Read the full stored bill text
EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*sb0917*
SENATE BILL 917
J2 6lr2665
By: Senator Mautz
Introduced and read first time: February 6, 2026
Assigned to: Finance
Committee Report: Favorable
Senate action: Adopted
Read second time: February 26, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Health Occupations – Practice of Audiology – Definition 2
FOR the purpose of altering the definition of “practice audiology”, including by clarifying 3
that the ordering and performing of certain scanning and imaging are included as 4
these procedures relate to auditory or vestibular conditions in the human ear; and 5
generally relating to the practice of audiology. 6
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 7
Article – Health Occupations 8
Section 2–101(a) and (b) 9
Annotated Code of Maryland 10
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 11
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 12
Article – Health Occupations 13
Section 2–101(q) 14
Annotated Code of Maryland 15
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 16
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 17
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 18
Article – Health Occupations 19
2–101. 20
2 SENATE BILL 917
(a) In this title the following words have the meanings indicated. 1
(b) “Audiologist” means an individual who practices audiology. 2
(q) (1) “Practice audiology” means to: 3
(i) Evaluate, diagnose, manage, and treat auditory or vestibular 4
conditions in the human ear; 5
(ii) Prescribe, order, sell, dispense , or fit hearing aids to an 6
individual for the correction or relief of a condition for which hearing aids are worn; 7
(iii) Prescribe, order, sell, dispense, or externally fit a sound 8
processor to an osseo–integrated device for the correction or relief o f a condition for which 9
osseo–integrated devices are worn; and 10
(iv) Prescribe, order, sell, dispense, or externally fit a sound 11
processor to a cochlear implant for the correction or relief of a condition for which cochlear 12
implants are worn. 13
(2) “Practice audiology” includes: 14
(i) The conducting of health screenings RELATED TO AUDITORY 15
OR VESTIBULAR CONDITIONS IN THE HUMAN EAR; 16
(ii) The removal of a foreign body from the external auditory canal 17
that is not impacted to the point it requires anesthesia; 18
(iii) The removal of cerumen from the external auditory canal that is 19
not impacted to the point it requires anesthesia; 20
(iv) The ordering of cultures and bloodwork testing as it relates to 21
the auditory or vestibular conditions in the human ear; 22
(v) The ordering and performing of in –office, nonradiographic 23
scanning or imaging of the external auditory canal AS IT RELATES TO THE AUDITORY OR 24
VESTIBULAR CONDITIONS IN THE HUMAN EAR; and 25
(vi) The ordering of radiographic imaging as it relates to the auditory 26
or vestibular conditions in the human ear. 27
(3) “Practice audiology” does not include: 28
(i) Surgery using an instrument, including a laser, a scalpel, a 29
needle, cautery, a cryoprobe, or a suture, in which human tissue is cut, burned, vaporized, 30
SENATE BILL 917 3
removed, or otherwise permanently altered by mechanical means, laser, ionizing radiation, 1
ultrasound, or other means; 2
(ii) Osseo–integrated device surgery; 3
(iii) Cochlear implant surgery; or 4
(iv) The preparation, operation, or performance of radiographic 5
imaging. 6
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 7
October 1, 2026. 8
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.