Health care coverage: hearing aids.

Legislative status

1. Introduced
2. In Committee
3. Reported by Committee
4. Floor Vote Scheduled
5. Passed One Chamber
6. Passed Both Chambers
7. Sent to Executive
8. Enacted

Summary

SB 331 adds mandatory hearing‑aid benefits to individual and small‑group health plans starting Jan. 1, 2027, while also updating definitions and court processes for the state’s CARE behavioral‑health program. The law applies to most private health‑care service plans and insurance policies, but excludes Medicare supplement policies and certain Medi‑Cal managed‑care contracts. It also amends several Welfare and Institutions Code sections to clarify petition handling, case‑management timelines, and status‑review hearings for adults with severe mental illness.

AI-generated summary — may be incomplete or inaccurate. Verify against the official bill text.

Vote

Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 77. Noes 0. Page 6515.) Ordered to the Senate. · Aug 25, 2026

Hearings

• Appropriations Committee Hearing
  Appropriations · Aug 5, 2026
• Health Committee Hearing
  Health · Jun 30, 2026
• Appropriations Committee Hearing
  Appropriations · May 23, 2025
• Appropriations Committee Hearing
  Appropriations · May 12, 2025
• Judiciary Committee Hearing
  Judiciary · Apr 29, 2025

History

1. Jun 1, 2026From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.
2. Jul 2, 2025July 8 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author.
3. Jun 16, 2025Referred to Coms. on HEALTH and JUD.
4. Jun 5, 2025In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
5. Jun 4, 2025Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 27. Noes 0. Page 1514.) Ordered to the Assembly.
6. May 27, 2025Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
7. May 23, 2025Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
8. May 23, 2025From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 5. Noes 0. Page 1196.) (May 23).
9. May 16, 2025Set for hearing May 23.
10. May 12, 2025May 12 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
11. May 6, 2025Set for hearing May 12.
12. May 1, 2025Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

The 12 most recent of 24 recorded actions.

Sponsors

• Caroline Menjivar (D) · sponsor
• Menjivar

Bill text

Opens the legislature’s own copy.

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