All Roll Calls
Yes: 206 • No: 1
UtahH.B. 3742026 General SessionHouseWALLET
Speech, Language, and Hearing Occupations Licensing Amendments
Sponsored By: Melissa G. Ballard (Republican)
Signed by Governor
BusinessEducationK-12 EducationHealth and Human ServicesLabor and EmploymentHealth Care ProfessionalsSchool PersonnelHearing Instrument SpecialistsSpecial EducationSpeech-Language Pathologists and AudiologistsOccupational and Professional Licensing
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
17 provisions identified: 8 benefits, 2 costs, 7 mixed.
School clinicians qualify for salary boosts
Beginning May 6, 2026, division-licensed school audiologists and speech-language pathologists qualify for educator salary adjustments through school or regional education agencies. The 2026 full-time amount is $10,350 when Utah Fits All scholarships are funded and in effect; otherwise, it is $5,175. Part-time amounts are prorated, and employees rated unsatisfactory on their three latest evaluations are excluded. Future adjustments increase with the prior year's percentage increase in Weighted Pupil Unit funding. Annual appropriations must sustain earlier adjustments, cover new employees, and continue employer-paid benefits.
Hearing aid buyers gain stronger safeguards
Beginning May 6, 2026, covered providers must disclose charges, obtain informed consent, make appropriate referrals, and provide adequate follow-up. Conduct rules also address misleading claims, referral payments, supervision, records, advertising, FDA compliance, equipment maintenance, and practice within training. Refunds are required when the division determines buyers did not receive hearing recovery represented in writing before sale. Sellers must explain options compatible with ADA-compliant listening systems; that disclosure rule sunsets July 1, 2029. Hearing-instrument rules cover wearable hearing-loss devices, including FDA-regulated hearing aids, but exclude implanted devices; that definition sunsets July 1, 2033.
Extra pay for school speech pathologists
Beginning May 6, 2026, qualifying school speech-language pathologists can earn $200 per extra workday, up to $2,000 annually. They must work for a district, charter school, or the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind. A qualifying licensing-division or State Board of Education credential is required. Employees choose 1–10 days beyond their contracts, before or after the school year, for Individualized Education Program duties. Part-time stipends are prorated, and funding also covers employer-paid benefits.
Hearing aid refunds carry fee limits
Beginning May 6, 2026, cancellation periods run 30 days from the latest original delivery, receipt date, or contract delivery. The clock pauses while the dealer or specialist controls the instrument; returns must preserve its condition except normal wear. One provision allows cancellation with fees limited to actual manufacturer-return costs, disclosed exactly in writing; it sunsets July 1, 2029. Separate specialist provisions require refunds when instruments work inadequately and permit cancellation fees up to 15% of all fees charged. Those provisions require the exact fee in writing and cancellation notice in at least 12-point font; they sunset July 1, 2033.
Children gain hearing tests with limits
Beginning May 6, 2026, hearing instrument specialists can test children ages 6–17 to assess whether hearing aids sufficiently help them. Specialists cannot fit or test hearing aids, or test hearing, for children under six. For ages 6–17, specialists need written confirmation of an authorized medical professional's or audiologist's evaluation and possible hearing-aid candidacy. One provision requires the evaluation within six months and sunsets July 1, 2029. Related rules remove the prior blanket referral and prescription requirements and sunset July 1, 2033.
Hearing specialists get revised licensing requirements
Beginning May 6, 2026, hearing instrument specialist applicants no longer need board certification. They must pass an approved entry exam and Utah's law-and-rule exam, plus complete at least six months of supervised training. Renewal and reinstatement require an attestation of competence and safe practice, with proof when the division requests it. Prior renewal evidence requirements for certification, equipment calibration, and continuing education are removed. The division can shift renewal periods by up to one year; these provisions sunset July 1, 2033.
New licensing paths for hearing professionals
Beginning May 6, 2026, Utah requires audiology and speech-language pathology licenses unless an exemption applies; applicants submit forms and fees. Applicants qualify through current, unrestricted professional certification: ASHA for either profession, ABA for audiology, or an approved equivalent. Alternatively, they need an audiology clinical doctorate or qualifying speech-language master's degree, ethics compliance, and an approved exam. That route also requires at least one academic year of supervised clinical experience at 30 hours weekly. Dual-qualified applicants receive one combined license with only one license fee; these rules and updated practice definitions sunset July 1, 2029.
Speech and hearing patients gain safeguards
Beginning May 6, 2026, hearing and speech professionals are covered by Utah's general unprofessional-conduct standards. The licensing division can further define those standards by rule. Speech-language pathologists performing invasive procedures must follow standards set by the division. Both provisions sunset July 1, 2029.
Existing hearing professionals keep license recognition
Beginning May 6, 2026, previously licensed Utah audiologists retain current license status and remain subject to the chapter's requirements. That audiologist provision sunsets July 1, 2029. A separate rule recognizes pre-May 6, 2026 licenses that have not expired, been suspended, or been revoked. It covers credentialing, provider panels, insurance, reimbursement, portability, and compacts, and sunsets July 1, 2033.
School clinicians gain educator legal protections
Beginning May 6, 2026, qualifying school-employed audiologists and speech-language pathologists count as educators under licensing and employment rules. They need a qualifying licensing-division license or State Board of Education credential. Educator employment and dismissal rules apply, including evaluation and due-process procedures. They can recover reasonable legal fees and costs when a job-related action is dismissed or ends favorably. Actions brought by their employer or licensing entity are excluded; recovery also covers allowed fees incurred seeking reimbursement.
