute amendment differs from 2025 Senate Bill 860 in the following ways:
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau Under current law, no person may engage in the practice of audiology unless the person holds a current audiologist license granted by the Hearing and Speech Examining Board.
1.
“Audiology” is defined under current law to mean applying principles, methods or procedures of prevention, identification, evaluation, consultation, intervention, instruction or research related to hearing, vestibular function, or any abnormal condition related to tinnitus, auditory sensitivity, acuity, function or processing, speech, language or other aberrant behavior resulting from hearing loss.
Removes changes to the composition of the Hearing and Speech Examining Board.
“Audiology” also includes engaging in the practice of ordering, fitting, and dealing in hearing aids.
Under the substitute amendment, the composition of the board remains as it is under current law.
- 2026 Legislature - 2 - LRB-5700/1 JPC&MED:cdc&skw SENATE BILL 860 SECTION 1 To be granted an audiologist license, under current law, an individual must satisfy certain criteria including 1) submitting evidence that he or she has completed a supervised clinical practicum, 2) submitting evidence that he or she has passed examinations selected or approved by the board or has completed education or training that the board determines is substantially equivalent, 3) passing an examination administered by the board that consists of practical tests of proficiency in certain techniques that pertain to the fitting of hearing aids, and 4) submitting evidence that he or she has completed a postgraduate clinical fellowship in audiology approved by the board or has completed education or training that the board determines is substantially equivalent.
2.
Currently, the board consists of 10 members appointed for four-year terms:
Removes the ordering of prescription medications from the definition of the practice of audiology.
three licensed hearing instrument specialists, one otolaryngologist, two licensed audiologists, two speech-language pathologists, and two public members, one of which must be a hearing aid user.
3.
This bill makes several changes to the definition of the practice of audiology, the requirements for licensure as an audiologist, and the composition of the board.
Revises one of the grounds for discipline to reference the practice of audiology instead of the practice of ordering, fitting, and dealing in hearing aids.
First, the bill amends the definition of audiology to provide that the practice of audiology also includes the diagnosis, management, and treatment of auditory or vestibular conditions.
4.
The bill further provides that the practice of audiology includes engaging in prescribing, ordering, selling, dispensing, and externally fitting hearing aids, sound processors, and cochlear implants.
Makes other clarifications to definitions, including that the practice of - 2026 Legislature - 2 - LRBs0325/1 MED:cjs SECTION 1 audiology does not include using or interpreting laboratory tests or radiographic imaging and that osseo-integrated devices and cochlear implants are not considered hearing aids.
The bill excludes from the practice of audiology certain practices including surgery that uses an instrument, including a laser, scalpel, needle, cautery, cryoprobe, or suture in which human tissue is cut, burned, vaporized, removed, or otherwise permanently altered by mechanical means, laser, ionization, radiation, ultrasound, or other means.
Second, the bill eliminates the requirement that an individual applying for a license as an audiologist complete an examination that consists of practical tests of proficiency in techniques that pertain to the fitting of hearing aids but maintains all other requirements for licensure under current law.
Third, the bill repeals a provision permitting rules promulgated by the board to designate that a temporary license to practice audiology terminates if an applicant fails to take an examination required for initial licensure under current law.
Finally, the bill reduces the membership on the board from 10 members to nine members by reducing the number of positions provided for licensed hearing instrument specialists from three to two.
The bill also provides that of the two public members on the board, one of which must be either a hearing aid user, an osseo-integrated device user, or a cochlear implant user.
For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.
S ECTION 1.
SECTION 1.
15.405 (6m) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
- 2026 Legislature - 3 - LRB-5700/1 JPC&MED:cdc&skw SENATE BILL 860 SECTION 1 15.405 (6m) (a) Three Two hearing instrument specialists licensed under subch.
I of ch.
459.
S ECTION 2.
15.405 (6m) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:
15.405 (6m) (e) Two public members.
One of the public members shall be a hearing aid user, an osseo-integrated device user, or a cochlear implant user.
S ECTION 3.
459.20 (3o) (a) “Audiology” “Practice of audiology” or “audiology” means all of the following:
459.20 (3o) (a) “Audiology” “Practice of audiology” means all of the following:
Engaging in the practice of Prescribing, ordering, selling, dispensing, or externally fitting, and dealing in hearing aids.
Engaging in the practice of prescribing, ordering, selling, dispensing, or externally fitting, and dealing in hearing aids.
S ECTION 2.
S ECTION 4.
459.20 (3g) of the statutes is amended to read:
459.20 (3g) “Hearing aid” means any wearable or implantable instrument or device designed for or offered for the purpose of aiding or compensating for impaired human hearing and any parts, attachments or accessories of such an instrument or device, except batteries and cords, but does not include instruments or devices described in sub.
