Connecticut 2026 Session Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 2 D · 1 R cosponsors

HB 5487 — AN ACT ESTABLISHING AN AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE EDUCATION WORKING GROUP AND INCREASING STATE ASSISTANCE FOR PERSONS WHO ARE BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED AND DEAF.

Last action — FILE NO. 431

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced March 05, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the House.

Odds of enactment

Low chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low chance of becoming law.

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Prognosis

Advancing 36% · moderate confidence

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 3 sponsors

    3 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (2 D · 1 R) — cross-party backing.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

141 added · 68 removed

Plain-language change summary

The revised version of Bill HB 5487 has replaced the proposed "Career Pipeline Program for American Sign Language Interpreting" with an "American Sign Language Education Working Group." This new group will consist of various representatives, including educators and organizations related to the deaf community, and will focus on developing curriculum recommendations for teaching American Sign Language in schools. This change is significant because it aims to enhance educational resources and support for American Sign Language instruction, ultimately benefitting deaf and hard-of-hearing students.

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Previous
Latest
General Assembly Raised Bill No.
House of Representatives General Assembly File No.
5487 February Session, 2026 LCO No.
431 February Session, 2026 Substitute House Bill No.
2637 Referred to Committee on HUMAN SERVICES Introduced by:
5487 House of Representatives, April 7, 2026 The Committee on Human Services reported through REP.
(HS) AN ACT ESTABLISHING A CAREER PIPELINE PROGRAM FOR AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETING AND INCREASING STATE ASSISTANCE FOR PERSONS WHO ARE BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED AND DEAF.
GILCHREST of the 18th Dist., Chairperson of the Committee on the part of the House, that the substitute bill ought to pass.
AN ACT ESTABLISHING AN AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE EDUCATION WORKING GROUP AND INCREASING STATE ASSISTANCE FOR PERSONS WHO ARE BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED AND DEAF.
(NEW) (Effective July 1, 2026) (a) The Commissioner of Education shall establish a three-year pilot program to promote a career pipeline for American Sign Language interpreting by providing not more than five local or regional school districts with funding for related high school courses eligible for college credit.
(NEW) (Effective January 1, 2027) (a) The Department of Education shall establish an American Sign Language education working group which shall consist of (1) a representative from each of the following:
(b)Thecommissionershallprescribeapplicationrequirementsforthe pilot program and annual reporting requirements for school districts selected for the program.
The Departments of Education and Aging and Disability Services, the Labor Department, the Office of Higher Education, the Connecticut Council of Language Teachers, the American School for the Deaf and the Connecticut Association of the Deaf, and (2) at least one American Sign Language instructor who teaches in a public school in the state.
A school district selected for the program shall sign a memorandum of understanding with an accredited institution of higher education to provide credit from such institution for program courses.
(b) The working group shall provide recommendations to the Department of Education regarding the following:
(c)Instructionoffered under thepilot programmay include, but need not be limited to, vocabulary development, grammar and syntax under LCO No.
(1) Curriculum guidance for American Sign Language instruction sHB5487 / File No.
2637 1 of 3 Raised Bill No.5487 American Sign Language, knowledge of the deaf community, conversational proficiency and advanced communication skills appropriate to course level and aligned with state guidance and recognized professional standards.
431 1 sHB5487 File No.
(d) For the duration of the pilot program, the commissioner shall file an annual report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, not later than January fifteenth with the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education and human services.
431 that includes, but is not limited to, aligning such curriculum with nationally recognized proficiency frameworks;
The report shall include, but need not be limited to, the number of students taking courses in the programand their average proficiency levels in American Sign Language.
(2) Teacher certification standards based on standards established by the American Sign Language Teachers Association and the American Sign Language Proficiency Interview that includes, but is not limited to, (A) establishment of a proficiency benchmark, (B) recognition of an alternative certification pathway for native American Sign Language users and interpreters, and (C) reciprocity with American Sign Language teaching certifications from other states;
and (3) Guidance to educator preparation programs in the state concerning, but not limited to, the (A) expansion of American Sign Language and interpretation education programs, (B) creation of educational incentives, such as tuition support, credit enhancement or alternative programs, and (C) establishment of bridge, endorsement or alternative programs for native American Sign Language users and certified interpreters seeking teacher certification.
(c) Not later than January 1, 2028, and annually thereafter, the Department of Education shall submit a progress report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education and human services concerning the work of the American Sign Language education working group.
(Effective July 1, 2026) The sum of one million dollars is appropriated to the state Department of Education from the General Fund, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, for the pilot program established pursuant to section 1 of this act.
