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WashingtonSB 50252025-2026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Concerning educational interpreters.

Sponsored By: John Lovick (Democratic)

Became Law

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 3 mixed.

Deadlines and grace period for interpreters

Through the end of the 2026-27 school year, educational interpreters must meet PESB’s performance standard on an approved test. Starting with the 2027-28 school year, they must hold a PESB interpreter certificate. Beginning in 2027-28, someone without a limited certificate may keep working for the longer of one year after getting test results or 18 months after taking the test, if the school is satisfied they are working toward a full certificate. The school district may consult PESB. This grace period also covers people who were employed as interpreters before the 2016-17 school year.

New standards and certificates for interpreters

The law directs the state standards board (PESB) to set clear standards for educational interpreters, including separate standards for deaf and deaf-blind work. PESB must name and publish the approved tests, and set limited and full performance levels for each test. It creates two certificates: a limited certificate (valid up to five years) and a full certificate (length set by PESB). The board may add extra rules for people who had not worked as educational interpreters before September 1, 2026. PESB must consult an accredited Washington interpreter-training program and publish certification data by December 1, 2026 and every year after.

Who must follow interpreter certification rules

An educational interpreter is anyone in a school who provides sign language interpretation or transliteration and explains class ideas for deaf, deaf-blind, or hard-of-hearing students. The law defines interpretation (one language to another) and transliteration (same language in a different form). An educational interpreter assessment must have written and performance parts, be offered by a national interpreter group, and cover more than one sign system or language. If no suitable test exists for a mode (like oral interpreting, CART, or cued speech), these certification rules do not apply to that mode.

Board may limit test retakes

The standards board can set a limit on how many times you may retake an interpreter assessment to qualify for a certificate. The law itself does not set the number of tries or any fees. Any cap comes from PESB rules.

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Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • John Lovick

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Claire Wilson

    Democratic • Senate

  • Javier Valdez

    Democratic • Senate

  • Jesse Salomon

    Democratic • Senate

  • Lisa Wellman

    Democratic • Senate

  • T'wina Nobles

    Democratic • Senate

  • Yasmin Trudeau

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 194 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/21/2025

Final Passage as Amended by the House

Yes: 48 • No: 0

House vote • 3/26/2025

Final Passage as Amended by the House

Yes: 98 • No: 0

Senate vote • 2/19/2025

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 48 • No: 0 • Other: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective date 7/27/2025.

    5/13/2025Senate

  2. Chapter 255, 2025 Laws.

    5/13/2025Senate

  3. Governor signed.

    5/13/2025legislature

  4. Delivered to Governor.

    4/24/2025legislature

  5. Speaker signed.

    4/23/2025legislature

  6. President signed.

    4/22/2025legislature

  7. Passed final passage; yeas, 48; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 0.

    4/21/2025Senate

  8. Senate concurred in House amendments.

    4/21/2025House

  9. Third reading, passed; yeas, 98; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 0.

    3/26/2025Senate

  10. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    3/26/2025Senate

  11. Committee amendment(s) adopted with no other amendments.

    3/26/2025Senate

  12. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.

    3/25/2025Senate

  13. Referred to Rules 2 Review.

    3/21/2025Senate

  14. ED - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).

    3/20/2025Senate

  15. ED - Executive action taken by committee.

    3/20/2025Senate

  16. First reading, referred to Education.

    2/21/2025Senate

  17. Third reading, passed; yeas, 48; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 1.

    2/19/2025Senate

  18. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    2/19/2025Senate

  19. 1st substitute bill substituted.

    2/19/2025Senate

  20. Placed on second reading consent calendar.

    2/12/2025Senate

  21. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.

    2/6/2025Senate

  22. EDU - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.

    2/5/2025Senate

  23. First reading, referred to Early Learning & K-12 Education.

    1/13/2025Senate

  24. Introduced

    1/13/2025Senate

Bill Text

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