# Kentucky HB 164: AN ACT relating to coverage for hearing aids and related services. Kentucky HB 164, AN ACT relating to coverage for hearing aids and related services., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Samara Heavrin (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-04-03 (signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 26)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-11-01). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-HB164-2026RS - As of: 2026-11-01 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Kentucky HB 164 - State: Kentucky - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: AN ACT relating to coverage for hearing aids and related services. - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-01-07 - Last action: 2026-04-03, signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 26) - Sponsor: Samara Heavrin (Republican) - Cosponsors: 3 - Subjects: Children And Minors, Effective Dates, Delayed, Health And Medical Services, Health Care Professionals, Insurance, Health, State Employees, State Employee Health Plan Mandate, Actuarial Analysis, Health Benefit Plan Mandate, Local Mandate - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 2 (131 yes, 0 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 3 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - State workers get child hearing aid coverage: benefit, medium. The state employee health plan covers hearing aids for insured individuals under 18. It pays up to $2,500 per hearing‑impaired ear every 36 months, under the same rules as other plans. This lowers out‑of‑pocket costs for state workers’ families. - More hearing aid coverage for kids: mixed, medium. Health plans must cover one hearing aid per hearing‑impaired ear for insured children under 18, up to $2,500, every 36 months. Related services are covered when a licensed audiologist prescribes them and a licensed provider dispenses the device. You may choose a pricier aid and pay only the amount… - Coverage rules start January 1, 2027: mixed, medium. The law takes effect January 1, 2027. Health plans must follow these rules when they are issued or renewed on or after that date. Plans that renew earlier follow old rules until their next renewal. ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Samara Heavrin (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Daniel Grossberg (Democrat), House - Cosponsor: DJ Johnson (Republican), House - Cosponsor: George Brown Jr. (Democrat), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-03-25 | Senate | 3rd reading, passed | pass | 38 | 0 | | | 2026-02-02 | House | 3rd reading, passed | pass | 93 | 0 | | ## Actions (19) - 2026-04-03: signed by Governor (Acts Ch. 26) - 2026-03-26: delivered to Governor - 2026-03-26: enrolled, signed by President of the Senate (House) - 2026-03-26: enrolled, signed by Speaker of the House (House) - 2026-03-26: received in House (House) - 2026-03-25: 3rd reading, passed 38-0 (Senate) - 2026-03-24: posted for passage in the Consent Orders of the Day for Wednesday, March 25 2026 (Senate) - 2026-03-18: 2nd reading, to Rules as a consent bill (Senate) - 2026-03-17: reported favorably, 1st reading, to Consent Calendar (Senate) - 2026-03-13: to Banking & Insurance (S) (Senate) - 2026-02-03: to Committee on Committees (S) (Senate) - 2026-02-03: received in Senate (Senate) - 2026-02-02: 3rd reading, passed 93-0 (House) - 2026-01-30: posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Monday, February 02 2026 (House) - 2026-01-29: 2nd reading, to Rules (House) - 2026-01-28: reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar (House) - 2026-01-12: to Banking & Insurance (H) (House) - 2026-01-07: to Committee on Committees (H) (House) - 2026-01-07: introduced in House (House) ## Bill text - Current, 2026-02-02: [PDF](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/hb164/bill.pdf) - Introduced, 2026-02-02: [PDF](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/hb164/orig_bill.pdf) ## Related bills - SB 197: AN ACT providing funding and establishing conditions for state government agencies and institutions, making an appropriation therefor, and declaring an emergen… (became law) - SB 133: AN ACT relating to the fiscal reporting of local entities. (signed) - HB 869: AN ACT relating to fiscal matters and declaring an emergency. (signed) - SB 324: AN ACT relating to the entertainment industry. (signed) - SB 66: AN ACT relating to the operation of a motor vehicle. (signed) - HB 826: AN ACT relating to education. (signed) ## Sources - [Current (PDF)](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/hb164/bill.pdf) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/hb164/orig_bill.pdf) ## Related - [SB 197: AN ACT providing funding and establishing conditions for state government agenc…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-SB197-2026RS) - [SB 133: AN ACT relating to the fiscal reporting of local entities.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-SB133-2026RS) - [HB 869: AN ACT relating to fiscal matters and declaring an emergency.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-HB869-2026RS) - [SB 324: AN ACT relating to the entertainment industry.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-SB324-2026RS) - [SB 66: AN ACT relating to the operation of a motor vehicle.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-SB66-2026RS) - [HB 826: AN ACT relating to education.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-HB826-2026RS) - [Kentucky bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/kentucky/bills) - [Kentucky state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/kentucky) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/KY-HB164-2026RS (as of 2026-11-01).