School clinicians gain principal-training grant access
Beginning May 6, 2026, qualifying school audiologists and speech-language pathologists meet the educator requirement for aspiring-principal grants. They need a qualifying state credential and must pursue school leadership credentials through a State Board-approved program. Subject to funding, grants last up to five years and support mentoring, internships, residencies, coaching, and leadership training. Awards are not guaranteed, and recipients report performance measures. The State Board must report grant results to the Education Interim Committee by November 2026.
Stronger crime protections for school clinicians
Beginning May 6, 2026, enhanced criminal penalties protect qualifying school-employed audiologists and speech-language pathologists while working. The employee must hold the required Division of Professional Licensing credential. The enhancement covers specified offenses against people and robbery committed during the employee's work.
Hearing and speech assistants need supervision
Beginning May 6, 2026, Utah's licensing division sets minimum qualifications for audiology and speech-language pathology assistants. Assistants cannot work independently and need personal direction and direct supervision from a licensed professional in their field. Audiology assistants must follow division-set work limits, with substantial qualifications below those required for audiologist licensure. Their supervising audiologist accepts responsibility for their acts and performance. These provisions sunset July 1, 2029.
School clinicians must shift licensing systems
Beginning May 6, 2026, practitioners using education-board credentials issued July 1, 2020–May 5, 2026 must apply for occupational licenses. This applies to speech-language pathology and audiology work, with renewal under the licensing chapter. The State Board cannot issue new credentials for that work starting May 6, 2026; the transition rule sunsets July 1, 2029. On July 1, 2031, listed education-credential references and provisions concerning school speech-pathologist and audiologist positions are repealed. The supplied text does not establish how those later repeals change jobs, funding, or eligibility.
Clinical trainees gain limited practice options
Beginning May 6, 2026, qualifying clinical fellows can receive temporary licenses lasting up to 12 months from the day after issuance. Audiology fellows need division approval; speech-language fellows must meet other requirements except the specified master's-degree verification. People gaining required professional experience can practice without a license while meeting training requirements; that exemption drops its express supervisor requirement. Nonresidents using the short-term exemption must meet license qualifications and examination standards and work with a licensed practitioner. Their practice is limited to one month per calendar year; these provisions sunset July 1, 2029.
Hearing interns gain supervisors with safeguards
Beginning May 6, 2026, hearing instrument interns can train under an approved hearing specialist or audiologist. Supervisors need a license in good standing, two years of full-time practice, and division approval after submitting its form. Interns generally need direct supervision. Indirect supervision requires a hearing specialist supervisor, a passed practical hearing-testing exam, and an approved education-and-exam program or college equivalent. Audiologist supervision failures and interns' practice outside supervision rules are unprofessional conduct; these provisions sunset July 1, 2033.
Hearing professionals face renewal and reapplication rules
Beginning May 6, 2026, audiologists and speech-language pathologists must show 20 approved education hours per two-year renewal cycle. An active professional certification in good standing also qualifies when it requires at least equivalent continuing education. A person with a revoked license can reapply after one year, counted from the day after revocation. Reapplication does not guarantee approval. These provisions sunset July 1, 2029.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Melissa G. Ballard
Republican • House
Cosponsors
Evan J. Vickers
Republican • Senate
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 3/3/2026
House/ circled
Yes: 0 • No: 0
House vote • 3/3/2026
House/ concurs with Senate amendment
Yes: 69 • No: 1
House vote • 3/3/2026
House/ uncircled
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/27/2026
Senate/ passed 3rd reading
Yes: 23 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/26/2026
Senate/ substituted
Yes: 0 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/26/2026
Senate/ passed 2nd reading
Yes: 27 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/24/2026
Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
Yes: 7 • No: 0
House vote • 2/18/2026
House/ passed 3rd reading
Yes: 69 • No: 0
House vote • 2/9/2026
House Comm - Favorable Recommendation
Yes: 11 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Governor Signed
3/18/2026House/ to Governor
3/12/2026HouseHouse/ received enrolled bill from Printing
3/12/2026HouseHouse/ enrolled bill to Printing
3/6/2026HouseEnrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
3/6/2026Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
3/5/2026Bill Received from House for Enrolling
3/5/2026House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling
3/4/2026HouseHouse/ received from Senate
3/4/2026HouseSenate/ to House
3/3/2026SenateSenate/ signed by President/ returned to House
3/3/2026SenateSenate/ received from House
3/3/2026SenateHouse/ to Senate
3/3/2026HouseHouse/ concurs with Senate amendment
3/3/2026HouseHouse/ uncircled
3/3/2026HouseHouse/ circled
3/3/2026HouseHouse/ placed on Concurrence Calendar
3/2/2026HouseHouse/ received from Senate
3/2/2026HouseSenate/ to House with amendments
2/27/2026SenateSenate/ passed 3rd reading
2/27/2026SenateSenate/ placed on 3rd Reading Calendar table
2/26/2026SenateSenate/ 3rd reading
2/26/2026SenateSenate/ passed 2nd reading
2/26/2026SenateSenate/ substituted
2/26/2026SenateSenate/ 2nd reading
2/26/2026Senate
Bill Text
Enrolled
3/6/2026
Substitute #2
2/26/2026
Substitute #1
1/30/2026
Introduced
1/26/2026