The proposed General Assembly Committee Bill No. 955 seeks to improve access to public services for individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP) by mandating state and local government entities, as well as state contractors, to adopt comprehensive language access policies. Effective October 1, 2025, the bill defines essential terms such as "limited English proficiency individuals," "language access," "interpretation services," and "translation services." It requires these entities to assess the language needs of their communities, provide necessary translation and interpretation services, and ensure that public-facing materials are accessible to individuals with varying literacy levels. Additionally, each state agency must develop a language access plan, appoint a language access coordinator, and make these plans publicly available online.

The bill also establishes an Office of Language Access within the Department of Consumer Protection to oversee compliance with language access policies, investigate complaints, and analyze data to better serve LEP communities. Health care facilities and educational institutions are specifically mandated to provide language assistance to LEP individuals and their families, emphasizing the need for timely and culturally appropriate support in these settings. While the bill introduces several new sections detailing the requirements for translation and interpretation services, it does not include any deletions from current law, as indicated by the absence of marked deletions in the text. Co-sponsors of the bill include Senator Rahman and Representatives Reyes and Turco.