New York A 11307: Enacts the "golden age hearing access act"

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A11307 Summary:

BILL NOA11307 

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SAME ASNo Same As

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SPONSORRules (Blumencranz)

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COSPNSR

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MLTSPNSR

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Amd §798, Gen Bus L

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Enacts the "golden age hearing access act" to enhance hearing aid access, affordability and innovation for persons ages sixty-two and older while ensuring quality through free-market-driven reforms.

Go to top A11307 Actions:

BILL NOA11307 

&nbsp

05/11/2026referred to consumer affairs and protection

Go to topA11307 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topA11307 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topA11307 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 11307

 IN ASSEMBLY

 May 11, 2026
 ___________

 Introduced by COMMITTEE ON RULES -- (at request of M. of A. Blumencranz)
 -- read once and referred to the Committee on Consumer Affairs and
 Protection

 AN ACT to amend the general business law, in relation to enhancing hear-
 ing aid access, affordability, and innovation for persons ages 62 and
 older while ensuring quality through free-market-driven reforms

 The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
 bly, do enact as follows:

 1 Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
 2 the "golden age hearing access act".
 3 § 2. Section 798 of the general business law is amended by adding ten
 4 new subdivisions 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, and 30 to read as
 5 follows:
 6 21. All hearing aid dispensers shall offer products to persons ages
 7 sixty-two and older at prices reflecting the best available terms under
 8 most-favored nation pricing agreements with manufacturers.
 9 (a) "Most-favored nation pricing" shall mean contractual terms requir-
 10 ing hearing aid manufacturers doing business in New York state to offer
 11 their best pricing to persons ages sixty-two and older, ensuring they
 12 receive the lowest available prices.
 13 (b) Manufacturers shall certify annually to the secretary compliance
 14 with most-favored nation pricing provisions.
 15 (c) Dispensers and manufacturers shall disclose pricing and cost
 16 structures to the division of consumer protection for public review.
 17 Proprietary information shall remain confidential, but summary data
 18 shall be published for persons ages sixty-two and older's awareness.
 19 (d) A fine of up to ten thousand dollars per violation for manufactur-
 20 ers or dispensers found in breach of most-favored nation pricing
 21 provisions. Suspension or revocation of licenses for repeat offenders.
 22 22. Hearing aid dispensers may utilize third-party services for
 23 audiometric testing, provided the third-party complies with state stand-
 24 ards. Dispensers shall disclose to persons ages sixty-two and older the
 25 option to seek independent audiometric testing.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD15762-01-6

 A. 11307 2

 1 23. A regulatory sandbox shall allow hearing aid dispensers to pilot
 2 innovative service models with safeguards for persons ages sixty-two and
 3 older, resulting in a reduction of bureaucratic requirements for entry-
 4 level dispensers to encourage competition.
 5 24. Hearing aid dispensers may use telehealth platforms for consulta-
 6 tions and fittings, provided they comply with privacy standards.
 7 Persons ages sixty-two and older shall be informed of telehealth options
 8 and in-person alternatives.
 9 25. The requirement for a physical office location for dispensers
 10 shall be reviewed biennially and repealed if deemed unnecessary due to
 11 advances in telehealth.
 12 26. The division of consumer protection shall maintain a public data-
 13 base of dispensers and their compliance records. A "Hearing Aid Consumer
 14 Rights Handbook" shall be distributed to all prospective users ages
 15 sixty-two and older, outlining their rights under state law.
 16 27. Hearing aid dispensers and manufacturers implementing cost-reduc-
 17 tion programs for persons ages sixty-two and older will qualify for
 18 state tax credits equivalent to five percent of their program expendi-
 19 tures, capped at one million dollars annually per entity.
 20 28. Persons ages sixty-two and older purchasing hearing aids