Helen’s Law South Dakota signed, requires interpreters | Buffalo’s Fire Law named after fluent Lakota speaker Helen Red Feather

South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden signed a law requiring translator services in administrative hearings. The legislation was inspired by Lakota speaker Helen Red Feather of Wounded Knee.

Read more: www.buffalosfire.com/on-monday-so...
#LakotaLanguage #LanguageAccess #SouthDakota #BuffalosFire

Coffee County commission adopts Language Access Plan, approves landfill monitoring contract and board appointments At its Jan. 5 meeting, the Coffee County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved multiple administrative resolutions — including a $72,295 Jacobs Engineering contract for landfill post-closure monitoring, appointments to county boards, FY 2026 qualifying fees and an updated Language Access Plan required for federal CDBG funding.

Coffee County commissioners have made significant moves to ensure environmental safety and federal compliance by approving a $72,295 landfill monitoring contract and an updated Language Access Plan.

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#CoffeeCounty #GA #CitizenPortal #CommunityDevelopment #LanguageAccess

Committee advances driver‑licensing language measure with 3‑year pathway for non‑English exams The committee approved an amended bill that allows initial driver written exams in the applicant's native language with a nonrenewable three‑year license; after three years applicants must pass the written test in English. Testimony urged interpreter access for road tests and warned of workforce impacts.

Tennessee is set to change the way driver’s licenses are issued, allowing non-English speakers to take their initial exams in their native language—but what does this mean for their future on the road?

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#TN #CitizenPortal #LanguageAccess #PublicSafety #WorkforceNeed

A groundbreaking bill to enhance the SafeUT crisis app with multilingual support could save lives by ensuring timely help reaches Spanish speakers and others in need for just $10,000 a year.

Learn more here

#UT #CitizenPortal #LanguageAccess #CrisisIntervention #CommunitySupport

Wisconsin debates AI interpreters in courtrooms MADISON (WKOW) – Lawmakers are currently discussing a bill that could allow the use of AI interpreters in courtrooms for individuals not proficient in English.

T&I News - Wisconsin debates AI interpreters in courtrooms: https://bit.ly/4riNyLo | WKOW (03/05/2026) | By Ryan Lynch
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#AI #Interpreters #Wisconsin #AB377 #LanguageAccess #Language #Government #Law #Courts

Addressing the Communications Breakdown in Global Development: How AI-Enabled Assessment Tools Can Reach Excluded Communities How AI can facilitate impact evaluations and data collection in the multilingual and low-connectivity contexts common in excluded communities.

Addressing the Communications Breakdown in Global Development: How AI-Enabled Assessment Tools Can Reach Excluded Communities

nextbillion.net/addressing-c...

#ArtificialIntelligence #AI #GlobalDevelopment #data #ImpactMeasurement #LanguageAccess

MN's ethnic media try to overcome resource gaps Public News Service (PNS) is a member-supported news service that advocates journalism in the public interest. PNS's network of state-based news services distribute high quality public interest news…

Nearly 500,000 foreign‑born Minnesotans rely on ethnic media for news—but many outlets run on limited resources. New Legacy‑funded grants could help them reach audiences with non‑English video content, up to $75K per outlet.
#EthnicMedia #Minnesota #LanguageAccess

A child wearing a hearing aid signs with their hands while an adult in the background also signs; a red banner at the bottom reads “ADA RIGHTS.”

For generations, Deaf communities faced institutional repression through oralism and forced conformity. Today, the call is clear: Sign language rights are human rights.

Read more:
https://loom.ly/A5xNzZU

#DisabilityRights #SignLanguage #LanguageAccess #InclusionMatters #ADA

Committee moves to fold language-access, food distribution and rescue funding into emergency-management omnibus bill The Government Operations & Military Affairs committee agreed to draft an omnibus emergency-management bill that would include language-access funding, statutory authority for the Vermont Food Bank to assist in disasters, baseline funding for Urban Search and Rescue, a technical-rescue microgrant program, and provisions on fire-management roles; members requested additional testimony and operational detail before final votes.

Vermont's committee is set to transform emergency management with a groundbreaking omnibus bill that combines language access, food distribution, and vital rescue funding!

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#VT #VermontPublicSafety #CitizenPortal #LanguageAccess #FoodDistribution #EmergencyManagement

Criminal Justice Council seeks modest FY27 increase, flags translation and hearing costs The Vermont Criminal Justice Council told the Appropriations Committee it seeks a roughly $71,000 (1.7%) general-fund increase for FY27, highlighted translation and curriculum needs, and warned that a January 2025 statutory change will raise hearing-related costs and administrative pressures.

The Vermont Criminal Justice Council is urging for a modest budget increase to address critical training needs and looming translation costs, all while preparing for a significant expansion in oversight responsibilities.

