California Senate Bill 331
Session 20252026
Health care coverage: hearing aids.
Became Law
Became Law on Sep 30, 2026
Origin Chamber
Senate
Type
Bill
Bill Number
331
State
California
Session
20252026
Motion Text
Unfinished Business SB331 Menjivar et al. Concurrence
Senate Roll Call Votes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Summary
Existing law, the Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975, provides for the licensure and regulation of health care service plans by the Department of Managed Health Care and makes a willful violation of the act a crime. Existing law also provides for the regulation of health insurers by the Department of Insurance. Existing law requires an individual or small group health care service plan contract or health insurance policy to include, at a minimum, coverage for essential health benefits, as specified. Commencing January 1, 2027, if the United States Department of Health and Human Services approves a new essential health benefits benchmark plan for the state, existing law requires essential health benefits to include an annual hearing exam and one hearing aid per ear every three years.
This bill, the Let California Kids Hear Act, would require a large group health care service plan contract or health insurance policy issued, amended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2028, to include coverage for hearing aids, as defined, and related services for enrollees and insureds under 21 years of age, if medically necessary. The bill would authorize a large group health care service plan contract or health insurance policy to limit the dollar coverage for each individual hearing aid device to $3,000, as specified. Because a willful violation of these requirements by a health care service plan would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
02/12/25 - Introduced
February 12, 2025
03/24/25 - Amended Senate
March 24, 2025
04/10/25 - Amended Senate
April 10, 2025
05/01/25 - Amended Senate
May 1, 2025
05/23/25 - Amended Senate
May 23, 2025
06/01/26 - Amended Assembly
June 1, 2026
08/19/26 - Amended Assembly
August 19, 2026
08/31/26 - Enrolled
August 31, 2026
09/30/26 - Chaptered
September 30, 2026
04/07/25- Senate Health
April 7, 2025
04/25/25- Senate Judiciary
April 25, 2025
05/09/25- Senate Appropriations
May 9, 2025
05/23/25- Senate Appropriations
May 23, 2025
06/03/25- Sen. Floor Analyses
June 3, 2025
06/26/26- Assembly Health
June 26, 2026
08/03/26- Assembly Appropriations
August 3, 2026
08/07/26- ASSEMBLY FLOOR ANALYSIS
August 7, 2026
08/21/26- ASSEMBLY FLOOR ANALYSIS
August 21, 2026
08/26/26- Senate Health
August 26, 2026
08/27/26- Sen. Floor Analyses
August 27, 2026
Sort by most recent
09/30/2026
California State Legislature
Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 966, Statutes of 2026.
09/30/2026
California State Legislature
Approved by the Governor.
09/04/2026
California State Legislature
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m.
08/28/2026
Senate
Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 40. Noes 0.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
08/27/2026
Senate
From committee: That the Assembly amendments be concurred in. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.)
08/26/2026
Senate
From committee: Be re-referred to Com. on HEALTH pursuant to Senate Rule 29.10(d). (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.
08/26/2026
Senate
Re-referred to Com. on RLS. pursuant to Senate Rule 29.10(d).
08/25/2026
Senate
In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
08/25/2026
Assembly
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 77. Noes 0. Page 6515.) Ordered to the Senate.
08/19/2026
Assembly
Ordered to third reading.
08/19/2026
Assembly
Read third time and amended.
08/06/2026
Assembly
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
08/05/2026
Assembly
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (August 5).
07/01/2026
Assembly
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (June 30). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
07/01/2026
Assembly
Coauthors revised.
06/01/2026
Assembly
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.
07/02/2025
Assembly
July 8 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author.
06/16/2025
Assembly
Referred to Coms. on HEALTH and JUD.
06/05/2025
Assembly
In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
06/04/2025
Senate
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 27. Noes 0. Page 1514.) Ordered to the Assembly.
05/27/2025
Senate
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
05/23/2025
Senate
Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
05/23/2025
Senate
From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 5. Noes 0. Page 1196.) (May 23).
05/16/2025
Senate
Set for hearing May 23.
05/12/2025
Senate
May 12 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
05/06/2025
Senate
Set for hearing May 12.
05/01/2025
Senate
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
04/30/2025
Senate
From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 10. Noes 0. Page 939.) (April 29).
04/10/2025
Senate
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
04/10/2025
Senate
From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 8. Noes 0. Page 737.) (April 9).
04/09/2025
Senate
Set for hearing April 29 in JUD. pending receipt.
04/03/2025
Senate
Set for hearing April 9.
04/02/2025
Senate
Re-referred to Coms. on HEALTH and JUD.
03/25/2025
Senate
Re-referred to Com. on RLS.
03/25/2025
Senate
Withdrawn from committee.
03/24/2025
Senate
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on E., U & C.
02/19/2025
Senate
Referred to Coms. on E., U & C. and E.Q.
02/13/2025
Senate
From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 15.
02/12/2025
Senate
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
Sources
Record Created
Feb 13, 2025 5:56:58 AM
Record Updated
Oct 2, 2026 9:21:33 AM