2013-2014 Pending State Legislature

Official English Legislation Pending in State Legislatures

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Alaska

HB 216 would add 20 Native Alaskan languages to the state’s longstanding official English law. Status:  ACTIVE.  Passed legislature, awaiting Governor’s signature.

Arizona

HB 2283 would help enforce AZ’s official English law by requiring any publication or document, other than voting material, issued to the public by a state agency to be in English and requires the non-English version to only be issued online and maintained in print at the state agency office. This bill passed out of House committee and it is now awaiting floor action. ProEnglish supports. Status: ACTIVE

California

SB 1174 would put a question on the November 2016 ballot that would give parents the choice to enroll their child in bilingual education. Bilingual education was banned in the state of California by voter referendum in 1998. Status:  ACTIVE

Florida

No specific stand-alone bill, but in April 2013, the Republican-controlled Senate inserted language into a must-pass elections bill before it went to the Senate floor to limit foreign-language interpreters at the polls. The effort, which Republicans keep quiet for months, began after it was suspected that poll interpreters were helping cast ballots on Election Day in Democrat-heavy North Miami. The bill passed by a party-line voice vote. ProEnglish supported.

Georgia

HB 475 requires the state of GA to recognize driver’s licenses issued by foreign territories in a reciprocity agreement. This bill was passed by the legislature and signed by Governor Nathan Deal in 2013.  ProEnglish opposed. Status: Completed

Maryland

HB 789 and SB 715, bills that would repeal existing state law requiring applicants for a driver’s license to provide proof of legal status in the U.S. SB 715 was passed through the Senate and the House. Rep. Kathy Szeliga (Baltimore, Harford) offered the English amendment, but it failed by a vote of 43 to 86. The Assembly also managed to defeat twelve other amendments that could have improved this disastrous bill. ProEnglish supported the Szeliga amendment, but opposed the overall bill. ProEnglish opposed. Status: Completed

Michigan

HB 4372 would make English the official language of the state. The bill was introduced by Rep. Pettalia and is awaiting action in committee. Currently, there is no Senate counterpart.  ProEnglish supports. Status: ACTIVE

New Jersey

S 115 would make English the official langage of the state.  The bill was introduced by Senators Bucco and Oroho and it is awaiting action in the Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee. ProEnglish supports. Status: ACTIVE

S 627 would clarify that breath test warnings provided to persons arrested for intoxicated driving and boating need only be in English and those warnings are not element of offense of refusing breath test. The bill was introduced by Senator Sam Thompson and is awaiting action in the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee. ProEnglish supports. Status: ACTIVE

New York

S01902 would make English the official language of the state. The bill was introduced by Senator Nozzolio and it is awaiting action in the Senate Investigations and Government Operations Committee. ProEnglish supports. Status: ACTIVE 

A04817 would provide voting materials and translators in French and Creole in New York City polling places where more than fivepercent of the citizens of voting age speak the language of French and/or Creole and are limited-English proficient. The bill was introduced by Rep. Perry and is awaiting action in the House Committee on Election Law. ProEnglish opposes. Status:ACTIVE

A00273 would require state agencies to ensure that non-English speakers receive interpretation services in order to access government programs. The bill was introduced by Rep. Kim and is awaiting action in the House Governmental Operations Committee. ProEnglish opposes. Status:ACTIVE

Pennsylvania

HB 2132 would make English the official language of the state of Pennsylvania. The bill was referred to the House Committee on State Government and is awaiting action.  Status:  ACTIVE

Tennessee

HB 593/S 900 requires that driver’s license written and oral portions of the exams are administered in no languages other than English. HB 593 was introduced by Rep. Sparks and S 900 was introduced by Sen. Campfield. Both are awaiting action in their respective Transportation Committees.  ProEnglish supports. Status: ACTIVE

West Virginia

SB 78 would make English the official language of the state. The bill was introduced by Senator Supolt and it is awaiting action in the Government Organization Committee. ProEnglish supports. Status: ACTIVE

Wisconsin

AB 340 would make English the official language of the state. The bill was introduced by Rep. Jacques and it is awaiting action in the Committee on State Affairs.  ProEnglish supports. Status: ACTIVE