AB820: Bill Text

2025 - 2026 LEGISLATURE

LRB-5698/1

JPC&MED:cdc&skw

2025 ASSEMBLY BILL 820

January 6, 2026 - Introduced by Representatives Duchow, Subeck, Billings, DeSmidt, Dittrich, Donovan, Doyle, Goeben, Goodwin, Kirsch, Knodl, O'Connor, Palmeri, Sinicki, Stubbs and Udell, cosponsored by Senators Cabral-Guevara and Ratcliff. Referred to Committee on Regulatory Licensing Reform.

AB820,1,7 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.

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. “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. “Audiology” also includes engaging in the practice of ordering, fitting, and dealing in hearing aids.

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. Currently, the board consists of 10 members appointed for four-year terms: 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.

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. 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. 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. 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.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB820,1 Section 1. 15.405 (6m) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB820,3,2 15.405 (6m) (a) Three Two hearing instrument specialists licensed under subch. I of ch. 459.

AB820,2 Section 2. 15.405 (6m) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB820,3,5 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.

AB820,3 Section 3. 459.20 (2) of the statutes is renumbered 459.20 (3o) (a) and amended to read:

AB820,3,8 459.20 (3o) (a) “Audiology” “Practice of audiology” means all of the following:

AB820,3,14 1. Applying principles, methods, or procedures of prevention, identification, evaluation, diagnosis, management, and treatment of auditory or vestibular conditions, including 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 of the human auditory system.

AB820,3,16 2. Engaging in the practice of prescribing, ordering, selling, dispensing, or externally fitting, and dealing in hearing aids. any of the following:

AB820,4 Section 4. 459.20 (3o) (a) 2. a., b. and c. of the statutes are created to read:

AB820,3,19 459.20 (3o) (a) 2. a. Prescription hearing aids or over-the-counter hearing aids.

AB820,3,21 b. Nonsurgical external units that attach to osseo-integrated devices for the correction or relief of a condition for which osseo-integrated devices are worn.

AB820,3,23 c. Cochlear implants for the correction or relief of a condition for which cochlear implants are worn.

AB820,5 Section 5. 459.20 (3o) (b) and (c) of the statutes are created to read:

AB820,4,1 459.20 (3o) (b) “Practice of audiology” includes all of the following:

AB820,4,2 1. Conducting health screenings.

AB820,4,4 2. Removal of cerumen from the external auditory canal that is not impacted to the point that removal requires anesthesia.

AB820,4,6 3. Removal of a foreign body from the external auditory canal that is not impacted to the point that removal requires anesthesia.

AB820,4,8 4. Ordering of cultures and blood work testing as it relates to the auditory or vestibular conditions in the human ear.

AB820,4,11 5. 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.

AB820,4,12 6. Ordering of genetic testing for auditory or vestibular conditions.

AB820,4,14 7. Ordering of prescription medication for the treatment of conditions of the external ear or the external auditory canal.

AB820,4,15 (c) “Practice of audiology” does not include any of the following:

AB820,4,19 1. 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.

AB820,4,20 2. Osseo-integrated device surgery.

AB820,4,21 3. Cochlear implant surgery.

AB820,4,23 4. Preparation, operation, performance, or interpretation of radiographic imaging.

AB820,6 Section 6. 459.24 (3) (em) of the statutes is repealed.

AB820,7 Section 7. 459.24 (6) (b) 1. and (c) of the statutes are amended to read:

AB820,5,8 459.24 (6) (b) 1. Upon application, the examining board may grant a temporary license to practice audiology during the completion of the postgraduate fellowship required under sub. (3) (f) if the applicant practices under the supervision of an audiologist licensed under sub. (3), and satisfies the requirements under sub. (3) (a) to (d), and has submitted an application to take the next available examinations for licensure as an audiologist under s. 459.26 (2) (b). No license may be issued under this paragraph after December 31, 2009.

AB820,5,19 (c) A temporary license granted under this subsection is valid for a period designated in rules promulgated by the examining board. The rules may designate a period that terminates if an applicant fails to take the next available examination under s. 459.26 (2) (a) or (b) for reasons other than inaction by the examining board or hardship. A temporary license granted under par. (a) may be renewed once by the examining board. A temporary license granted under par. (b) may be renewed once by the examining board if the applicant fails an examination for audiologist licensure under s. 459.26 (2) (b) and applies to take the next available examination or if the applicant shows, to the satisfaction of the examining board, sufficient cause for the renewal. An applicant for a temporary license shall pay the fee specified in s. 440.05 (6).

AB820,8 Section 8. 459.26 (2) (b) of the statutes is repealed.

AB820,9 Section 9. 459.26 (2) (c) of the statutes is repealed.

AB820,10 Section 10. 459.26 (3) of the statutes is repealed.

AB820,11 Section 11. 459.28 (1) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB820,6,2 459.28 (1) (b) 1. The requirements for licensure in the other state or territory are substantially equivalent to the requirements under s. 459.24 (3) (c), and (e), and (em).

AB820,12 Section 12. HAS 6.04 (8) of the administrative code is repealed.

AB820,13 Section 13. Initial applicability.

AB820,6,7 (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.

AB820,14 Section 14. Effective date.

AB820,6,10 (1) This act takes effect on the first day of the 7th month beginning after publication.

AB820,6,11 (end)