WashingtonHB 11742025-2026 Regular SessionHouse

Concerning court interpreters.

Sponsored By: Strom Peterson (Democratic)

Became Law

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Interpreters for youth and families in juvenile court

Juvenile court administrators must get interpreters when needed for youth with limited English and their families. This covers detention, probation, hearings, and programs. It helps families understand and take part in the process.

Qualified interpreters and cost protections in court

Courts must use credentialed or court‑qualified interpreters for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have limited English, and may not use a party’s advocate. Judges must choose credentialed interpreters unless they state good cause on the record, and they must check any noncredentialed interpreter’s skills, oath, and promise to follow the code of conduct. You can waive this right only on the record with a knowing, voluntary choice, and you can later take it back. Once appointed, you do not need to ask again; clerks schedule interpreters, and interpreters help with meetings, assessments, and sight‑translate orders. Courts must protect privacy and fairness: one interpreter cannot serve both sides off the record without a good‑cause finding; courts provide private space, remote setups, and interpreter teams when rules require. People with limited English do not pay interpreter costs when they are a party, are subpoenaed, are a juvenile’s parent or guardian, or are compelled to appear; if a government agency started the case, it pays.

Courts must plan and post language access

Trial courts must keep a written language access plan that covers how to find language needs, appoint interpreters, tell people their rights, train staff, and monitor services. Starting January 1, 2026, every court sends its plan to the state office every two years. The state office helps courts write and improve plans when funds are provided. The state runs a credentialing program for spoken‑language interpreters, sets standards, gives exams, and posts a public list. Each court must post on its website how to get language services in five or more common non‑English languages.

State reimbursement for interpreter costs

If the legislature provides money, the state office pays back participating courts for language access services and half of interpreter payments, and the budget can set a higher rate. Courts can also get up to half back for interpreters for hearing‑impaired people when a judge appoints one and the appointment follows the law. To receive state reimbursement, a court must have its language access plan approved under criteria from the Interpreter and Language Access Commission.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Strom Peterson
Democratic • House

Cosponsors

Cindy Ryu
Democratic • House
Debra Lekanoff
Democratic • House
Jamila Taylor
Democratic • House
Lauren Davis
Democratic • House
Lillian Ortiz-Self
Democratic • House
My-Linh Thai
Democratic • House
Natasha Hill
Democratic • House
Osman Salahuddin
Democratic • House
Roger Goodman
Democratic • House
Tarra Simmons
Democratic • House
Timm Ormsby
Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 112 • No: 34

Senate vote • 4/7/2025

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 46 • No: 3

House vote • 3/5/2025