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#VT #CivicAccountability #CitizenPortal #LanguageAccess

Ways and Means hears bill to track language acquisition for deaf and hard-of-hearing children Delegates and advocates urged a favorable report on HB 879, which would create an MSDE-run language acquisition tracking program for deaf and hard-of-hearing children up to age 9, require routine assessments, establish a state coordinator and advisory council, and allow parental written opt-out.

Maryland is on the brink of a transformative bill that could revolutionize language acquisition for deaf and hard-of-hearing children, ensuring they receive the support they need from birth to age 9.

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#MD #EarlyIntervention #CitizenPortal #LanguageAccess #EducationalEquity

Committee advances 13 bills to rules/Ways & Means, holds two for later The State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections Committee advanced 13 bills to either the rules or Ways & Means committees by voice vote on Feb. 24 and explicitly did not move two bills (HB 2574 and HB 2637). Key changes included amendments to voter-rights and voter-registration bills, a phased increase to small-works roster limits, and language-access provisions.

The Washington State Government Committee has advanced 13 pivotal bills aimed at enhancing voter rights and accessibility while holding two for further discussion—what's next in this legislative journey?

Learn more here

#WA #CivicParticipation #CitizenPortal #LanguageAccess #VotingRights

MHSOAC committee reviews midyear budget, notes $5M contract termination and translation agreements The commission's Budget and Fiscal Advisory Committee heard a midyear budget update for FY 2025'26 showing a small overall projected positive variance and discussed operations reductions; the committee also announced termination of agreement MHSOAC022 with University of the Pacific and approved several small language-translation contracts.

The MHSOAC committee's midyear budget update reveals a surprising $5M contract termination and critical insights on local assistance spending—what does this mean for mental health services in California?

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#CA #CitizenPortal #BudgetAccountability #LanguageAccess

Senate committee backs language-access measure for licensing exams The committee reported House Bill 165 to allow certain licensing exams to be offered in additional languages (limited to the 50 most common) to expand access to regulated professions, with support from contractors and the Virginia Chamber of Commerce.

Virginia's House Bill 165 is set to break down language barriers in professional licensing exams, aiming to boost the skilled-trades workforce and tackle pressing workforce shortages!

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#VA #SkilledTrades #CitizenPortal #LanguageAccess #VirginiaLicensing #WorkforceDevelopment

Happy International Mother Language Day!
February 21 is International Mother Language Day! Here at L&I, we’re celebrating the many languages that connect our communities. 
#L&I #LanguageAccess #InternationalMotherLanguageDay #WashingtonState #WorkerRights

Bill would let language-access interpreters bargain missed-appointment pay SB 59-44 would allow independent-contracting language interpreters who work for state agencies to bargain over economic compensation — including missed/cancelled-appointment payments — aligning bargaining rights across agencies and addressing a statutory discrepancy for L&I interpreters.

A new bill could empower language-access interpreters in Washington to negotiate fair compensation for missed appointments, leveling the playing field with other agencies!

Get the details

#WA #EconomicBargaining #CitizenPortal #WorkerRights #LanguageAccess

New Federal Language Access Bill Proposed in US House of Representatives US lawmakers move to codify language access in federal agencies, prioritizing human translators and interpreters in a new challenge to Trump EO.

New bill attempts to undo damage caused by repealing Executive Order 13166.

Reading the bill, seems to me like language access professionals were consulted.

But I’d love clarity on the piece about bilingual staff (thread).

#LanguageAccess

slator.com/new-federal-...

Check out this year’s Language Access Ordinance Compliance Report and learn more about how City departments are working toward San Francisco’s #languageaccess priorities.

Learn more: sf.gov/languageaccess

Washington House passes package on ferries, language access, oversight and consumer protections The Washington State House passed a set of bills including the Mosquito Fleet Act to enable passenger-only ferry districts, a language-access law creating a new chapter in title 43 RCW, clarifications for the Office of Independent Investigation, reporting requirements for private detention facilities, and several consumer and public-safety measures.

Washington State House just passed a crucial package of bills, tackling everything from ferry disruptions to language access and law enforcement oversight—what does this mean for residents?

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#WA #CitizenPortal #ConsumerProtection #LanguageAccess #PublicSafety

Kansas board warns of ‘crisis’ in special-education funding, directs advocacy after KSD task force work Board members said gaps between state appropriations and the statutory 92% excess-cost requirement are creating a statewide crisis for districts and the Kansas School for the Deaf; the board prioritized a nationwide search for a new KSD superintendent and urged federal and state action to fill a projected $226M–$259M shortfall.

Kansas' special education funding is facing a crisis, with a projected shortfall of up to $259 million, jeopardizing essential resources for students in need.

