Staying Informed

There are legislative issues that potentially affect our children and families on a regular basis. Please take time to investigate each on your own and contact your Senators and Representatives to let them know which you support or oppose!

Previous LEGISLATION Of Interest

* Inclusion or omission of a bill, act or movement below does not indicate TXHV support or opposition. We have shared some links that explain each of the bills/movements, but PLEASE RESEARCH on your own and make an informed decision before contacting your legislators!  

State legislature is NOT IN SESSION - The Texas Legislature meets in Regular Session for about five months every other year. Regular Sessions begin at noon on the second Tuesday in January of odd numbered years and can last no more than 140 days, ending during the last week of May or the first week of June. Special Sessions may be called by the Governor and can last up to 30 days.

TX – 86th Legislature (2019)- completed

HB 548 Bill Text - signed on 6/14/2019 Effective on 9/1/19. This bill creates mechanisms to generate and monitor data on the language acquisition of children eight years of age or younger who are deaf or hard of hearing.

HB 2255 Bill Text - signed on 05/21/2019 Effective on 9/1/19. This bill allows newborn hearing screening information to be shared with the Statewide Outreach Center.

TX – 85th Legislature (2017) – completed

HB490 Bill Text - signed on 6/15/2017 and effective on 9/1/17.

FAQ for HB 490 requiring health benefit plans to provide coverage for the cost of medically necessary hearing aids or cochlear implants and related services and supplies for a covered individual who is 18 years of age or younger.  Coverage is limited to one hearing aid in each ear every three years and one cochlear implant in each ear with internal replacement as medically or audiologically necessary.

us - 116th congress (2019-20)

HR 4822, S 2681Bill Text - Alice Cogswell and Anne Sullivan Macy Act. To promote and ensure delivery of high-quality special education and related services to students with visual disabilities or who are deaf or hard of hearing or deaf-blind through instructional methodologies meeting their unique learning needs, to enhance accountability for the provision of such services, and for other purposes.

US – 115th Congress (2017-18)

HR 2430 Bill Text -  A portion of this bill allows for the regulation of over-the-counter hearing aids. 08/18/2017 Became Public Law

S 652 Bill Text - The Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Act of 2017  was signed into law on October 18, 2017, ensuring the continuation of an invaluable program for children's hearing health. This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to revise programs for deaf and hard-of-hearing newborns and infants, including to expand the programs to include young children. The programs are reauthorized through FY2022. Health Resources and Services Administration support for the education and training of personnel and health care providers for such programs is expanded to include education and training of family members. 

NCHAM has some talking points and sample letters for you to consider when communicating with your legislators. Some of this refers only to hearing aid legislation, some is more general.