House Committee of Reference Report
Committee on Health & Human Services
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February 24, 2026
After consideration on the merits, the Committee recommends the following:
HB26-1109 be amended as follows, and as so amended, be referred to the Committee on Finance with favorable recommendation:
Page 1, Line 1Amend printed bill, page 3, strike lines 16 through 18 and substitute:
Page 1, Line 2"(I) Interviews:
Page 1, Line 3(A) With sign language interpreters in the state;
Page 1, Line 4(B) With members of the deaf, hard of hearing, and
Page 1, Line 5deafblind".
Page 1, Line 6Page 3, after line 21 insert:
Page 1, Line 7"(C) With language service companies;
Page 1, Line 8(D) That are made fully accessible to the interviewees,
Page 1, Line 9including access to certified American sign language
Page 1, Line 10interpreters. Interviewers shall have proficient knowledge of
Page 1, Line 11deaf culture and effective communications with members of the
Page 1, Line 12deaf, hard of hearing, and deafblind community.
Page 1, Line 13(E) To the extent possible, with interviewees who are
Page 1, Line 14representative of a range of ages, racial and ethnic
Page 1, Line 15backgrounds, socioeconomic backgrounds, rural and urban
Page 1, Line 16areas, culturally Deaf and late-deafened individuals, and
Page 1, Line 17consumers who have experience receiving both certified and
Page 1, Line 18uncertified in-person and remote video sign language
Page 1, Line 19interpretation services;".
Page 1, Line 20Page 4, strike line 4 and substitute "process;
Page 1, Line 21(III) Information about the current state of the
Page 1, Line 22profession, including any changes in the profession over the last
Page 1, Line 23decade; and".
Page 1, Line 24
Page 2, Line 1Renumber succeeding subparagraph accordingly.