California bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session
California SB 331
Health care coverage: hearing aids.
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became law
Sponsors
- Menjivar (Democratic)
Cosponsors (8)
- Becker (Democratic)
- Dahle (Republican)
- Niello (Republican)
- Bonta (Democratic)
- Caloza (Democratic)
- Jeff Gonzalez (Republican)
- Patel (Democratic)
- Schiavo (Democratic)
Summary
Official abstract published by the California legislature· 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.
Text versions
- 09/30/26 - Chaptered· Sep 30, 2026
- 08/31/26 - Enrolled· Aug 31, 2026
- 08/19/26 - Amended Assembly· Aug 19, 2026
- 06/01/26 - Amended Assembly· Jun 1, 2026
- 05/23/25 - Amended Senate· May 23, 2025
- 05/01/25 - Amended Senate· May 1, 2025
- 04/10/25 - Amended Senate· Apr 10, 2025
- 03/24/25 - Amended Senate· Mar 24, 2025
- 02/12/25 - Introduced· Feb 12, 2025
- SB331
Roll-call votes
State vote data last updated Oct 14, 2026, 12:15 PM.
| Date | Vote | Result | Your legislators |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 28, 2026 Senate | Unfinished Business SB331 Menjivar et al. Concurrence | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Aug 27, 2026 Senate | That the Assembly amendments be concurred in | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Aug 25, 2026 House | SB 331 Menjivar Senate Third Reading By Bonta | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Aug 5, 2026 House | Do pass. | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Jun 30, 2026 House | Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Jun 4, 2025 Senate | 3rd Reading | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| May 23, 2025 Senate | Do pass as amended | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| May 12, 2025 Senate | Placed on suspense file | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Apr 29, 2025 Senate | Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations] | pass | Set your home in California to see |
| Apr 9, 2025 Senate | Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Judiciary] | pass | Set your home in California to see |
Actions
- Sep 30, 2026 · Legislature
Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 966, Statutes of 2026. - Sep 30, 2026 · Legislature
Approved by the Governor. - Sep 4, 2026 · Legislature
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m. - Aug 28, 2026 · Senate
Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 40. Noes 0.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling. - Aug 27, 2026 · Senate
From committee: That the Assembly amendments be concurred in. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) - Aug 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. - Aug 26, 2026 · Senate
Re-referred to Com. on RLS. pursuant to Senate Rule 29.10(d). - Aug 25, 2026 · Senate
In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending. - Aug 25, 2026 · House
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 77. Noes 0. Page 6515.) Ordered to the Senate. - Aug 19, 2026 · House
Ordered to third reading. - Aug 19, 2026 · House
Read third time and amended. - Aug 6, 2026 · House
Read second time. Ordered to third reading. - Aug 5, 2026 · House
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (August 5). - Jul 1, 2026 · House
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (June 30). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. - Jul 1, 2026 · House
Coauthors revised. - Jun 1, 2026 · House
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH. - Jul 2, 2025 · House
July 8 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author. - Jun 16, 2025 · House
Referred to Coms. on HEALTH and JUD. - Jun 5, 2025 · House
In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk. - Jun 4, 2025 · Senate
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 27. Noes 0. Page 1514.) Ordered to the Assembly. - May 27, 2025 · Senate
Read second time. Ordered to third reading. - May 23, 2025 · Senate
Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading. - May 23, 2025 · Senate
From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 5. Noes 0. Page 1196.) (May 23). - May 16, 2025 · Senate
Set for hearing May 23. - May 12, 2025 · Senate
May 12 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file. - May 6, 2025 · Senate
Set for hearing May 12. - May 1, 2025 · Senate
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR. - Apr 30, 2025 · Senate
From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 10. Noes 0. Page 939.) (April 29). - Apr 10, 2025 · Senate
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on JUD. - Apr 10, 2025 · Senate
From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 8. Noes 0. Page 737.) (April 9). - Apr 9, 2025 · Senate
Set for hearing April 29 in JUD. pending receipt. - Apr 3, 2025 · Senate
Set for hearing April 9. - Apr 2, 2025 · Senate
Re-referred to Coms. on HEALTH and JUD. - Mar 25, 2025 · Senate
Re-referred to Com. on RLS. - Mar 25, 2025 · Senate
Withdrawn from committee. - Mar 24, 2025 · Senate
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on E., U & C. - Feb 19, 2025 · Senate
Referred to Coms. on E., U & C. and E.Q. - Feb 13, 2025 · Senate
From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 15. - Feb 12, 2025 · Senate
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.