Senate Bill 860
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)
Topics: Administrative rules: Revisions, Audiologist, Hearing and Speech Examining Board
Stopped before the full Senate voted
The recommended passing it, but the full Senate never voted on it. The last day for votes this session was Mar 19, 2026. To try again, a lawmaker would have to start a new bill.
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Introduced, passed
Jan 23, 2026
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Committee, passed
Approved
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Senate vote, stopped here
Stopped here. The full Senate never voted on it.
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Assembly vote, not reached
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Governor, not reached
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Law, not reached
Latest entry in the official record, Mar 23, 2026: “Failed to pass pursuant to ”
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The same bill was also filed in the Assembly as AB 820. That version died when the session ended.
Terms on this page
Committee
A small group of lawmakers that looks at a bill first. Most bills never leave committee.
Senate Joint Resolution 1
The session's calendar. Any bill not passed by its last voting day dies.
Official term: Failed to pass pursuant to SJR 1. More in the glossary
Legislative Reference Bureau
The Legislature's nonpartisan office that drafts bills and writes the summary at the top of each one.
Official term: LRB analysis. More in the glossary
Author
A lawmaker who formally puts a bill forward. The text itself is drafted by the Legislative Reference Bureau.
Official term: Author, coauthor. More in the glossary
Signed on in support
Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.
Official term: Cosponsor. More in the glossary
Roll call
A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.
Official term: Roll call vote. More in the glossary
What it would have done
Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.
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.
Read the full summary Show less
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.
Who's behind it
2 senators are its . 1 is a Democrat and 1 is a Republican.
18 more lawmakers .
See all 20 names Hide the names
Authors (2)
- Rachael Cabral-Guevara · Republican, Senate
- Melissa Ratcliff · Democrat, Senate
Signed on in support (18)
- Clint Anderson · Democrat, Assembly
- Jill Billings · Democrat, Assembly
- Ben DeSmidt · Democrat, Assembly
- Barbara Dittrich · Republican, Assembly
- Bob Donovan · Republican, Assembly
- Steve Doyle · Democrat, Assembly
- Cindi Duchow · Republican, Assembly
- Joy Goeben · Republican, Assembly
- Russell Goodwin · Democrat, Assembly
- Jenna Jacobson · Democrat, Assembly
- Karen Kirsch · Democrat, Assembly
- Dan Knodl · Republican, Assembly
- Jerry O'Connor · Republican, Assembly
- Lori Palmeri · Democrat, Assembly
- Christine Sinicki · Democrat, Assembly
- Shelia Stubbs · Democrat, Assembly
- Lisa Subeck · Democrat, Assembly
- Randy Udell · Democrat, Assembly
Versions and amendments
Every text the Legislature printed for this bill, including proposed changes. Each opens on the Legislature's site.
How lawmakers voted
There were 2 votes on this bill.
Senate Committee on Health vote on an amendment
Passed, 3 to 2 · Feb 10, 2026
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Report adoption of Senate Substitute Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Health, Ayes 3, Noes 2”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Senate Committee on Health vote to recommend it
Passed, 3 to 2 · Feb 10, 2026
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Health, Ayes 3, Noes 2”. Official record · This vote on its own page
What happened
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Mar 23, 2026
The session ended, and the bill died with it.
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Mar 19, 2026
1 more representative signed on in support.
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Feb 10, 2026
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 3 to 2.
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Feb 10, 2026
“Report adoption of Senate Substitute Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Health, Ayes 3, Noes 2” (the official wording)
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Jan 29, 2026
The committee held a public hearing.
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Jan 26, 2026
1 more representative signed on in support.
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Jan 23, 2026
Sent to the Senate Committee on Health.
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Jan 23, 2026
Introduced in the Senate.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Jan 23, 2026 · Senate
Introduced by Senators Cabral-Guevara and Ratcliff; cosponsored by Representatives Duchow, Subeck, Billings, DeSmidt, Dittrich, Donovan, Doyle, Goeben, Goodwin, Kirsch, Knodl, O'Connor, Palmeri, Sinicki, Stubbs and Udell
- Jan 23, 2026 · Senate
Read first time and referred to Committee on Health
- Jan 26, 2026 · Senate
Representative Anderson added as a cosponsor
- Jan 29, 2026 · Senate
Public hearing held
- Jan 29, 2026 · Senate
Senate Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Senator Cabral-Guevara
- Feb 10, 2026 · Senate
Executive action taken
- Feb 10, 2026 · Senate
Report adoption of Senate Substitute Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Health, Ayes 3, Noes 2
- Feb 10, 2026 · Senate
Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Health, Ayes 3, Noes 2
- Feb 10, 2026 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Mar 19, 2026 · Senate
Representative J. Jacobson added as a cosponsor
- Mar 23, 2026 · Senate
Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1
Terms on this page
Committee
A small group of lawmakers that looks at a bill first. Most bills never leave committee.
Senate Joint Resolution 1
The session's calendar. Any bill not passed by its last voting day dies.
Official term: Failed to pass pursuant to SJR 1. More in the glossary
Legislative Reference Bureau
The Legislature's nonpartisan office that drafts bills and writes the summary at the top of each one.
Official term: LRB analysis. More in the glossary
Author
A lawmaker who formally puts a bill forward. The text itself is drafted by the Legislative Reference Bureau.
Official term: Author, coauthor. More in the glossary
Signed on in support
Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.
Official term: Cosponsor. More in the glossary
Roll call
A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.
Official term: Roll call vote. More in the glossary
From the Wisconsin Legislature's official record, checked Sep 15, 2026. See the source
Committee
A small group of lawmakers that looks at a bill first. Most bills never leave committee.
Senate Joint Resolution 1
The session's calendar. Any bill not passed by its last voting day dies.
Official term: Failed to pass pursuant to SJR 1
Legislative Reference Bureau
The Legislature's nonpartisan office that drafts bills and writes the summary at the top of each one.
Official term: LRB analysis
Signed on in support
Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.
Official term: Cosponsor
Roll call
A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.
Official term: Roll call vote