Wisconsin Senate Bill SB860

Wisconsin 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/23/26
• Refer: 1/23/26
• Report Pass: 2/10/26
• Failed: 3/23/26

Caption

An Act to repeal 459.24 (3) (em), 459.26 (2) (b), 459.26 (2) (c) and 459.26 (3); to renumber and amend 459.20 (2); to amend 15.405 (6m) (a), 15.405 (6m) (e), 459.24 (6) (b) 1. and (c) and 459.28 (1) (b) 1.; to create 459.20 (3o) (a) 2. a., b. and c. and 459.20 (3o) (b) and (c) of the statutes; Relating to: 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. (FE)

Summary

SB860 would substantially revise Wisconsin’s audiology statutes. It expands the statutory definition of the “practice of audiology” to include diagnosis, management, and treatment of auditory and vestibular conditions, and expressly includes work involving prescription and over-the-counter hearing aids, external components for osseo-integrated devices, and cochlear implants. The bill also adds several specific activities to the scope of practice, such as certain health screenings, removal of non-impacted cerumen or foreign bodies from the external auditory canal, ordering selected lab tests and genetic tests, ordering some imaging, and ordering prescription medication for certain external ear conditions. At the same time, the bill narrows or clarifies limits on the profession by excluding surgery and other invasive procedures, osseo-integrated device surgery, cochlear implant surgery, and radiographic imaging interpretation from audiology practice. It removes the current practical examination requirement tied to hearing-aid fitting for audiologist licensure, while leaving other licensure requirements in place. It also repeals a temporary-license rule tied to examination timing and eliminates several outdated examination provisions from the statutes. The bill further repeals an administrative rule related to the practical examination of audiologists. SB860 would also change the composition of the Hearing and Speech Examining Board by reducing the number of licensed hearing instrument specialists from three to two, shrinking the board from 10 members to 9. It updates the public-member requirement so that one public member must be a hearing aid user, an osseo-integrated device user, or a cochlear implant user. The bill takes effect on the first day of the seventh month after publication, with the board membership change applying when the relevant term expires. The overall sentiment in the available record appears supportive or at least bipartisan in sponsorship, since the bill was introduced by senators and cosponsored by a large group of legislators from both parties. However, the bill ultimately failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1, and there are no committee transcripts or recorded votes in the provided materials to show detailed debate or amendments. The absence of recorded discussion makes it difficult to identify any formal opposition, but the most likely areas of contention are the expanded scope of practice for audiologists, the removal of the practical exam requirement, and the reduction in hearing instrument specialist representation on the board.

Impact

The bill would amend Wisconsin’s Chapter 459 governing audiology and related licensure, broadening the statutory scope of practice for audiologists while also setting explicit exclusions for surgery and radiographic interpretation. It would repeal several licensure and examination provisions, eliminate an administrative rule on the practical exam, and revise board membership under s. 15.405. These changes would affect audiologists, hearing instrument specialists, the Hearing and Speech Examining Board, and patients receiving hearing-related services, including users of hearing aids, osseo-integrated devices, and cochlear implants.

Sentiment

The bill’s sponsorship suggests broad interest and likely bipartisan support at introduction, as it was cosponsored by many legislators from both parties. But the bill did not advance to enactment and instead failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1. Because there are no committee transcripts or vote records provided, the public record here does not show detailed floor or committee sentiment beyond the bill’s introduction and ultimate failure.

Contention

The main likely points of contention are professional scope and licensure standards. Expanding audiologists’ authority to diagnose, manage, treat, and order certain tests, imaging, and medications could raise concerns from other health professions about overlap and patient safety. Removing the practical hearing-aid fitting examination may be viewed by some as reducing a competency safeguard, while supporters may see it as an outdated barrier. The reduction in hearing instrument specialist representation on the board and the revised public-member requirement could also draw concern from stakeholders who want stronger representation for hearing-aid professionals.