All Roll Calls
Yes: 169 • No: 0
MarylandHB 11922026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET
State Board of Sign Language Interpreters - Membership and Licensing
Sponsored By: Heather Bagnall (Democratic)
Signed by Governor
State Government - Agencies, Offices, and OfficialsApplicants and ApplicationsAwareness and OutreachCommittee ChangesCommittees and CommissionsDeaf and Hard of HearingEducation -see also- ContEd; DrvEd; HigherEd; etc.Evaluations and ReviewsGoods and Services -see also- Retail Sales; TermnSvc; TrfGdsGovernorLanguage -see also- Communications; LiteracyLicenses -see also- AB Lic; Certifications; DrLic; PermitsPlans and ProposalsReportsRules and RegulationsStandards and Best PracticesTime
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
New licenses and fees for interpreters
The Board publishes statewide licensing rules by July 1, 2027. Interpreters must meet the license rules by January 1, 2028; school interpreters by July 1, 2028. Applicants file the Board form, pay a nonrefundable application fee, and show approved certification or other Board-set qualifications. The initial license fee is $150 starting October 1, 2026, until the Board sets a new fee. If you hold another state’s license, a waiver is possible only if you pay the fees, show equivalent standards, and your state gives Maryland the same reciprocity. The Board also runs a public awareness campaign about these rules starting October 1, 2026.
Choose in-person or video interpreting
You can state if you prefer video remote or in-person sign language interpreting. Public entities must provide reasonable accommodations for your choice where practicable and consistent with the ADA. The Board issues regulations for this. These rights take effect October 1, 2026.
Specialty credentials for interpreters
After a public report, the Board may set specialist credentials and portfolios. Areas can include legal, medical, education, behavioral health, conference work, tactile and low-vision, intralinguistic translation, and other language pairs. This authority starts October 1, 2026.
Bigger, more diverse interpreter board
On October 1, 2026, the Board expands to 11 members, including seats for Deaf, Deafblind, licensed interpreters, an interpreter‑agency affiliate, and service‑provider representatives, plus two nonvoting state officials. Members must live in Maryland, and most must be proficient in ASL. The Governor appoints from an outreach-based nomination list that includes underrepresented Deaf, Deafblind, and interpreter communities. The Governor must remove members who attend fewer than half of regular meetings in 12 months, and may remove for misconduct or unexcused absences. A quorum is a majority of voting members then serving. Members appointed before January 1, 2028 who must hold a license can meet that rule with current national or regional certification or other Board criteria.
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Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Heather Bagnall
Democratic • House
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 4/8/2026
Third Reading Passed
Yes: 43 • No: 0 • Other: 3
House vote • 3/21/2026
Third Reading Passed
Yes: 126 • No: 0 • Other: 8
Actions Timeline
Approved by the Governor - Chapter 195
4/28/2026Returned Passed
4/8/2026HouseThird Reading Passed (43-0)
4/8/2026SenateFavorable Adopted Second Reading Passed
4/3/2026SenateFavorable Report by Education, Energy, and the Environment
4/2/2026SenateReferred Education, Energy, and the Environment
3/23/2026SenateThird Reading Passed (126-0)
3/21/2026HouseSecond Reading Passed with Amendments
3/20/2026HouseFavorable with Amendments {153229/1 Adopted
3/20/2026HouseFavorable with Amendments Report by Government, Labor, and Elections
3/20/2026HouseHearing 3/10 at 1:00 p.m.
2/19/2026HouseFirst Reading Government, Labor, and Elections
2/11/2026House
Bill Text
Third Reading
3/20/2026
First Reading
2/11/2026
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