Montana hearing advances bill to replace “hearing impaired” with “deaf or hard of hearing” in state law

Representative Connie Keogh opened the House Health and Human Services hearing on House Bill 184, saying the measure standardizes modern terminology across 13 sections of Montana law by replacing “hearing impaired” and related phrases with “deaf” or “hard of hearing.” “House bill 184 is a step toward affirming the dignity of the deaf and hard of hearing individuals by replacing terminology that diminishes their identity,” Keogh said.

Proponents, including disability advocates and members of Montana’s Deaf community, told the committee that the word “impaired” carries a negative connotation and calls for the state to adopt language used in other states. Jennifer Hensley, testifying for Ability Montana, said the change “is just words” but that words matter and urged the committee to modernize statutory language. Tyler Hansen, president of the Montana Association for the Deaf, described “impaired” as implying something is broken and said community members prefer identity-based terms. Multiple other proponents — including Tessa Williams, Rita Brand Borg, Eliza Craig and Heidi Houck — spoke that adopting “deaf” or “hard of hearing” affirms identity and avoids stigma.

Committee members asked whether changing terminology would affect federal funding, benefits, or other chapters of code that use the term “impairment.” Keogh and legislative staff told the committee that staff researched federal alignment and that the bill is intended to be language-only: passage “will have no impact at all on any services or benefits of any sort,” Keogh said, and the sponsor is bringing an amendment to clarify definitions so services are not changed or disrupted.

Representative Cunningham asked whether the bill also considered changing language used for vision disabilities. Keogh said the bill’s drafters discussed that and were told the vision community perceives its terminology differently; she said she would work with that community if they wish to pursue changes.

The hearing record shows proponents only; no opponents spoke. Keogh closed by asking the committee to advance the bill with an amendment to be considered during executive action.

The committee closed the hearing on House Bill 184 with no formal committee vote recorded in the hearing transcript.