Learn more here

#KS #CitizenPortal #LanguageAccess #CrisisResponse #EducationFunding #KansasSpecialEducation

Commerce Committee approves HB 1307 restricting licenses and benefits for unauthorized aliens after extended debate and public testimony Representative Jacques' HB 1307 — revised by a strike‑all — was reported favorably after lengthy testimony and debate. The bill restricts certain state licenses, benefits and financial protections for unauthorized aliens, mandates English‑only prelicensing/testing for CDLs, and authorizes administrative penalties for employers. Opponents urged the committee to consider language‑access and humanitarian concerns.

Florida's HB 1307 is sparking heated debate as it seeks to restrict licenses and benefits for unauthorized aliens, igniting concerns over language access and humanitarian impacts.

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#FL #EconomicParticipation #CitizenPortal #LanguageAccess #HumanitarianConcerns

India outlines plan to democratise AI access supporting scalable AI infrastructure nationwide

#Languageaccess is being expanded through Bhashini, an AI-powered translation and speech platform supporting over 36 languages.

www.newsinc24.com/news/india-o...

Judiciary requests more staff and funding for treatment/mental-health courts and juvenile facilities; some opioid and pretrial funding reduced in governor rec. Supreme Court clerk Betsy Ledgerwood told legislators the judiciary needs additional FTEs for juvenile detention, mental-health courts and language access; the governor recommended some requests but cut opioid treatment funding and did not approve several NDIs; the judiciary says statutory pay obligations constrain options.

Missouri's judiciary is facing critical funding cuts while urgently requesting more resources for treatment courts and juvenile facilities—can they navigate these challenges?

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#MO #CitizenPortal #LanguageAccess #JuvenileDetention #MentalHealthCourts #MissouriJudiciary

#BadBunny headlines the #SuperBowl halftime stage in #Spanish — language access should get the same spotlight! Our office offers Spanish support for Clerk services, and our website can be translated into your language. Watch 👉 https://youtube.com/shorts/l-oW_vvAe-Y #LanguageAccess #Inclusion

‘Tulare Avanza’ aims to boost Latino engagement and utilization of city investments, consultant says Include Us presented 'Tulare Avanza,' a two‑phase community‑engagement diagnostic and strategy focused on improving trust, language access and utilization of recent city investments such as Zumwalt Park and TBIZ; staff will host bilingual community engagement labs and resident interviews next month.

Basilia Anken's groundbreaking "Tulare Avanza" initiative is set to transform how Tulare's Latino community engages with city investments and resources.

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#TulareTulareCounty #CA #CommunityEngagement #TulareLatino #CivicTrust #CitizenPortal #LanguageAccess

Senaes offers free Spanish literacy classes across the Washington metro area; enrollment open Mario Gamboa, founder and director of Senaes, said his nonprofit offers free Spanish literacy classes at eight sites with three levels of instruction and rolling intake; he provided a phone contact (202-607-3901) and the website senaes.org for enrollment information.

Senaes is transforming lives with free Spanish literacy classes for adults in the Washington metro area—enroll now and join the movement!

Learn more here

#MontgomeryCounty #MD #CitizenPortal #AdultEducation #CommunityEmpowerment #MontgomeryCountyLiteracy #LanguageAccess

House committee reports several bills, tables others in Feb. 6 session The House Committee on General Government and Capital Outlay met Feb. 6, reporting multiple bills to the next stage, laying several on the table for further review and striking one from the docket; several votes were unanimous or nearly so.

The House Committee on General Government and Capital Outlay made significant moves on crucial bills, including stricter voter registration requirements and new provisions for persons with disabilities.

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#VA #EmergingTechnologies #CitizenPortal #LanguageAccess

Check out this year’s Language Access Ordinance Compliance Report and learn more about how City departments are working toward San Francisco’s #languageaccess priorities.

Learn more: sf.gov/languageaccess

California Certified Interpreters Take Issue with Chronic Credential Misrepresentation For 3 years, CA Certified Medical Interpreters have tracked credential misrepresentation. This article covers the high-stakes situation.

California Certified Interpreters Take Issue with Chronic Credential Misrepresentation: https://bit.ly/4qkQaYG | Slator (1/29/26) | By Rocío Txabarriaga
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#California #Interpreters #Credentialed #Language #NCTA #LanguageAccess #LEP #xl8 #1nt

Committee Hears Heated Debate Over Bill to Require English-Only Driver’s Tests; Vote Deferred A House committee held a public hearing on HB 88, which would require Alabama driver’s license tests be administered in English only. Lawmakers split over public-safety arguments and access concerns; the committee carried the measure over for further work and possible subcommittee review.

Alabama lawmakers are torn over a controversial bill that would require driver's tests to be conducted only in English, sparking fierce debates about safety and accessibility.

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#AL #CivicDebate #LanguageAccess #DriverSafety