Bill
SB 451
Louisiana SB 451 modernizes newborn hearing screening to ensure universal screening at birth, strengthens follow-up, and coordinates early intervention and family support.
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Session: 2026
Sponsor: Senator Kleinpeter (Co-sponsor: Caleb Kleinpeter)
Effective date: August 1, 2026
Purpose of the Bill
- Recasts and updates Louisiana’s current newborn hearing screening framework, renaming the law and modernizing terminology, definitions, and the advisory structure to strengthen early identification and intervention for deaf or hard-of-hearing infants.
- Emphasizes early detection, timely follow-up, family support, and coordinated care in line with national guidelines (e.g., Joint Committee on Infant Hearing, JCIH).
Key Provisions and Changes
1) Renaming and Scope
- Renames the controlling statute from the “Identification of Hearing Loss in Infants Law” to the “Newborn Hearing Screening Law.”
- Updates the purpose to reflect modern goals of early detection and intervention for d/Deaf or hard-of-hearing children, including those at risk of progressive or delayed-onset hearing loss.
2) Bill of Rights Updates
- Updates terminology within the Deaf/Hard of Hearing Child’s Bill of Rights to reflect current language and sensibilities around deafness and Deaf culture.
- Maintains core rights aimed at ensuring equal opportunities and involvement of Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals in education and program design.
3) Definitions and Terminology
- Adds and updates several definitions, including:
- Advisory council
- Early intervention
- Deaf, Deaf culture, language systems, and multiple communication modalities (sign language, spoken language, etc.)
- Hearing screening and screening methods (ABR, EOAE, and other office-approved devices)
- Risk factors for hearing loss (expands and reclassifies per JCIH standards for both congenital and progressive loss)
- Infants susceptible to hearing loss (with acute focus on perinatal and postnatal factors)
4) Program Establishment and Operations (Section 2264)
- The Office of Public Health shall establish a program for early identification and follow-up of:
- Infants susceptible to hearing loss
- Deaf or hard-of-hearing infants
- Infants at risk of developing progressive hearing loss
- Key duties include:
- Developing criteria and risk-factor guidelines; collecting and tracking screening data
- Creating a susceptibility registry and providing access to data management training
- Requiring reporting by birth hospitals, birth centers, and outpatient audiology providers
- Mandating universal newborn hearing screening before hospital discharge using ABR, OAE, or other approved devices
- Providing written materials to families and ensure follow-up information and referrals
- Establishing a telephone hotline and overseeing screening performance data
- Coordinating with the Louisiana Department of Education on educational and audiological service delivery
- Maintaining a public-facing website with early identification resources
- Ensuring timely follow-up testing when screening indicates potential loss (ideally within one month of discharge)
5) Advisory Council (Section 2265)
- Expands and restructures the advisory council:
- Increases membership (from 14 to up to 21 members) and adds a secretary as an officer
- Members include clinicians (otolaryngologist, audiologist, neonatologist, pediatrician), Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing representation (including a Deaf adult, a young adult), hospital administrator, educators, early intervention providers, parents (representing oral and total communication modalities), state Department of Education representatives, family support advocates, and other stakeholders (Louisiana Commission for the Deaf, Governor’s Office on Disability Affairs, etc.)
- Terms: most appointees serve three-year terms; some state-government appointees serve four-year terms; staggered terms with initial one-, two-, and three-year appointments
- Compensation: members are generally not paid but reimbursed for travel and authorized expenses
6) Powers, Duties, and Functions of the Advisory Council (Section 2266)
- Advises on risk factors and criteria for identifying infants likely deaf/hard-of-hearing or at risk for progressive loss
- Assists in setting program standards, monitoring quality, and integrating the program with broader health, audiology, and education systems
- Guides development of public-facing materials and information
- Assists in implementing and refining the screening and follow-up program
7) Administrative Provisions (Section 2267)
- The Office of Public Health will adopt rules and regulations necessary to implement and maintain the program, consistent with the Administrative Procedure Act.
Impact and Who is Affected
- Newborns in Louisiana: All newborns will be subject to hearing screening prior to hospital discharge (ABR, OAE, or other approved methods).
- Hospitals, birth centers, and providers: Required to perform standardized screenings, collect and report data, provide parent education materials, and coordinate follow-up referrals.
- Families and caregivers: Receive written information, follow-up instructions, and access to support services; enhanced connections to early intervention and Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing resources.
- Health, education, and disability services: Improved data collection, coordination across medical, audiological, and educational services; potential for streamlined referrals and better outcomes through early intervention.
Procedural and Timeline Notes
- The bill is effective August 1, 2026.
- It preserves and expands rulemaking authority to implement and maintain the program, with ongoing oversight and annual reporting expectations.
- Initial and ongoing implementation relies on collaboration among the Office of Public Health, the Advisory Council, the Louisiana Commission for the Deaf, the Department of Education, and other stakeholders.
Overall, SB 451 modernizes Louisiana’s newborn hearing screening law, broadens stakeholder participation, strengthens early identification and intervention processes, and emphasizes coordinated care and family support for Deaf and hard-of-hearing infants.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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