Sec.
3.
The commissioner may determine the criteria by which a person is eligible to receive specialized services and may adopt regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this subsection.
The commissioner may determine the criteria by which a person is eligible sHB5487 / File No.
431 2 sHB5487 File No.
431 to receive specialized services and may adopt regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this subsection.
LCO No.
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
2637 2 of 3 Raised Bill No.
Section 1 January 1, 2027 New section Sec.
5487 This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
2 July 1, 2026 17a-812(d) Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
Section 1 July 1, 2026 New section Sec.
The title was changed;
2 July 1, 2026 New section Sec.
and in Section 1(b)(3)(B), "alternative route programs" was changed to "alternative programs" for consistency.
3 July 1, 2026 17a-812(d) Statement of Purpose:
HS Joint Favorable Subst.
To establish an American Sign Language career pipeline program and increase annual amounts spent on specialized services for persons who are blind or visually impaired and deaf.
sHB5487 / File No.
[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets.
431 3 sHB5487 File No.
Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.] LCO No.
431 The following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are prepared for the benefit of the members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and explanation and do not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose.
2637 3 of 3
In general, fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of informational sources, including the analyst’s professional knowledge.
Whenever applicable, agency data is consulted as part of the analysis, however final products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.
OFA Fiscal Note State Impact:
Agency Affected Fund-Effect FY 27 $ FY 28 $ Aging and Disability Services, GF - Potential See Below See Below Dept.
Cost Note:
GF=General Fued Municipal Impact:
None Explanation The bill increases the annual per person cap for the DeafBlind grant program administered by the Department of Aging and Disability Services (ADS) from $10,000 to $14,000 per person.
This results in a potential cost to ADS to the extent that any individuals receive a grant between $10,000 and $14,000.
ADS spent $3,125 per person in FY 25.
1 The bill also establishes a working group for American Sign Language education, which does not result in a fiscal impact.
The Out Years The annualized ongoing fiscal impact identified above would continue into the future subject to inflation.
Show all 61 changed rows (21 more)
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1Grant spending was $165,660 in FY 25, disbursed to 53 recipients.
sHB5487 / File No.
431 4 sHB5487 File No.
431 OLR Bill Analysis sHB 5487 AN ACT ESTABLISHING AN AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE EDUCATION WORKING GROUP AND INCREASING STATE ASSISTANCE FOR PERSONS WHO ARE BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED AND DEAF.
SUMMARY This bill requires the State Department of Education (SDE) to establish an American Sign Language (ASL) education working group to make recommendations to the department on the following:
1.
curriculum guidance for ASL instruction, including aligning the curriculum with nationally recognized proficiency frameworks;
2.
teacher certification standards based on those of the ASL Teachers Association and ASL Proficiency Interview, including establishing a proficiency benchmark, recognizing an alternative certification pathway for native ASL users and interpreters, and reciprocity with other states’ ASL teaching certifications;
and 3.
guidance to Connecticut educator preparation programs on (a) expanding ASL and interpretation education programs;
(b) creating educational incentives, such as tuition support, credit enhancement, or alternative programs;
and (c) establishing bridge, endorsement, or alternative programs for native ASL users and certified interpreters seeking teacher certification.
Under the bill, the working group members include (1) at least one Connecticut ASL public school instructor and (2) one representative each from SDE, the Department of Aging and Disability Services (ADS), the Department of Labor, Office of Higher Education, Connecticut Council of Language Teachers, American School for the Deaf, and Connecticut Association of the Deaf.
sHB5487 / File No.
431 5 sHB5487 File No.
431 Additionally, the bill increases, from $10,000 to $14,000, the amount ADS may spend each fiscal year on community inclusion services for people ages 21 and older who are both blind or visually impaired and deaf.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
January 1, 2027, for the working group provision and July 1, 2026, for the ADS community inclusion services provision.
COMMITTEE ACTION Human Services Committee Joint Favorable Substitute Yea 23 Nay 0 (03/19/2026) sHB5487 / File No.
431 6
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Action History

  1. FILE NO. 431

  2. HOUSE CALENDAR NUMBER 315

  3. FAV. RPT., TABLED FOR HOUSE CALENDAR

  4. RPTD. OUT OF LCO

  5. REFERRED TO Office of Legislative Research AND Office of Fiscal Analysis 04/07/26

  6. FILED WITH LCO

  7. Joint Favorable Substitute

  8. PUBLIC HEARING 0310

  9. REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Human Services

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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3 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 184 not signed on

Sponsors (3)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (184)

184 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 184 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

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Subjects

civil-rights education
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HB 5487?
HB 5487 is sponsored by Dave W. Yaccarino (Republican), Martha Marx (Democratic), and Saud Anwar (Democratic).
What is the current status of HB 5487?
This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced March 05, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track HB 5487?
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