Legislative Day 2026

Red Jackets, Real Conversations, Real Impact

On Tuesday, February 17, audiologists and students from across Wisconsin filled the halls of the Wisconsin State Capitol in a sea of bold WAA-Red for our annual Legislative Day—bringing visibility, passion, and a unified voice in support of Assembly Bill 820 (AB 820) and Senate Bill 860 (SB 860), Wisconsin’s audiology modernization bills.

Assembly Bill 820 (AB 820) was introduced on January 6, 2026, by Representatives Cindi Duchow, Lisa Subeck, Billings, DeSmidt, Dittrich, Donovan, Doyle, Goeben, Goodwin, Kirsch, Knodl, O’Connor, Palmeri, Sinicki, Stubbs, and Udell, and is co-sponsored by Senators Rachael Cabral-Guevara and Melissa Ratcliff.

Senate Bill 860 (SB 860) was introduced on January 23, 2026, by Senators Rachael Cabral-Guevara and Melissa Ratcliff and is co-sponsored by Representatives Cindi Duchow, Lisa Subeck, Billings, DeSmidt, Dittrich, Donovan, Doyle, Goeben, Goodwin, Kirsch, Knodl, O’Connor, Palmeri, Sinicki, Stubbs, and Udell.

A Morning of Engagement

From the moment we arrived, the day was defined by one-to-one, personal engagement with legislators and their staff. The morning began with visits from bill sponsors and their teams, who shared encouragement, insight, and practical guidance for our afternoon office visits. We were also honored to welcome bill sponsors and the staff of Senator Rachael Cabral-Guevara and Senator Melissa Ratcliff (pictured in the middle of our group photo), who visited Room 415 NW to answer questions about the legislative process and inspire continued advocacy.

Assembly Bill sponsor Rep. Cindi Duchow was represented by Collin Weeks, and Rep. Lisa Subeck was represented by Alex Johnson and Jeanine Schneider, as both legislators were tied up in a very busy day of committee work. We are deeply grateful for the dedication of these legislators and their staff and for the important work they do on behalf of Wisconsin residents.

Guest speaker Erin Kennon from DSPS discussed the introduction of an AI Chatbot to improve response times to routine questions so that DSPS staff can focus on more complex licensing questions.  She reported that for the 2025-27 biennium, the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) faces significant funding shifts as temporary federal aid expires. The 2025-27 budget (2025 Act 15) includes ongoing funding for IT and software, alongside approved funding for AI-agent chat and call center technology upgrades totaling approximately million. However, the legislature did not approve all of Gov. Evers' requested positions to replace expiring temporary staff.

Discover Audiology in Action

In true Wisconsin fashion—and in celebration of Fat Tuesday—we enjoyed a festive lunch of jambalaya and cornbread (complete with Mardi Gras beads!) prepared by Chef Dave Madison ( https://www.chefdavemadison.com/ ). With full hearts and full stomachs, we transformed the room into an interactive “Discover Audiology” experience for lawmakers and staff.  Large visual framed posters guided guests around the room as they explored various parts of the ear:

  • Outer Ear – Live video otoscopy with Dr. Hannah Formella-Zdroik and Wispr Otoscopes.

  • Middle Ear – Tympanometry and middle-ear analysis with Dr. Susan Iwanski (with equipment provided by Dr. Christine Otte).

  • Inner Ear (Cochlea) – DPOAE screenings with Dr. Christine Otte

  • Vestibular System – Balance and motion demonstrations with Dr. Molly O’Hearn and AuD student Hannah TenPas

  • Advanced Diagnostics – Vestibular posters and imagery provided by Dr. Eric Hulse, alongside VNG equipment made available thanks to Andy Johnson from e3 Diagnostics

  • Central Processor – Included in discussions across all systems, with conversations that included (but were not limited to) auditory processing and the effects of aging

Many guests gained personal insight into their own hearing and balance systems and left the room with thoughtful recommendations for professional follow-up. One of the true highlights of the day was having audiologists from across Wisconsin in the room—so when a concern was identified, there was often an audiologist from that guest’s own region available on the spot to consult, answer questions, or provide a trusted referral.

Taking the Message to the Senate

While testing and demonstrations were underway, WAA’s “Red Team” led by Dr. Meredy Hase - license holder #1 -fanned out across the Capitol, visiting 33 Senate offices to ensure that Senators and their key staff understood why Senate Bill 860 (SB 860) matters to Wisconsin residents, and why modernizing audiology practice is essential for patient access, workforce competitiveness, and attracting the next generation of audiologists to our state.

With Gratitude

A heartfelt thank-you to the audiologists, students, and advocates who made the day a success: Drs. Christine Otte, Candy McGinnis, Bria Anderson, Katie Armatoski, Tiffany Brewer, Doug Kloss, Catherine Conely, Sarah Ellefson, Hannah Formella-Zdroik, Meredy Hase, Veronica Heide, Sarah Holschuh, Susan Iwanski, Molly O’Hearn, Marcia Dewey, Ann Raabe, and Katherine Moore (and her daughter, Ellie Moore).

Special thanks to our student advocates who showed up and spoke up: Teresa Krogmann, Aubrey Amble, Cheyanne Waller, and Hannah TenPas.

We are also grateful to Dr. Juliëtte Sterkens for making several important calls on our behalf—and a very special thank-you to our lobbyist, Gary Goyke, whose guidance and dedication helped make this impactful day possible.

Legislative Day 2026 was a powerful reminder of what happens when audiology shows up together: visible, prepared, and united—moving Wisconsin forward.

Link to pictures