(3o) (a) 2.
b.
or c.
S ECTION 3.
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- 2026 Legislature - 3 - LRBs0325/1 MED:cjs SECTION 3 459.20 (3o) (a) 2.
459.20 (3o) (a) 2.
S ECTION 4.
S ECTION 5.
459.20 (3o) (b) “Practice of audiology” or “audiology” includes all of the following:
- 2026 Legislature - 4 - LRB-5700/1 JPC&MED:cdc&skw SENATE BILL 860 SECTION 5 459.20 (3o) (b) “Practice of audiology” includes all of the following:
Conducting health screenings related to hearing, balance, and related systems.
Conducting health screenings.
Removing cerumen from the external auditory canal that is not impacted to the point that removal requires anesthesia.
Removal of cerumen from the external auditory canal that is not impacted to the point that removal requires anesthesia.
Removing a foreign body from the external auditory canal that is not impacted to the point that removal requires anesthesia.
Removal of a foreign body from the external auditory canal that is not impacted to the point that removal requires anesthesia.
Ordering, but not interpreting, laboratory tests, including cultures, bloodwork, and genetic testing, regardless of specimen type, solely as related to auditory or vestibular conditions.
Ordering of cultures and blood work testing as it relates to the auditory or vestibular conditions in the human ear.
Ordering and performing in-office, nonradiographic scanning or imaging of the external auditory canal.
Ordering and performing of in-office, nonradiographic scanning or imaging of the external auditory canal and the ordering of radiographic imaging for auditory or vestibular conditions in the human ear.
Ordering, but not interpreting, radiographic imaging solely as related to auditory or vestibular conditions.
Ordering of genetic testing for auditory or vestibular conditions.
(c) “Practice of audiology” and “audiology” do not include any of the following:
7.
Ordering of prescription medication for the treatment of conditions of the external ear or the external auditory canal.
(c) “Practice of audiology” does not include any of the following:
Performing surgery using an instrument, including a laser, scalpel, needle, - 2026 Legislature - 4 - LRBs0325/1 MED:cjs SECTION 4 cautery, cryoprobe, or suture in which human tissue is cut, burned, vaporized, removed, or otherwise permanently altered by mechanical means, laser, ionization, radiation, ultrasound, or other means.
Surgery using an instrument, including a laser, scalpel, needle, cautery, cryoprobe, or suture in which human tissue is cut, burned, vaporized, removed, or otherwise permanently altered by mechanical means, laser, ionization, radiation, ultrasound, or other means.
Performing osseo-integrated device surgery.
Osseo-integrated device surgery.
Performing cochlear implant surgery.
Cochlear implant surgery.
Preparing, operating, or performing radiographic imaging.
Preparation, operation, performance, or interpretation of radiographic imaging.
5.
Interpreting radiographic imaging.
6.
Using or interpreting laboratory testing, including cultures, bloodwork, and genetic testing, to diagnose or treat a condition.
S ECTION 5.
459.24 (3) (em) of the statutes is repealed.
459.24 (3) (em) of the statutes is repealed.
- 2026 Legislature - 5 - LRB-5700/1 JPC&MED:cdc&skw SENATE BILL 860 SECTION 7 S ECTION 7.
(b) may be renewed - 2026 Legislature - 5 - LRBs0325/1 MED:cjs SECTION 6 once by the examining board if the applicant fails an examination for audiologist licensure under s.
(b) may be renewed once by the examining board if the applicant fails an examination for audiologist licensure under s.
S ECTION 7.
459.26 (2) (b) of the statutes is repealed.
459.26 (2) (c) of the statutes is repealed.
459.26 (2) (b) of the statutes is repealed.
459.26 (3) of the statutes is repealed.
459.26 (2) (c) of the statutes is repealed.
459.26 (3) of the statutes is repealed.
S ECTION 11.
The requirements for licensure in the other state or territory are substantially equivalent to the requirements under s.
The requirements for licensure in the other state or territory - 2026 Legislature - 6 - LRB-5700/1 JPC&MED:cdc&skw SENATE BILL 860 S ECTION 11 are substantially equivalent to the requirements under s.
S ECTION 11.
459.34 (2) (ce) of the statutes is amended to read:
459.34 (2) (ce) Violated any federal or state statute, rule or regulation that relates to the practice of ordering, fitting, and dealing in hearing aids audiology.
This paragraph does not apply to speech-language pathologists.
Initial applicability.
(1) The treatment of s.
15.405 (6m) (a) first applies on the date on which the term of any of the members appointed to the hearing and speech examining board under s.
15.405 (6m) (a) expires.
S ECTION 14.
(1) Notwithstanding s.
(1) This act takes effect on the first day of the 7th month beginning after publication.
227.265, this act takes effect on the first day of the 7th month beginning after publication.
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