Assembly Bill 377 proposes to establish English as the official language of Wisconsin and outlines the use of artificial intelligence and machine-assisted translation tools as alternatives to appointing English language interpreters in state and local government settings. The bill mandates that all oral and written communications by governmental entities must be conducted in English, with exceptions allowed for specific circumstances, such as individual cases or program implementations. Additionally, it permits government officials to use other languages for various purposes, including protecting citizens' rights and promoting trade.

The bill also includes amendments to existing statutes regarding the provision of interpreters in municipal courts and administrative contested case proceedings. It specifies that if a person has a language difficulty or impairment, the court or agency must determine if an interpreter is necessary and inform the individual of their right to one, except in cases where machine-assisted translation tools are utilized. The amendments replace certain terms to ensure clarity and inclusivity, such as changing "individual" to "person" and "he or she" to "the person." Overall, the bill aims to streamline communication in government while ensuring access to language services for those in need.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 885.37(1), 885.37, 885.37(3)(b), 885.38(3)(a)(intro.), 885.38