CA SB 331
enactedHealth care coverage: hearing aids.
California · 2025-2026 Regular Session · upper
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Quick answers
Did CA SB 331 pass?
Yes. CA SB 331 has been enacted into law. Latest recorded action (2026-09-30): Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 966, Statutes of 2026.
What is CA SB 331 about?
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.
Who sponsors CA SB 331?
Menjivar is the primary sponsor of CA SB 331, joined by 8 cosponsors.
Description
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.
- Introduced
- 2025-02-12
- Latest action
- 2026-09-30 — Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 966, Statutes of 2026.
- Bill type
- bill
- Last updated
- —
Subjects
Sponsors
- Menjivarauthor
- Beckercoauthor
- Dahlecoauthor
- Niellocoauthor
- Bontacoauthor
- Calozacoauthor
- Jeff Gonzalezcoauthor
- Patelcoauthor
- Schiavocoauthor
Committees
Not provided by source.
Action timeline
Newest first
2026-09-30
Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 966, Statutes of 2026.
became-law
2026-09-30
Approved by the Governor.
executive-signature
2026-09-04
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 2 p.m.
executive-receipt
2026-08-28
Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 40. Noes 0.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
2026-08-27
From committee: That the Assembly amendments be concurred in. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.)
2026-08-26
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.
committee-passage,referral-committee
2026-08-26
Re-referred to Com. on RLS. pursuant to Senate Rule 29.10(d).
referral-committee
2026-08-26
From committee: Be re-referred to Com. on HEALTH pursuant to Senate Rule 29.10(d). (Ayes 5. Noes 0. Page 5823.) Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.
committee-passage,referral-committee
2026-08-25
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate.
passage,reading-1,reading-3
2026-08-25
In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
2026-08-25
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 77. Noes 0. Page 6515.) Ordered to the Senate.
passage,reading-1,reading-3
2026-08-19
Ordered to third reading.
reading-1,reading-3
2026-08-19
Read third time and amended.
amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-3
2026-08-06
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
reading-1,reading-2,reading-3
2026-08-05
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (August 5).
committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable
2026-07-01
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (June 30). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable,referral-committee
2026-07-01
Coauthors revised.
2026-06-01
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.
amendment-passage,committee-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee
2025-07-02
July 8 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author.
2025-06-16
Referred to Coms. on HEALTH and JUD.
referral-committee
2025-06-05
In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
reading-1
2025-06-04
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 27. Noes 0. Page 1514.) Ordered to the Assembly.
passage,reading-1,reading-3
2025-05-27
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
reading-1,reading-2,reading-3
2025-05-23
Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-2
2025-05-23
From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 5. Noes 0. Page 1196.) (May 23).
amendment-passage,committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable
2025-05-16
Set for hearing May 23.
2025-05-12
May 12 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
2025-05-06
Set for hearing May 12.
2025-05-01
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee
2025-04-30
From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 10. Noes 0. Page 939.) (April 29).
amendment-passage,committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable,referral-committee
2025-04-10
From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 8. Noes 0. Page 737.) (April 9).
amendment-passage,committee-passage,committee-passage-favorable,referral-committee
2025-04-10
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
amendment-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee
2025-04-09
Set for hearing April 29 in JUD. pending receipt.
2025-04-03
Set for hearing April 9.
2025-04-02
Re-referred to Coms. on HEALTH and JUD.
referral-committee
2025-03-25
Re-referred to Com. on RLS.
referral-committee
2025-03-25
Withdrawn from committee.
withdrawal
2025-03-24
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on E., U & C.
amendment-passage,committee-passage,reading-1,reading-2,referral-committee
2025-02-19
Referred to Coms. on E., U & C. and E.Q.
referral-committee
2025-02-13
From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 15.
2025-02-12
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
introduction,reading-1,referral-committee
Versions
- 02/12/25 - Introduced — 2025-02-12Compare
- 03/24/25 - Amended Senate — 2025-03-24Compare
- 04/10/25 - Amended Senate — 2025-04-10Compare
- 05/01/25 - Amended Senate — 2025-05-01Compare
- 05/23/25 - Amended Senate — 2025-05-23Compare
- 06/01/26 - Amended Assembly — 2026-06-01Compare
- 08/19/26 - Amended Assembly — 2026-08-19Compare
- 08/31/26 - Enrolled — 2026-08-31Compare
- 09/30/26 - Chaptered — 2026-09-30Compare
- SB331Compare
- (document, no version)Compare
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Votes
Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Judiciary]
2025-04-09 · pass · 8-0
Member-level votes (11)
- Menjivar: yes
- Richardson: yes
- Rubio: yes
- Gonzalez: yes
- Limón: yes
- Wiener: yes
- Durazo: yes
- Padilla: yes
- Valladares: other
- Weber Pierson: other
- Grove: other
Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations]
2025-04-29 · pass · 10-0
Member-level votes (13)
- Arreguín: yes
- Allen: yes
- Durazo: yes
- Laird: yes
- Wahab: yes
- Stern: yes
- Caballero: yes
- Ashby: yes
- Umberg: yes
- Wiener: yes
- Valladares: other
- Niello: other
- Weber Pierson: other
Placed on suspense file
2025-05-12 · pass · 7-0
Member-level votes (7)
- Wahab: yes
- Seyarto: yes
- Grayson: yes
- Richardson: yes
- Cabaldon: yes
- Dahle: yes
- Caballero: yes
Do pass as amended
2025-05-23 · pass · 5-0
Member-level votes (7)
- Caballero: yes
- Wahab: yes
- Cabaldon: yes
- Richardson: yes
- Grayson: yes
- Dahle: other
- Seyarto: other
3rd Reading
2025-06-04 · pass · 27-0
Member-level votes (40)
- Durazo: yes
- Menjivar: yes
- Limón: yes
- Rubio: yes
- Pérez: yes
- Padilla: yes
- Richardson: yes
- Smallwood-Cuevas: yes
- Wahab: yes
- Umberg: yes
- Hurtado: yes
- Grove: yes
- Wiener: yes
- Cortese: yes
- Allen: yes
- Cervantes: yes
- McGuire: yes
- Stern: yes
- Arreguín: yes
- Blakespear: yes
- Archuleta: yes
- McNerney: yes
- Gonzalez: yes
- Caballero: yes
- Grayson: yes
- Becker: yes
- Laird: yes
- Reyes: other
- Jones: other
- Weber Pierson: other
- Valladares: other
- Strickland: other
- Seyarto: other
- Alvarado-Gil: other
- Ochoa Bogh: other
- Choi: other
- Ashby: other
- Dahle: other
- Cabaldon: other
- Niello: other
Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]
2026-06-30 · pass · 14-0
Member-level votes (16)
- Schiavo: yes
- Sharp-Collins: yes
- Ahrens: yes
- Stefani: yes
- Mark González: yes
- Addis: yes
- Patterson: yes
- Jeff Gonzalez: yes
- Aguiar-Curry: yes
- Patel: yes
- Sanchez: yes
- Bonta: yes
- Caloza: yes
- Celeste Rodriguez: yes
- Carrillo: other
- Johnson: other
Related bills
No related bills recorded for this bill.
Official source
Attribution
Data from openstates_api_sync, retrieved 2026-10-01T20:25:01.457668Z
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