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A 4091

Establishes an educational program related to the prevention of anti-Semitism, Islamophobia bias and discrimination based on religion, race, sexual orientation or gender identity or expression

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Harvey Epstein and 1 co-sponsor

The bill allows licensed audiologists and hearing aid dispensers to select, prescribe, and order prescription hearing aids after approved training, expanding access.

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Bill Summary · A 4091

Assembly Bill A-4091 — Summary

Note on document title: Although an initial header supplied with this request referenced an education program addressing anti‑Semitism and related bias, the text and statutory changes in A-4091 concern audiologists and hearing aid dispensers. This summary describes the enacted audiology/hearing‑aid provisions.

Overview / Purpose

A-4091 expands the scope of practice for licensed audiologists and amends the definition of services for hearing aid dispensers to expressly include prescribing and ordering hearing aids. The change aligns New Jersey law with recent U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rulemaking that establishes a separate class of prescription hearing aids (distinct from over‑the‑counter devices).

Key provisions

  • Amends definitions in:
    • N.J.S.A. 45:3B-2 (audiology licensing statute) — expands the meaning of “dispensing and fitting hearing aids” to explicitly include selection, prescribing, and ordering of hearing aids.
    • N.J.S.A. 45:9A-2 (hearing aid dispensers statute) — adds prescribing and ordering hearing aids to the defined “practice of dispensing and fitting hearing aids.”
  • Allows a licensed audiologist to “select, prescribe, order, dispense and fit” hearing aids only if the audiologist has successfully completed a program of coursework and clinical training in those activities that:
    • Meets requirements established by the Audiology and Speech‑Language Pathology Advisory Committee; and
    • Is from an institution accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech‑Language Pathology (CAA of ASHA), or another body approved by the committee.
  • Hearing aid dispensers’ scope of practice is broadened similarly (committee amendment added prescribing/ordering to their permitted services).
  • Implementation: the act takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Who is affected

  • Licensed audiologists seeking to prescribe/order prescription hearing aids (must meet additional accredited training requirements).
  • Hearing aid dispensers (their statutory definition of practice now includes prescribing and ordering).
  • Patients/consumers — may gain improved access to prescription hearing aids through audiologists and dispensers.
  • Regulatory bodies — Audiology & Speech‑Language Pathology Advisory Committee and the Hearing Aid Dispensers Examining Committee will set training/competency requirements and oversee implementation.
  • Educational programs — graduate and continuing education programs may need to incorporate selection/prescription/ordering training that meets committee standards.

Legislative timeline & status

  • Introduced in Assembly: March 18, 2024
  • Reported with committee amendments (Assembly Regulated Professions Committee): Sept. 12, 2024
  • Passed Assembly: Sept. 26, 2024 (76–0–0)
  • Reported out of Senate Commerce Committee: Oct. 10, 2024
  • Passed Senate: Jan. 14, 2025 (35–0)
  • Enacted as P.L.2025, c.25: Approved March 6, 2025
  • Effective date: 60 days after enactment (May 5, 2025)

Rationale and potential impact

  • Purpose: harmonize state practice law with FDA reclassification that created a prescription hearing aid category.
  • Potential benefits: clearer statutory authority for prescribing audiology practice; expanded access to prescription devices; reduced need for separate medical prescription where appropriately trained audiologists/dispensers can perform selection and ordering.
  • Considerations: requires defined accredited training and committee oversight to ensure competency; may shift roles among audiologists, dispensers, and medical providers.

Related legislation

  • Companion/related bills: S2874 (companion), S1408, prior‑session bills A2511, A2146, A9599.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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